New Delhi: For the second time in three years, Indian Navy is changing its Ensign, Flag and Pendant saying that its present blue-and-white colour combination on the flag makes it almost invisible in the high seas.

Navy, which shed its Ensign of Flag of Saint George on the ground that it smacked of colonial hangover on the Independence Day on 2001, has now decided to go in for a new colour combination for its flag.

The service has now decided to go back somewhat to the St George's sign by having a horizontal and a vertical red stripe intersecting at the middle, with a white Ensign backdrop. A golden yellow state emblem would be superimposed on the intersection and the national flag in the upper canton next to the staff, according to an official release in New Delhi.

Navy said it had decided to drop the blue and white colour combination on the flag due to concern voiced by sailors and officers of its low visibility on the high seas as it blended with the blue of the sky and the sea.

The new Emblem would be formally introduced by President APJ Abdul Kalam, the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, in Kochi on Sunday (Apr 25).