Posted by Terence McManus on March 29, 2001 at 04:36:10 from 211.100.93.160:
In Reply to: Re: Names of ships, ranks of office posted by Paul Flint on March 28, 2001 at 23:40:34:
That's a pretty comprehensive answer Paul - just to amplify your points on the merchant navy.
The term First Officer etc. was generally used on passenger liners and Mate on cargo vessels. In general a mate would have a certificate ("ticket") for the next most senior post; so the First Mate would have a master's certificate "in his pocket" (c.f. Ted Walker to Jim Brading in WD) and the Captain, perhaps, an extra master's certificate.
The Chief Engineer and Radio Operator (in the days when ships had to carry one) would also be rated as officers.
Some shipping lines (e.g. Cunard) would give senior masters the title of Commodore.
The uncertified officers in the merchant marine are termed Apprentices, Cadets, or Midshipmen depending on the shipping company they happen to work for.
In general in the merchant marine there is no rank of "Captain". Captain is a curtousy title given to a Master while in command of a ship. The same practice applies in the RN hence, perhaps, the apparent anomaly of Ted Walker sometimes being refered to as "Commander" and sometimes as "Captain"