For hours on Thursday and Friday the US Navy broke Icelandic law by flying the Icelandic swallowtail flag flew on the USS Iwo Jima. The amphibious assault ship arrived in port on Thursday as part of NATO military exercises which took place over the weekend. In an effort to be good and courteous guests, sailors onboard the ship hoisted the Icelandic flag to the mast while in port. Unfortunately they chose the wrong flag, and ended up breaking Icelandic law.
Read more: The USS Iwo Jima arrives in Reykjavik harbor as part of NATO military exercises
The swallowtail flag is strictly a State Flag, and can only be flown on ships or buildings owned by the Icelandic State. Foreign naval vessels are obviously banned from flying the flag.
The office of the Prime Minister and the Foreign Ministry were notified of the violation, who in turn contacted the Coast Guard, which then notified the ship's captain and crew, instructing them to take the flag down. According to the National Broadcasting Service, RÚV, the flag had been hoisted in error. The only repercussions from the action were a short sit-down with the Icelandic Coast Guard, as representatives of the Coast Guard were tasked with instructing the ship's crew on the law governing the use of the Icelandic flag.
For hours on Thursday and Friday the US Navy broke Icelandic law by flying the Icelandic swallowtail flag flew on the USS Iwo Jima. The amphibious assault ship arrived in port on Thursday as part of NATO military exercises which took place over the weekend. In an effort to be good and courteous guests, sailors onboard the ship hoisted the Icelandic flag to the mast while in port. Unfortunately they chose the wrong flag, and ended up breaking Icelandic law.
Read more: The USS Iwo Jima arrives in Reykjavik harbor as part of NATO military exercises
The swallowtail flag is strictly a State Flag, and can only be flown on ships or buildings owned by the Icelandic State. Foreign naval vessels are obviously banned from flying the flag.
The office of the Prime Minister and the Foreign Ministry were notified of the violation, who in turn contacted the Coast Guard, which then notified the ship's captain and crew, instructing them to take the flag down. According to the National Broadcasting Service, RÚV, the flag had been hoisted in error. The only repercussions from the action were a short sit-down with the Icelandic Coast Guard, as representatives of the Coast Guard were tasked with instructing the ship's crew on the law governing the use of the Icelandic flag.
