Italian merchant ensign, after 1946 pattern, from the Thames hydrofoil 'Freccia del Vesuvio'. The flag is made of cotton bunting, machine sewn with a cord attached for hoisting. The fly edge is very frayed. Three vertical stripes in green, white and red are printed onto the flag. On the centre stripe a shield, bordered with gold rope, with the quarterings: 1) Red with the lion of St Mark in gold (Venice). 2) White with the red cross of St George (Genoa). 3) Blue with a white Maltese cross (Amalfi). 4) Red with Pisa cross in white (Pisa).

The ensign was acquired with a weekly season ticket for the Thames Arrow hydrofoil Service dated 1972, and a colour postcard of 'Freccia del Vesuvio.' The vessel was one of the first two hydrofoils on the river Thames. A high speed commuter service ran for six months during that year between Tower Pier and Greenwich.