BOAT HAILS within hearing distance with “Boat ahoy.” The coxswain then replies with the appropriate word or Boat hails are used during hours when honors are phrase from table 10-3 to indicate the highest official rendered (sunrise to sunset). The OOD should or officer on board. challenge an approaching boat as soon as possible by raising a clinched fist in the direction of the boat. FLAGSTAFF TOPPING ORNAMENTS He/she should also train a long glass or binoculars on the coxswain. The coxswain replies to this challenge by holding up the number of fingers corresponding to A staff ornament must top the flagstaff upon the number of side boys required to honor the senior which the national ensign is displayed in boats of the official or officer on board. naval service when an officer or civil official is embarked on an official occasion or when a flag Boats approaching a Navy ship between the hours officer, unit commander, commanding officer, chief of of sunset and sunrise should be hailed as soon as staff, or chief staff officer, in uniform, is embarked in Table 10-3.—Boat Coxswain's Reply to Challenge OFFICER OR OFFICIAL ABOARD BOAT COXSWAIN'S REPLY President or Vice President of the United States United States Secretary, Deputy or an Assistant Secretary of Defense Defense Secretary, Under Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Navy Navy Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Joint Chiefs of Staff Chief of Naval Operations or the Vice Chief of Naval Naval Operations Operations Fleet, Force, or Type Commander Fleet or abbreviation of administrative title, i.e., PACFLT. A Flag Office Flag Office A Chief of Staff/Chief Staff Officer Staff A Flotilla/Group Commander * Flot/Gru (type) (number) A Squadron Commander * Ron (type) (number) A Division Commander * Div (type) (number) A Marine Officer Commanding a Brigade Brigade Commander A Commanding Officer of a Ship or Station (Name of Ship or Station) A Marine Officer Commanding a Regiment Regiment Commander Any Other Commissioned Officer Aye, Aye Other Officers (Not Commissioned) No, No Enlisted Hello A boat not intended to go alongside, regardless of rank of Passing passenger * The type abbreviation used, for example, is CRUDESGRU FIVE, SERVGRU ONE, PHIBRON SIX and MINEDIV TWO TWO 10-13