1. Guide reference: Domestic Records Information 112
Online version: http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk > Records > In-depth research guides >
Abbreviations in merchant seamen's records
Abbreviations in merchant seamen's records
Contents
1. Why use this guide?
2. Essential information
3. Abbreviations for Merchant Navy ranks
4. Port numbers for UK ports
5. Port numbers for colonial ports
6. Abbreviations for destinations
7. Central Records Section (CRS) forms
1. Why use this guide?
Use this guide to interpret a range of abbreviations found in Merchant Navy service records from
1835 to 1972.
2. Essential information
You may need to interpret an abbreviation
l so you can proceed to look at other possible records which may provide further information
about the merchant seamen
l because it will provide you with information about the merchant seamen i.e. where they
went on a particular recorded voyage
No key for port rotation numbers (which appear in earlier merchant seamen service records) has
been found. You may be able to locate which official numbers belong to which ships in series BT
336.
3. Abbreviations for Merchant Navy ranks
Abbreviation Probable meaning Abbreviation Probable meaning
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

2. 4. Port numbers for UK ports
Use the below list to find out which port numbers abbreviations refer to which UK ports.
4.1 Why do I need to know which port numbers refer to which UK ports?
You may need to know which port number abbreviations refer to which ports so you can then
proceed to find a document reference for an agreement and crew list from 1835 to 1857 in series
BT 98.
For more information on how to find an agreement and crew list read Crew lists, agreements
and log books 1747-1861.
Port numbers frequently appear in merchant seamen records up to 1857. For information on
where a port number may appear in a service record read Merchant seamen up to 1857:
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 Extraordinary 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?

3. further research.
Port numbers may also appear in other types of merchant navy records and the table can be used
to interpret the abbreviations.
Port
number
Port name
Port
number
Port name
Port
number
Port name
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 Borrowstounness62 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-

4. Tyne

5. 5. Port numbers for colonial ports
Use the below list to find out which port numbers refer to which colonial ports.
47 Goole 96 Swansea 160 Youghal (S.
Ireland)
48 Greenock 97 Truro 161 Barrow
49 Grimsby 98 Waterford
Port number Port name Port number Port name
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

6.
6. Abbreviations for destinations
Use the below list to find out which abbreviations refer to which destination(s) of merchant ships.
7. Central Records Section (CRS) forms
Below are the main types of forms used in by the merchant navy to record information.
These forms were often issued to merchant seamen and are referenced in merchant seamen
records we hold.
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
Letter Country
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 Description
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.

7. 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.

8. 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.

9. 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.

10. Guide reference: Domestic Records Information 112
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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.