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 Department1919National Maritime Board, Sailors' and Firemen's Panel, Decisions up to 30th June 1919 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 MateLamptrimmerPainterQuartermasterDeck 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) LaunchmanWater Tender Assistant Engine Room StorekeeperGreaserLeading Fireman Second Cook (90+ white crew or 113+ mixed crew) BoatswainBoatswain's Mate (large steamer)Carpenter's Mate & Joiner (up to 10,000 tons)Pumpman (oil tanker)Sailmaker Diesel Engine GreaserDonkeymanElectrical GreaserEngine Room StorekeeperFirst Leading FiremanRefrigerator GreaserTunnel 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)1943National Maritime Board, National Standard Rates of Pay effective from February 1, 1943, from The Seaman, February/March 1943 Ordinary Seaman Messroom StewardAssistant Steward/StewardessSaloon StewardAssistant 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 BakerAssistant Butcher Able Seaman Fireman StewardTrimmer 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 TrimmerPainterQuartermasterDeck Storekeeper Fireman Second Steward (60-89 white crew or 75-112 mixed crew; storekeeper also carried)PantrymanStorekeeper (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)LaunchmanWater Tender Leading FiremanGreaserAssistant Engine-room Storekeeper Second Cook and Baker (90+ white crew or 113+ mixed crew) Boatswain's Mate (over 12,000 tons)PumpmanSailmaker 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)1964National Maritime Board, National Standard Rates of Pay effective from 24th February 1964, from The Seaman, March 1964 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 StewardMessroom StewardSaloon StewardStewardess Assistant BakerAssistant ButcherAssistant CookSecond Cook (21-59 white crew or 26-74 mixed crew) Able SeamanEfficient Deck Hand Cleaner & WiperFireman StewardTrimmer Lamp TrimmerPainterQuarter Master (up to 12,000 tons)Deck Storekeeper Engine Room HandFireman Baker or Second Cook and Baker (21-59 white crew or 26-74 mixed crew)PantrymanSecond Cook (60+ white crew or 75+ mixed crew)Second Steward (21-59 white crew or 26-74 mixed crew)Catering Storekeeper LaunchmanQuarter Master (over 12,000 tons)Water Tender Assistant Engine Room StorekeeperGreaserLeading Fireman Boatswain's Mate (up to 12,000 tons) Boatswain's Mate (over 12,000 tons)Pumpman (oil tanker) DonkeymanEngine 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 StewardShip'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
See also British Merchant Navy