Ratings in the Merchant Navy (United Kingdom)

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.

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.

"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".

Deck Department Engine Room Department Catering Department
1919[1]
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 Storekeeper
FiremanBaker (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 SeamanFireman 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
FiremanSecond 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 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)
1964[3]
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 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

  1. National Maritime Board, Sailors' and Firemen's Panel, Decisions up to 30th June 1919
  2. National Maritime Board, National Standard Rates of Pay effective from February1, 1943, from The Seaman, February/March 1943
  3. National Maritime Board, National Standard Rates of Pay effective from 24th February 1964, from The Seaman, March 1964

See also

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