There are many semaphores established on the French, Italian, Portuguese, and some on the Spanish and Austrian coasts, where only the international Code of Signals is now used. Where practicable these semaphores have means of communicating by telegraph with each other and with the chief metropolitan lines and foreign stations.

Passing ships are able to exchange communication with the semaphores, and when required their messages are forwarded to their destination according to the fixed tariff. On the coasts of Great Britain there are signal stations which offer the same facilities to passing vessels.