Merchant Navy Day is observed annually on 3 September to honour the brave men and women of the UK’s Merchant Navy who have served - and continue to serve - our nation.
The day pays tribute to the vital role the Merchant Navy plays in keeping trade flowing and supporting the economy, often in challenging and dangerous conditions. It also commemorates those who lost their lives at sea during wartime.
To mark Merchant Navy Day, we will be flying the Red Ensign, the official flag of the UK Merchant Navy, at the Town Hall on Wednesday 3 September 2025.
Raising the Red Ensign is a symbolic gesture of respect and remembrance, and a way for us to show our appreciation for the service and sacrifice of Merchant Navy personnel past and present.
The Merchant Navy Memorial located at Trinity Square Gardens, Tower Hill, is the symbol of national and international commemoration of those merchant seafarers and fishermen lost in the First and Second World Wars together with the Falklands Campaign who have no grave but the sea.