Merchant Seamen Abbreviations

2 E or 2 Eng

2nd engineer

KP

Kitchen porter

2 M

2nd mate

Lman

Laundry man

3 E or 3 Eng

3rd engineer

L/Boy or L Boy

Leading boy

3 M

3rd mate

LT

Lamp trimmer

4 E or 4 Eng

4th engineer

M

Mate

4 Off

4th officer (4th mate)

MAA

Master at arms

5 E or 5 Eng

5th engineer

Med O

Medical officer

5 Off

5th officer (5th mate)

Mstr

Master (captain) of a vessel

A or App or Apptce

Apprentice

N Wman

Night watchman

AB

Able seamen

Off

Officer

Asst

Assistant

OS

Ordinary seaman

Bkr

Baker

P or Psr

Purser

Bos or Boatn or Bosn

Boatswain (2nd mate?). Also bosun

Pman

Pantry man

Brkpr

Barkeeper

P/Boy or P Boy

Pantry boy

B R Stwd

Bedroom steward

Plmr 

Plumber

Btchr

Butcher

Psge Wkr

Passage worker

Btmn

Boatman

Ptlman

Patrol man

C

Captain (master) of a vessel or cabin

QM

Quarter master

C Boy or C/ Boy

Cabin boy or cabin steward

RO

Radio officer

Cadet

Company cadet (possibly an apprentice)

RT

Radio telegraphist

Cf M

Chief mate (1st mate)

S or Sman

Seaman

Ch

Chief

 S B Attendt

Sick bay attendant

Ck

Cook

Scnman

Section man

Clnr

Cleaner

Sig

Signal man

Cptr or Cr

Carpenter 

Sl Mr

Sail maker

Ctring

Catering

Snr

Senior

D Boy

Deck Boy

Srgn

Surgeon

D H

Deck Hand

Strkpr

Store keeper

Dispr

Dispenser

Stwrd

Steward

Donkey-man or Dkyman

Donkey-engine operator

Swpr

Sweeper

E or Eng or Engr

Engineer

SOS

Senior ordinary seaman

EDH

Efficient deck hand

T or Trmr

Trimmer

Electr

Electrician

Telgt

Telegraphist

Ftr

Fitter

Wman

Winch-man

GS

General servant

WO

Wireless operator 

Gsr

Greaser

Wtr

Waiter

Hd

Head

J Eng

Junior engineer

JOS

Junior ordinary seaman?

1

Aberdeen

50

Gweek

99

Wells

2

Aberystwyth

51

Harwich

50

Westport

3

Aldborough

52

Hull

101

Weymouth

4

Arundel

53

Ilfracombe

102

Wexford

5

Ayr

54

Inverness

103

Whitehaven

6

Baltimore

55

Ipswich

104

Whitby

7

Banff

56

Irvine

105

Wick

8

Barnstaple

57

Kirkcaldy

106

Wisbech

9

Beaumaris

58

Kirkwall

107

Woodbridge

10

Belfast

59

Lancaster

108

Yarmouth

11

Berwick

60

Leith

109

Preston

12

Bideford

61

Lerwick

110

Gainsborough

13

Borrowstounness

62

Liverpool

111

New Ross/Ross

14

Boston

63

Llanelly

112

Maryport

15

Bridgwater

64

London

113

Alloa

16

Bridlington

65

Londonderry

114

Perth

17

Bridport

66

Lyme

115

Arbroath

18

Bristol

67

Limerick

116

Carmarthen

19

Campbeltown

68

Lynn

117

Caernarvon (including Pwllheli,Portmadoc, Barmouth)

20

Cardiff

69

Maldon

118

Hartlepool

21

Cardigan

70

Milford

119

Tralee

22

Carlisle

71

Montrose

120

Runcorn

23

Chepstow

72

Newport, Monmouthshire

121

Wigtown

24

Chester

73

Newry

122

Ballina

25

Chichester

74

Newhaven

123

Folkestone

26

Cley

75

Newcastle-upon-Tyne

124

Shields

27

Colchester

76

Padstow

125

Strangemouth

28

Coleraine

77

Penzance

126

Fleetwood

29

Cork

78

Plymouth

127

Peterhead Fraserburgh)

30

Cowes

79

Poole

128

Workington

31

Dartmouth

80

Portsmouth

129

Lowestoft

32

Deal

81

Port Glasgow

130

Teignmouth

33

Dover

82

Ramsgate

131-146

probably not used

34

Drogheda

83

Rochester

147

Douglas

35

Dublin

84

Rye

148

Derbyhaven (& Castletown)

36

Dumfries

85

Scarborough

149

Peel

37

Dundalk

86

Scilly

150

Ramsey (plus other Isle of Man ports)

38

Dundee

87

St. Ives

151

Guernsey

39

Exeter

88

Shoreham

152

Jersey

40

Falmouth

89

Sligo

153

Middlesbrough

41

Faversham

90

Southampton

154

Ardrossan

42

Fowey

91

Southwold

155

unknown

43

Galway

92

Sunderland

156

unknown

44

Glasgow

93

Stockton

157

Sunderland

45

Grangemouth

94

Stornoway

158

Granton (Edinburgh)

46

Gloucester

95

Stranraer

159

Newcastle-upon-Tyne

47

Goole

96

Swansea

160

Youghal (S. Ireland)

48

Greenock

97

Truro

161

Barrow

49

Grimsby

98

Waterford

200

Halifax, Nova Scotia

255 - 256

201

Liverpool, Nova Scotia

257

Bombay

202

Pictou, Nova Scotia

258

Calcutta

203

Yarmouth, Nova Scotia

259

Cape Town

204 - 206

260

Cochin, India

207

Sydney, New South Wales

261

unknown

208

Hobart Town

262

Madras

209 - 210

263

Melbourne

211

Launceston, Van Diemen's Land

264 - 270

unknown

212

Sydney, Cape Breton Island

271

Gasp, New Brunswick

213 - 216

272

Windsor, Nova Scotia

217

Kingston, Jamaica

273

St. Stephen, NB

218

St. Lucia (see 223, 231)

274

Digby, Nova Scotia

219

Montego Bay, Jamaica

275

Hong Kong

220 - 221

276

New Glasgow (Pictou), NS

223

St. Lucia (see 218, 231)

277

Moulmein, Burma

224

Malta (plus Gibraltar ?)

278

Lunenburg, Nova Scotia

225

Louis, Mauritius

279

Parrsboro, Nova Scotia

226 - 227

unknown

280

unknown

228

Miramichi Bay, New Brunswick

281

Grand Island, Cape Breton Island

229

Prince Edward Island

282

Weymouth, Nova Scotia

230

St. John, N. B. (see 243)

283 - 286

unknown

231

St. John's, Nfld (see 244)

287

Antigua

St. Lucia (see 218, 223)

288

Cape of Good Hope

232

Kingstown, St. Vincent, WI

289

Medway, Nova Scotia

233 - 235

unknown

290

Port Wallace, Nova Scotia

236

Bathurst, New Brunswick

291

(Ganpboro??), Nova Scotia

237

Sierra Leone

292

unknown

238 - 241

unknown

293

Richibucto, New Brunswick

242

St. Andrews, Newfoundland

294

Geelong

243

St. John, NB (see 230)

295

St. Mary's, Newfoundland

244

St. John's, Nfld (see 231)

296

Stanley, Falkland Islands

245

St. Johns, Antigua

297 - 299

unknown

246 - 249

unknown

250

Bermuda

Abbreviations:

251

Arichat, Cape Breton Island

NB = New Brunswick

252

Montreal

Nfld = Newfoundland

253

Quebec

NS = Nova Scotia

254

Demerara, Guiana

WI = Windward Islands

A

West coast of Africa and adjacent islands

Aust

Australia, Tasmania, New Zealand

B

Baltic, Norway, White Sea, Gulf of Finland and Kattegat

C

China, Japan and oriental archipelago

Cp

Cape colonies, Ascension, St Helena, Natal, Algoa Bay

Ct

Coasting trade, including the Netherlands, Belgium, France, from River Elbe to Brest

EI

East Indies, Burma, Mauritius, Red Sea

FPS

France, (South of Brest), Portugal, Spain (outside Straits of Gibraltar, Azores

M

Mediterranean, Black Sea, Sea of Azoff, Adriatic

NA

British North America, Greenland, Iceland

NP

North Pacific and West coast of North America

NS

West coast of Denmark

SA

Brazils, River Plate

SP

South Pacific and West coast of South America

US

United States (East coast and Gulf ports)

WI

West Indies and Gulf of Mexico

For

Foreign (not further identified)

CRS 1

Merchant navy personnel, seamen discharged and immediately re-engaged on articles for further service in the same ship.

CRS 2

Transfer from ship to leave and reserve pool.

CRS 3

Seaman remaining in the employ of the same management.

CRS 4

Entry form to merchant navy reserve pool when not direct from sea-going employment.

CRS 5

Advice to manager of employment exchange that a seaman has been instructed to report to his office.

CRS 6

Absentee report

CRS 7

Cancelling absentee report

CRS 8

Certificate of discharge from merchant navy service.

CRS 8A

Right of seamen to appeal against discharge from reserve pool.

CRS 9

Instructing a seaman to report for employment in a certain ship.

CRS 10

Seaman's history sheet

CRS 11

Registrar General Shipping forwarding cards, ED350 to merchant navy reserve pool.

CRS 12

Merchant navy reserve pool forwarding cards ED350 to Superintendent MMO.

CRS 13

Superintendent, MMO forwarding cards ED350 to Ministry of Labour, and subsequent action.

CRS 13a TE

For action under MIL Circular No. 121/

CRS 13a E

For action under M/L Circular No. 23/53

CRS 13aEA(2)

For action under M/L Circular No. 23/60

CRS 13a SC

Training of youths for merchant navy, M/L Circ. 6/94

CRS 14

Release from merchant navy obligations. Asking applicant for personal particulars.

CRS 15

Release from merchant navy obligations. Advising applicant of his liability to register under the Registration for Employment Order, 1941.

CRS 16

Forwarding to the merchant navy reserve pool application for release from merchant navy obligations.

CRS 17

Informing applicant of the result of his request for release from merchant navy obligations.

CRS 18

Certifying that a former seaman is not now required for service in the merchant navy.

CRS 19

Forwarding to merchant navy reserve pool central office an application from a man who desires to be released from the armed forces in order to return to the merchant navy.

CRS 20

Acknowledging a request for release from the armed forces and informing application what action he should take if the request is granted.

CRS 21

Refusing an application for permission to transfer from the armed forces to the merchant navy.

CRS 22

Letter to Admiralty, War Office and Air Ministry asking for a man to be transferred from the forces to an unpaid reserve for service in the merchant navy.

CRS 23

Telling local pool that a man has been released from the forces and will report to them shortly.

CRS 24

Application to return to seagoing employment. No indication that writer is subject to the Registration for Employment Order. Referring applicant to local pool.

CRS 25

Telling applicant who has had no sea service that his application for employment in the merchant navy has been referred to pool.

CRS 26

Telling applicant that we are unable to assist him to obtain shore. Directing him to Ministry of Labour employment.

CRS 27

Applicant has not been to sea since 31st December 1935. Referring him to Ministry of Labour (ED 10 procedure).

CRS 28

Asking for particulars of a seaman's age, occupation and last discharge.

CRS 29

Telling an ED350 registered man that the Pool have been told of his willingness to return to Merchant Navy at once.

CRS 30

Medical Certificate

CRS 31

Asking applicant to produce evidence of acceptability as pilot or observer.

CRS 32

Tells Air Ministry (or Admiralty) of a seaman's release for duty as pilot or observer.

CRS 33

Special certificate of release as pilot or observer only.

CRS 34

Telling applicant that release has been granted for entry into RAF (or FAA) as pilot or observer.

CRS 35

Telling local pool that a release to train a s pilot or observer has not been granted.

CRS 36

Telling central pool that a seaman desires release to train as pilot or and asking for their observations observer.

CRS 37

Release from armed forces to serve in the merchant navy.

CRS 38

Questioning released armed forces man, returning, or still required for the merchant navy.

CRS 39

British seaman authorised to serve in a non-British ship.

CRS 40

British Seaman discharged from a non-British ship.

CRS 41

Application for entry into reserve pool.

CRS 42

Failure to notify Registrar General Shipping & Seamen of a seaman serving in a ship or previous evidence of service in merchant navy.

CRS 43

Information received of seaman serving in a ship. No CRS form of engagement received.

CRS 44

Instructions to report after discharge.

CRS 45

Application to return to employment in merchant navy.

CRS 46

Return to unit of a released man.

CRS 47

Confirming telephone message regarding discharge of seaman, giving reasons.

CRS 48

Granting discharge from merchant navy. Advising seaman that CRS 8 will be issued by Registrar General Shipping under certain conditions (and enclosure).

CRS 49

Forwarding to seaman CRS 8 issued by Registrar General Shipping.

CRS 50

A certificate of temporary release from pool due to medical unfitness.

CRS 51

Loan of seaman from pool for service in a ship to which the Essential Work Order (Merchant Navy) 1942 does not apply.

CRS 52

(Tally card; to be attached to NR 110). Slip for attachment to alien seamen's documents.

CRS 52A

Revised "Notice" for NR l 10.

CRS 53

British seaman's identity card

CRS 54

Application for British seaman's identity card.

CRS 55

Report of loss of a British Seamen's identity card.

CRS 56

Transfer of a seaman to national registration and civil rationing.

CRS 57

Record of issue of ration cards to a seaman ashore.

CRS 59

Forms of receipt and order on photographer.

CRS 59A

Acknowledgement of application for British seaman's identity card.

CRS 59B

Order for photograph

CRS 60

Advising MMO how to set upon seamen's identity card invalid by National Registration Officer.

CRS 61

Seaman's identity card improperly held, asking National Registration Officer to act.

CRS 62

Asking MMO to issue CRS 8 to seaman whose discharge has been recommended by us and central pool.

CRS 63

Wanted for desertion abroad

CRS 64

Referring to period of loan in connection with CRS 51.

CRS 65

Action sheet for surrendered or impounded identity cards.

CRS 66

Process sheet for national service action.

CRS 67

Requesting seaman to call at MMO for conversion of national registration card.

CRS 68

Information from national registration that member is holder of unconverted NR 110 number.

CRS 69

Instructions to MMO to issue seaman's unemployment insurance book.

CRS 70

Relating to alleged deserters from the army to be used in the merchant navy reserve.

CRS 71

Amendment of BSIC.

CRS 74

Daily operational pool report of personnel movements.

CRS 75

Instructions to seamen whose BSIC is incorrect.

CRS 76

MNRP notice of termination of employment.

CRS 77

Request for RS3 pouch (internal).

CRS 78

Relating to withdrawal of RS3 pouch from file.

CRS 79

For completing record as to latest movement contained in RS3 pouch.

CRS 80

Reporting admission of seaman to HM prison.

CRS 81

Medical xxamination of certificates engineers and apprentices.

CRS 81(2)

Medical examination of volunteer apprentices.

CRS 82

Report of loss abroad of a BSIC.

CRS 83

Temporary identity card for issue abroad.

CRS 84

BSIC enquiry form

CRS 85

Medical report on a merchant seaman.

CRS 86

Requesting sea cadet to obtain parents consent to enter training school.

CRS 87

Wallasey sea school; parents consent to cadet to enter.

CRS 88

Wallasey sea school rejection of application.

CRS 89

Wallasey sea school preliminary acceptance of cadet's application to enter.

CRS 90

Wallasey sea school final acceptance of sea cadet.

CRS 91

Letter to manager, labour exchange relating to application to become a sea cadet.

CRS 92

Notification to Inland Revenue of seaman's departure from pool.

CRS 93

Notification to Inland Revenue of opening or closing of articles.

CRS 94

Inland Revenue voyage slip.

CRS 99

Letter to applicant for training in Wallasey Sea school enclosing forms.

CRS 100

Training youths for the merchant navy. Application form..

CRS 101

Application form for ribbon 1939/45 Star.

CRS 102

Application forwarding a supply of ribbon 1939/45 Star.

CRS 103

Letter informing applicant he is not eligible for the 1939/456 Star.

CRS 104

Letter to application re 1939/45 Star stating claim is being considered.

CRS 105

Letter informing relatives of a deceased seaman that ribbon cannot be issued to them.

CRS 106 - CRS 108

Letter explaining procedure for applying for 1939/45 Star.

CRS 109

1939/45 Star

CRS 109A

Amendment slip

CRS 110

Application for War medal.

CRS 111-CRS 117

Application for 1939/45 Star.

CRS 118

1939/45 Star

CRS 119

1939/45 Star Chevrons for war service.

CRS 120

1939/45 Star Wound Stripes

CRS 121

Application for clothing coupons by a seaman who has lost his clothing book.

CRS 122

Merchant Navy Selection Board. Report of interview.

CRS 123

Letters to volunteers with instructions to report to Fireman's Training school.

CRS 124

Instruction to report to Cooks Training school.

CRS 125

Volunteer questionnaire

CRS 126

Letter to deck or steward trainee.

CRS 127-CRS 128

Entry of men registered under National Service Act.

CRS 129

Electoral declaration record card proxy voting.

CRS 130

Parliament (Elections and Meeting) Act 1943

CRS 131-CRS 134

Proxy meeting

CRS 135

Temporary identity card, ex POW

CRS 136-CRS 139

Alteration of income tax coding.

CRS 140-CRS 141

Kings badge

CRS 142

Ships Records to CRS section.

CRS 146

Release from merchant navy to the building trades.

CRS 150

Report of engagements.

CRS 151

Report of discharge.

CRS 152

Report of engagement advice note.

CRS 153

Report of discharge advice note.

CRS 154

Seaman to whom a British seaman's identity card has been issued (or re issued).

CRS 155

Statement of a seaman seeking to transfer to the national register, the loss of his British seaman's identity card and for his merchant navy clothing book.