Slovenia: Naval jack

Last modified: 2001-11-30 by ivan sache
Keywords: jack |
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by Zeljko Heimer 1 May 2000

Horizontally divided white-blue-yellow. Proportion 1:2.

• The Slovenian jack
• The 1995-1996 jack

See also:

• Slovenia
• Slovenia: Naval rank flags
• Slovenia: National flags and ensigns currently in use

The Slovenian jack

Quoting The Flag Bulletin [tfb] #172, p. 244:

'Slovenia: There has been considerable discussion within Slovenia about various national symbols since the country became independent in 1991. Recently, a jack for naval vessels was established by Decree 2215 signed by Minister of Defense Jelko Kacin. The design (Fig. 6) consists of three equal horizontal stripes from top to bottom of white, blue, and yellow. The flag, which has proportions of 1:2, was based on the colors found in the national coat of arms. A similar flag with the coat of arms in the center overlapping the three stripes has been proposed as a civil ensign, but so far no action has been taken.'
Figure 6 on p. 245 is labeled New Jack of Slovenia and shows a 1:2 flag with three equal stripes from top to bottom labeled "W, B+, Y+".

David Martucci, 7 April 1997

The decree is entitled Pravilnik o spremembah ih dopolntvih pravilnika o registraciji in oznacevanju vozil, zrakoplov in vodnih plovil Ministarstva za obrambo (Regulations on changes and additions of regulations of registration and signalization of vehicles, air- and water-vessels of the Ministry of Defense), #2215, Uradni List (Official Gazette) 34/1996, 29 June1996.
Here is my translation of the articles.

[...]

'In the Regulations of registration and signalization of vehicles, air- and water-vessels of the Ministry of Defence (Uradni List, 67/1995) in the article 45 paragraphs three and four are changed so they are now:

• 'The flag on bow (i.e. the jack) is rectangular in shape, coloured white, blue and golden yellow, the colours from the coat of arms of the Republic of Slovenia. The proportions of width and lenght of the flag are 1:2. The colours are in this order: white (N-1N 95), blue (N-46N 72 25 09) and golden yellow (N-6N 19 75 12), all according to SCOTDIC CODE 777 - International Color System (2034). Each colour in width takes one third of the flag area. The size of the flag should be in accordance with the size of the ship or boat.
• Foreign naval vessels that are visiting the Republic of Slovenia should salute* the flag of the Republic of Slovenia'

[...]

*I believe that this is supposed to mean dipping, however I don't think there is a special term in Slovenia for this, so I translated it as saluting.

Zeljko Heimer, 17 April 1997, text of the decree forwarded by Tomaz Pisanski, from Slovenian Genealogy and Heraldry Society

Slovenia never before used white-blue-yellow flag in any order or combination. There are not even proposals for such flag, though there are many proposals known.
There is an old tradition restored of yellow over blue flag based on the Celiea (Celje) arms - blue with three golden stars.
Since the Celje stars are an integral part of the Slovenian arms there is a connection. In my humble opinion, the red stripe of the national flag was changed to yellow to prevent the confusion with Russian and Slovakian flags. As far as I understand this, a naval vessel of Slovenia would have the Slovenian flag as ensign at the back and this jack on bow. This would clearly distingush it from any other.

Zeljko Heimer, 19 April 1997

The 1995-1996 jack

by Zeljko Heimer

Flag prescribed by Article 42 of the Regulations of registration and signalization of vehicles, air- and water-vessels of the Ministry of Defence.