Navigation and Seamanship

4.2.2. International Code of Signals (ICS)

First international code was introduced in 1855 by a committee set up by the British Board of Trade. It contained 70,000 signals. These code of signals were revised during 1887 and 1927 for two times. In January 1959, the first assembly of International Maritime Organization (IMO) decided that the organization should assume all the functions being performed by the standing committee of International Code of Signals. The code was adopted by the 4^th Assembly of IMO in 1965. The basic principles of Code is that each signal should have a complete meaning and this principle is followed throughout the Code