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Ratings in the Merchant Navy (United Kingdom)

Official ratings for cargo ships (UK)

Ratings in the Merchant Navy (United Kingdom)

Summary

Official ratings for cargo ships (UK)

[[First World War]] memorial in [[Kilkenny]], Ireland, giving "Donkeyman" as a rank; such a man was the operator of a [[steam donkey]] aboard a merchant ship.

The following equivalent ratings in the Merchant Navy were those officially recognised by the National Maritime Board for British Merchant Navy ocean-going cargo vessels carrying up to six passengers in 1919, 1943, and 1964. They are listed in ascending order of seniority.

"Mixed" crew refers to crews that consisted of both white and non-white (African or Asian) members, as was common on British-registered ships, which often had white officers and (sometimes) petty officers, and non-white crew. These tables would probably only have related to white ratings. However, for these purposes, non-white ratings of European, American, or West Indian origin would probably have been considered "white".

The Merchant Navy Ratings Pension Fund (MNRPF) defined benefits scheme was set up in 1978 to provide pensions for retired Merchant Navy ratings.

Deck DepartmentEngine Room DepartmentCatering Department191919431964
DeckboyBoy
Ordinary Seaman
Assistant Cook (21-59 white crew or 26-74 mixed crew)
Assistant Steward (21-59 white crew or 26-74 mixed crew)
Messroom Steward (up to 59 white crew or 74 mixed crew)
Assistant Cook (60-89 white crew or 75-112 mixed crew)
Assistant Steward (60+ white crew or 75+ mixed crew)
Messroom Steward (60+ white crew or 75+ mixed crew)
Saloon Steward (60-89 white crew or 75-112 mixed crew)
Second Steward (21-59 white crew or 26-74 mixed crew)
Assistant Baker (90+ white crew or 113+ mixed crew)
Assistant Cook (90+ white crew or 113+ mixed crew)
Second Cook (21-89 white crew or 26-112 mixed crew)
Second Steward (no Storekeeper carried; 60-89 white crew or 75-112 mixed crew)
Able SeamanTrimmerSecond Cook & Baker (60-89 white crew or 75-112 mixed crew)
Storekeeper (60-89 white crew or 75-112 mixed crew)
Boatswain's Mate
Lamptrimmer
Painter
Quartermaster
Deck StorekeeperFiremanBaker (60-89 white crew or 75-112 mixed crew)
Butcher (60-89 white crew or 75-112 mixed crew)
Pantryman (90+ white crew or 113+ mixed crew)
Second Cook & Baker (90+ white crew or 113+ mixed crew)
Second Steward (Storekeeper carried; 60-89 white crew or 75-112 mixed crew)
Storekeeper (90+ white crew or 113+ mixed crew)
Launchman
Water TenderAssistant Engine Room Storekeeper
Greaser
Leading FiremanSecond Cook (90+ white crew or 113+ mixed crew)
Boatswain
Boatswain's Mate (large steamer)
Carpenter's Mate & Joiner (up to 10,000 tons)
Pumpman (oil tanker)
SailmakerDiesel Engine Greaser
Donkeyman
Electrical Greaser
Engine Room Storekeeper
First Leading Fireman
Refrigerator Greaser
Tunnel GreaserBaker (90+ white crew or 113+ mixed crew)
Butcher (90+ white crew or 113+ mixed crew)
Cook (up to 20 white crew or 25 mixed crew)
Ship's Cook (60-89 white crew or 75-112 mixed crew)
Carpenter (up to 8,000 tons)
Carpenter's Mate & Joiner (10,001-25,000 tons)Second Steward (90+ white crew or 113+ mixed crew)
Ship's Cook (90+ white crew or 113+ mixed crew)
Boatswain (large steamer)
Carpenter (8,001-10,000 tons)Cook (21-59 white crew or 26-74 mixed crew)
Cook-Steward (up to 20 white crew or 25 mixed crew)
Steward (up to 20 white crew or 25 mixed crew)
Carpenter (10,001-12,000 tons)Chief Steward (21-59 white crew or 26-74 mixed crew)
Cook (60-89 white crew or 75-112 mixed crew)
Carpenter (12,001-25,000 tons)Chief Cook (90+ white crew or 113+ mixed crew)
Chief Steward (60-89 white crew or 75-112 mixed crew)
Carpenter (over 25,000 tons)Chief Steward (90+ white crew or 113+ mixed crew)
Ordinary Seaman
Messroom Steward
Assistant Steward/Stewardess
Saloon Steward
Assistant Cook (21-59 white crew or 26-74 mixed crew)
Second Cook (21-89 white crew or 26-112 mixed crew)
Assistant Cook (60+ white crew or 75+ mixed crew)
Assistant Baker
Assistant Butcher
Able SeamanFireman Steward
TrimmerSecond Steward (60-89 white crew or 75-112 mixed crew; no storekeeper carried)
Storekeeper (60-89 white crew or 75-112 mixed crew)
Second Cook and Baker (60-89 white crew or 75-112 mixed crew)
Lamp Trimmer
Painter
Quartermaster
Deck StorekeeperFiremanSecond Steward (60-89 white crew or 75-112 mixed crew; storekeeper also carried)
Pantryman
Storekeeper (90+ white crew or 113+ mixed crew)
Second Cook (90+ white crew or 113+ mixed crew)
Baker (60-89 white crew or 75-112 mixed crew)
Butcher (60-89 white crew or 75-112 mixed crew)
Boatswain's Mate (up to 12,000 tons)
Launchman
Water TenderLeading Fireman
Greaser
Assistant Engine-room StorekeeperSecond Cook and Baker (90+ white crew or 113+ mixed crew)
Boatswain's Mate (over 12,000 tons)
Pumpman
SailmakerEngine-room StorekeeperShip's Cook (21-89 white crew or 26-112 mixed crew; chief cook also carried)
Ship's Cook (up to 20 white crew or 25 mixed crew)
Baker (90+ white crew or 113+ mixed crew)
Butcher (90+ white crew or 113+ mixed crew)
Donkeyman
Boatswain (up to 8,000 tons)
Carpenter's Mate/Joiner (up to 10,000 tons)
Boatswain (8,001-10,000 tons)Second Steward (90+ white crew or 113+ mixed crew)
Ship's Cook (90+ white crew or 113+ mixed crew; chief cook also carried)
Carpenter (up to 8,000 tons)
Carpenter's Mate/Joiner (10,001-25,000 tons)
Cook-Steward (up to 20 white crew or 25 mixed crew)
Ship's Cook (21-59 white crew or 26-74 mixed crew; no other cook carried)
Chief Cook (21-59 white crew or 26-74 mixed crew; another cook carried)
Boatswain (10,001-12,000 tons)
Boatswain (over 12,000 tons)
Carpenter (8,001-10,000 tons)
Carpenter's Mate/Joiner (over 25,000 tons)
Chief Cook (60-89 white crew or 75-112 mixed crew)
Steward (up to 20 white crew or 25 mixed crew)
Carpenter (10,001-12,000 tons)
Chief Steward (21-59 white crew or 26-74 mixed crew)
Carpenter (12,001-25,000 tons)
Chief Steward (60-89 white crew or 75-112 mixed crew)
Carpenter (over 25,000 tons)
Chief Steward (90+ white crew or 113+ mixed crew)
Deck BoyEngine Room Boy
Catering Boy
Junior Ordinary SeamanJunior Ordinary Engine Room Rating
Senior Ordinary SeamanSenior Ordinary Engine Room Rating
Deck Hand (Uncertificated)
Assistant Steward
Messroom Steward
Saloon Steward
Stewardess
Assistant Baker
Assistant Butcher
Assistant Cook
Second Cook (21-59 white crew or 26-74 mixed crew)
Able Seaman
Efficient Deck HandCleaner & Wiper
Fireman Steward
Trimmer
Lamp Trimmer
Painter
Quarter Master (up to 12,000 tons)
Deck StorekeeperEngine Room Hand
FiremanBaker or Second Cook and Baker (21-59 white crew or 26-74 mixed crew)
Pantryman
Second Cook (60+ white crew or 75+ mixed crew)
Second Steward (21-59 white crew or 26-74 mixed crew)
Catering Storekeeper
Launchman
Quarter Master (over 12,000 tons)
Water TenderAssistant Engine Room Storekeeper
Greaser
Leading Fireman
Boatswain's Mate (up to 12,000 tons)
Boatswain's Mate (over 12,000 tons)
Pumpman (oil tanker)Donkeyman
Engine Room Storekeeper (up to 12,000 tons)Baker or Second Cook and Baker (60+ white crew or 75+ mixed crew)
Butcher
Assistant Carpenter & Joiner (up to 10,000 tons)
Boatswain (up to 8,000 tons)Engineer Assistant
Engine Room Storekeeper (over 12,000 tons)
Ship's Cook (up to 20 white crew or up to 25 mixed crew)
Assistant Carpenter & Joiner (10,001-25,000 tons)
Boatswain (8,001-10,000 tons)Second Steward (60+ white crew or 75+ mixed crew)
Ship's Cook (21-59 white crew or 26-74 mixed crew; Chief Cook carried)
Carpenter (up to 8,000 tons)Ship's Cook (60+ white crew or 75+ mixed crew; Chief Cook carried)
Assistant Carpenter & Joiner (over 25,000 tons)
Boatswain (10,001-12,000 tons)
Carpenter (8,001-10,000 tons)Chief Cook (21-59 white crew or 26-74 mixed crew)
Cook Steward
Ship's Cook (21-59 white crew or 26-74 mixed crew; no Chief Cook carried)
Boatswain (12,001-25,000 tons)
Carpenter (10,001-12,000 tons)
Boatswain (over 25,000 tons)Chief Cook (60+ white crew or 75+ mixed crew)
Carpenter (12,001-25,000 tons)Steward (up to 20 white crew or 25 mixed crew)
Chief (or only) Steward (21-59 white crew or 26-74 mixed crew)
Carpenter (over 25,000 tons)
Chief (or only) Steward (60+ white crew or 75+ mixed crew)

Footnotes

References

  1. "Stena Line Ltd v Merchant Navy Ratings Pension Fund Trustees Ltd & Anor {{!}} [2011] Pens LR 223 {{!}} England and Wales Court of Appeal (Civil Division) {{!}} Judgment {{!}} Law {{!}} CaseMine".
  2. "Rmt Win Pensions Victory For Merchant Navy Rating Pension Fund Members – Pre 1978 Service Credits".
  3. [[National Maritime Board]], Sailors' and Firemen's Panel, Decisions up to 30th June 1919
  4. [[National Maritime Board]], National Standard Rates of Pay effective from February 1, 1943, from ''The Seaman'', February/March 1943
  5. [[National Maritime Board]], National Standard Rates of Pay effective from 24th February 1964, from ''The Seaman'', March 1964
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