The british merchant navy comprises the british merchant ships that transport cargo and people during times of peace and war. After 1900 this system appeared to continue, for home trade only, at least until 1939. With the introduction of online appointment, seafarers can book a schedule in advanced even when they are still on board. R 440e in exercise of the powers conferred by section 457 of the merchant shipping act, 1958 44 of 1958 and in suppression of the merchant shipping continuous discharge certificate rules 1993, except as respects things are done or omitted to be done before such suppression, the central government hereby makes the following rules. Crew lists, agreements and official logs crew agreements for britishregistered merchant ships, crew lists or musterrolls and official ships logs are of particular interest to genealogists and people tracing family history, and to anyone researching specific ships or seafaring generally. Discharge number as well as providing information about your ancestors career, it should be noted that the merchant navy seamen records can also reveal what he or she looked like. The merchant navy seamen 18351857 records represent individual seamen that the central government created to monitor a potential reserve of sailors for the royal navy. Right of seamen to appeal against discharge from reserve pool. The british merchant navy was the biggest in the world and required more crew than great britain had merchant seamen, as a result large numbers of indian, chinese and west african seamen were engaged to crew ships which regularly traded from great britain to ports in those areas. The uboat war in world war two kriegsmarine, 19391945 and world war one kaiserliche marine, 19141918 and the allied efforts to counter the threat. You apply online for a discharge book by filling in the application form, which is to be submitted to the danish maritime authority. If you dont have your ancestors discharge book, you can try visiting or contacting the national archives.
Oct 15, 2011 merchant navy discharge number records on. A discharge book is a continuous record of a seafarers service and is not a proof of identity. A discharge book is a continuous record of a seafarers service. Each card typically gives the following information. It is a requirement that seafarers working on uk flagged ships or large yachts have a uk discharge book or one that is issued by one of the governments listed in msf 4509 a british seamans card bsc is an internationally accepted document which allows a british seafarer to land at. Merchant navy establishment licensed agencies mnea contracts while the continuation page of the crs10 docket book shows. I joined iaf on 18 nov 1976 as weapon technician and left in feb 1987. As there are a few threads about merchant navy discharge a. Military service records replace lost records or historical.
It was common practice on undermanned merchant ships of the period to take on underage boys without entering them on the articles and as a result no record existed if the ship was lost. If you hold a merchant navy discharge book and signed on one or more rfa ships during your time at sea then the royal fleet auxiliary historical society is in need of your assistance please the society is seeking scanned copies of the pages from your discharge book which contain the details of the ships on which you served the ships. The fee for a first issue, continuation or replacement uk discharge book is. Many of the records include a photograph or a physical description, bringing you face to face with your ancestor. Seaman card for local seafarer enclose a copy of nric hold a valid medical examination certificate in case lost of seaman card discharge book, a copy of the police report needs to be enclosed. By registering with our site you will have full instant access to. Kindly let me know the procedure to obtain a duplicate discharge. See the duplicate checklist for specific requirements. These regulations revoke the merchant shipping seamens documents regulations 1972, as amended, and reenact them with further amendments. The national archives holds indexes to the registers covering the period 191956 the registers. Jun 05, 2018 forgotten seafarers of the first world war during the first world war the merchant navy the mercantile marine was thrust into the conflict, becoming the supply service of the royal navy. Merchant shipping continues discharge certificatecum. In case lost of seaman card discharge book, a copy of the police report needs to be enclosed any malaysian who wish to register, should satisfied one of these requirement.
The merchant navy, volume 2, by archibald hurd world war 1. Confirming telephone message regarding discharge of seaman, giving reasons. Application for a discharge book, british seamans card. The documents should be submitted together with testimonials from the master. Jul 02, 2014 msf 4509 application for a discharge book and or british seamans card rev 0819. Seafarers discharge book and id card seafarers ireland. Merchant seamen crewed the ships of the british merchant navy which kept the united kingdom supplied with raw materials, arms, ammunition, fuel, food and all of the necessities of a nation at war throughout world war ii literally enabling the country to defend itself. The discharge book for merchant seamen, or more formally the continuous certificate of discharge, was introduced in 1900, for foreign voyages only. Application process for the national maritime center nmc. Navy armed guard crew lists, voyage reports, data relating to armaments and supplies provided by u.
Walkins are still entertained but you must be at their branch early. Merchant navy awards 19391945 this collection details over 9,000 awards made to those who served in the merchant navy from 193945. Join the bristol merchant navy association bristol. The seamans book certifies that the seafarer holding it is a seaman as per the international convention on standards of training, certification and watchkeeping stcw. If discharge or separation papers are lost, duplicate copies may be obtained by contacting the. For example our member ray watts, who sailed as a steward and parttime gunner on the pedestal convoy made two trips unrecorded in his discharge book. Registrar general shipping forwarding cards, ed350 to merchant navy reserve pool. Get a seamans discharge book or british seamans card gov. I joined the merchant navy at the age of 16, and then served in various theatres of war. Discharge book has been lost or damaged, a full explanation of the. British seamens cards are no longer obligatory for british seafarers. In addition to records of sea time, the seamans book also allows yacht crew to travel on marine fare tickets refundable and changeable which. The seamans book certifies that theseafarer holding itis a seaman as per the international convention on standards of training, certification and watchkeeping stcw. It carried troops, shipped raw materials, delivered armaments and supplies to the armed forces.
British seamens cards no longer require endorsement after 5 years. In common parlance the book is referred to as the discharge book or papers. The british seamans card is similar to a british passport and is internationally accepted, allowing seafarers to land at foreign ports without having to obtain visas. Seafarers registry, contributions and marine emergency.
This document certifies that the person holding is a seaman as per the international convention on standards of training, certification and watch keeping for seafarers stcw, 1978, as amended from time to time. Instructing a seaman to report for employment in a certain ship. Seaman book is one of the compulsory document for applying crew transit. Certificate of discharge from merchant navy service. Tracing a pension to help find a pension from a previous employer. Combined office merchant navy operations, seamens pouches. Merchant navy seamen and officers 191972 the national. Msf 4509 application for a discharge book or british seamans. If you have lost your discharge book, you can order a new one online, but unfortunately the danish maritime authority cannot insert your previously completed. The fee for a first issue, continuation orreplacementbritish seamanscard is. Otherwise, the following persons are entitled to receive an administratively issued certificate.
If one has a bucket list, sailing on a merchant ship should be on it. Advising seaman that crs 8 will be issued by registrar general shipping under certain conditions and enclosure crs 49. In doing this, they sustained a considerably greater casualty rate than almost every other branch of the armed. A continuous certificate of discharge or continuous discharge certificate c. The very next day my ship has sailed to other country. Marinet is an internetbased ecommerce system owned by the maritime and port authority of singapore for the maritime community. You do not need a discharge book if youre employed. Join the bristol merchant navy association membership is open to all who hold a discharge book showing service at sea under the red or blue ensigns. Before 1900 an individual certificate of discharge would be given to a merchant seaman as he left a ship, but there was no identifying number and individual sheets were easily lost. A seamans discharge book, sometimes known as a seamans service book ssb, is a full record of a seafarers career experience and certification. Jan 02, 2019 seamans book renewal is now made simpler. Application for a discharge book, british seamans card msf. This may be done by a superintendent, the registry of shipping and seamen, or an official of the merchant navy establishment administration. Surname, christian name, birth year and place of birth, discharge a number, rating, rv2 number, certificate grade and number if.
Bristols lost boys bristol merchant navy association. The national archives holds indexes to the registers covering the period 191956 the registers themselves, for 19151958, are held at the national maritime museum. It gives you the perspective of what is it like to witness the spectacular grandeur of 34 th of our planet in a ships setting. Hi, i have recently had a search conducted at southampton archives and they have been unable to find the records of my relative leslie arthur whitney, who was an apprentice in the merchant navy, and left the service in 1928, to join the police force. I will tell you my experience when i joined in a ship for the 1st time in syria. The recent announcement that the britain, merchant seamen, 19181941 record collection is available on findmypast was welcomed by a number of people including myself. Navy, correspondence relating to recommendations for medals for members of the armed guard crew, orders, etc. Merchant navy seamen records are split into two very distinct sections timeframes because in 1857 the board. You will be away from home and land and most of the times its y. The discharge book for merchant seamen, or more formally the continuous certificate of discharge, was introduced in 1900. The merchant shipping seamens documents regulations 1987. How to apply for a merchant mariner credential mmc. Get a seamans discharge book or british seamans card. Notice to all owners of merchant ships, fishing vessels of 55 feet 16.
Msf 4509 application for a discharge book and or british seamans card rev 0819. The certificate may be issued in connection with a bcnrndrb action. Given proper implementation, this method must be faster and more convenient for everyone. Oct 30, 2017 military service records, medals, awards, and decorations are an important part of a veterans service record, and are often cherished by veterans and family members but service records are also essential to prove military service or for establishing eligibility for certain veterans benefits progr.
To locate seamen during this period, it is best to consult the cr1 cards held at the national archives in series bt 349 which is on microfiche and catalogued alphabetically by surname. The association meets monthly on the second wednesday of the month at the rbl, staunton lane, whitchurch bs14 0qf so the easiest way to make contact is to pop along to one of our meetings and. Seaman service book ssb is a continuous record of a seamans service issued in pakistan. The pension tracing service helps individuals keep track of benefit entitlements they have in previous employers schemes. The british merchant navy fleet was the largest in the world in 1939 and around 185,000 men served in it during the war. Seaman card for local seafarer enclose a copy of nric hold a valid medical examination certificate in case lost of seaman card discharge book, a. Register ticket a merchant seamans id discharge number as well as providing information about your ancestors career, it should be noted that the merchant navy seamen records can also reveal what he or she looked like. Indian air force lost discharge book and echs card. A replacement credential issued containing the same authority, wording, and expiration date as the lost or destroyed credential. An application for an irish seafarers discharge book can be made if you are. First of all i have an official merchant navy discharge book issued on the the 12th november 1957 in liverpool on entry to the british merchant navy of which i am very proud to have served, sadly for only seven years, but i have to admit that it was one of the most interestingenjoyable times of my working life. The seamans book provides a travel document that can be used instead of a passport in some cases.
Tracing a pension merchant navy officers pension fund. You are also obliged to ensure that the discharge book has been filled in correctly by the master or that the shipowner issues a record of service. Service levels and fee information we aim to process all standard service postal applications within ten working days of receipt and all premium service postal applications within one working day of receipt. Msf 4509 application for a discharge book or british seamans card. In 1939, the merchant navy was the largest in the world with 33% of. Registration of cooks in the merchant navy began on 30 june 1908. Join the bristol merchant navy association bristol merchant. Have an experience of sea service on board merchant vessel, by possessing a discharge certificate, guarantee letter from shipping company or other relevant proved, or. Firstly across the atlantic during the uboat times as a galley boy and steward, and then i was assigned to a small ammunition ship and sent out to the northern coast of africa, where we offloaded troop supplies and ammunition, and that sort of thing.
To apply in person you must have an appointment with a marine office. Merchant navy discharge number records armed forces. Membership is open to all that are interested in the british merchant navy both past and present. This document certifies that the person holding this is a seaman as per the international convention on standards of training, certification and watch keeping for seafarers, 1978, as amended 2010.
The navy personnel command can only issue the honorable discharge dd form 256n certificate. The registered number has a regularised format that normally includes a prefix letter, referring to the nationality of the seaman. Download an application form for a british seamans card or discharge book apply by post. If you were a member of any previous employers pension schemes, you may also be entitled to benefits from those schemes. It holds pre1941 merchant seamens service records, the information in which is. Application to return to employment in merchant navy. I understand that the nmci has a right to retain any irish seafarers identity card andor discharge. Remember that before the allocation of prefix r dis. For much of its history, the merchant navy was the largest merchant fleet in the world, but with the decline of the british empire in the mid20th century it slipped down the rankings. Discharge book request royal fleet auxiliary historical society if you hold a merchant navy discharge book and signed on one or more rfa ships during your time at sea then the royal fleet auxiliary historical society is in need of your assistance please. An irish citizen who is either a member of crew, engaged in the navigation of the vessel, or who is not a member of crew, but works as a supernumerary i.
In order to be used as a passport, the situation must be appropriate i. This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology. Forgotten seafarers of the first world war heritage calling. Seamans book renewal guide 2019 with photo instructions.
Catalogue description registry of shipping and seamen. Msf 4509 application for a discharge book or british. Professional yachtsmens association service record book. Please note that no fee is payable in respect of a replacement uk discharge book or.
A seamans discharge book, sometimesknown as a seamans service book ssb, is a full record of a seafarers career experience and certification. A list of ships and their official numbers with date and place of engagement rank or rating f or h for foreign or home trade voyage date and place of discharge from the ship character grade. Ive lost my discharge book and wish to request for a duplicate discharge book. The seaman retains this number throughout his or her service even when the discharge a book is lost or destroyed.
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