P&O STEAM NAVIGATION CO.

The house flag’s blue and white quarters represent Portugal’s royal house, and red and yellow Spain’s. The blue is royal blue, taken from an actual flag. The early livery combined a black hull, buff deck housing and black masts and funnels. The black cargo-ship funnel is dated 1835–1972 and confirmed by Pando Gulf in May 1971. Reed 1891 incorrectly prints the blue flag panel black. A later commercial logo shows the flag waving above bold P&O letters.

From 1971 the funnel became light blue with a white P&O monogram, confirmed by Piako and Westmoreland photographs. Gandara still showed that shade in February 1996 despite the reported 1992 colour change.

Reed 1912 assigns this funnel to the P&O Branch Service.

This is the commodore’s flag.