Ratings in the Merchant Navy
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The following equivalent ratings were those officially recognised by the National Maritime Board for British Merchant Navy ocean-going cargo vessels carrying up to six passengers. They are listed in ascending order of seniority.
| Deck Department | Engine Room Department | Catering Department |
| 1919[1] | ||
| Deckboy | Boy | |
| 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 Seaman | Trimmer | Second 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 Storekeeper | Fireman | Baker (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 Tender | Assistant Engine Room Storekeeper Greaser Leading Fireman | Second 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) Sailmaker | Diesel Engine Greaser Donkeyman Electrical Greaser Engine Room Storekeeper First Leading Fireman Refrigerator Greaser Tunnel Greaser | Baker (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) | |
| 1943[2] | ||
| 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 Seaman | Fireman Steward Trimmer | Second 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 Storekeeper | Fireman | Second 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 Tender | Leading Fireman Greaser Assistant Engine-room Storekeeper | Second Cook and Baker (90+ white crew or 113+ mixed crew) |
| Boatswain's Mate (over 12,000 tons) Pumpman Sailmaker | Engine-room Storekeeper | Ship'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) | ||
| 1964[3] | ||
| Deck Boy | Engine Room Boy | |
| Catering Boy | ||
| Junior Ordinary Seaman | Junior Ordinary Engine Room Rating | |
| Senior Ordinary Seaman | Senior 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 Hand | Cleaner & Wiper Fireman Steward Trimmer | |
| Lamp Trimmer Painter Quarter Master (up to 12,000 tons) Deck Storekeeper | Engine Room Hand Fireman | Baker 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 Tender | Assistant 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
- ↑ National Maritime Board, Sailors' and Firemen's Panel, Decisions up to 30th June 1919
- ↑ National Maritime Board, National Standard Rates of Pay effective from February1, 1943, from The Seaman, February/March 1943
- ↑ National Maritime Board, National Standard Rates of Pay effective from 24th February 1964, from The Seaman, March 1964
See also
- British Merchant Navy