The house flag of the Southampton, Isle of Wight and South of England Royal Mail Steam Packet Company Ltd. A rectangular flag quartered diagonally into blue, white green and red. The flag is made of a wool and synthetic fibre bunting. It has a cotton hoist and is machine sewn. A rope and toggle is attached.

The Isle of Wight Royal Mail Steam Packet Company was set up to operate steamers between Cowes, Isle of Wight and Southampton in 1820. In 1826 a competing service was introduced by the Isle of Wight Steam Packet Company. In 1860 another company, the Southampton Isle of Wight & Portsmouth Improved Steamboat Company started operating on the same route. IWSP and IWRMSP merged to create the Southampton, Isle of Wight and South of England Royal Mail Steam Packet Company Ltd in 1861 and absorbed the third company in 1865. The company extended its service west by purchasing the Bournemouth & South Coast Steam Packets Ltd in 1908. Originally running a fleet of paddle steamers, they purchased their first diesel powered vessel in 1931 and in 1959 began to operate car ferries. In more recent years they have operated high speed hydrofoils and catamarans. In 1935 they changed their funnel colours to red with a black top and this was the source of their present name – Red Funnel Ferries. The flag design incorporates colours associated with the names of their original fleet: ‘Sapphire’, ‘Emerald’, ‘Ruby’ and ‘Pearl’.