A.G. “EMS”.
image by Jarig Bakker, 17 January 2006
image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 7 May 2009
image by Klaus-Peter Bühne, None
image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 7 May 2009
image by Klaus-Peter Bühne, None
image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, 7 May 2009
The traditional flag is black over red over blue, the East Frisian colours, with a central white diamond and black letters. Schneider’s German version reads AG over E; his Dutch version has proportions 1:2 and a lozenge. Rosanoski questions this national distinction and the apparent difference between the table flags, which may be the same design at different scales. His annotations variously read A over GE and A over AG, while his later comment favours A over GE. Diamond size, edging and stops also vary.
The later white flag bears white AG EMS outlined black, flanked by dark-grey horizontal lines, over three irregular diagonal bands in black, blue and red. The source is the investigation report on Polarstern’s August 2008 accident.