Courtesy FlagsA courtesy flag (or courtesy ensign) is flown by a ship in foreign waters as a token of respect by a vessel that is visiting. It is often a small (i. e. smaller than the ship's own national ensign) national maritime flag of the host country, although there are countries (such as Malta) where the national, rather than the maritime flag is correct. The flag is customarily worn at the fore masthead of multi masted vessels, the starboard yardarm or