Maritime Signal Flags

MANIFEST
A document containing a full list of the ship's cargo, extracted from the bills of lading.

MANNING SCALES
The minimum number of officers and crew members that can be engaged on a ship to be considered as sufficient hands with practical ability to meet every possible eventuality at sea.

DECK DEPARTMENT
LICENSED

MASTER (CAPTAIN)
Highest officer aboard ship. Oversees all ship operations. Keeps ships records. Handles accounting and bookkeeping. Takes command of vessel in inclement weather and in crowded or narrow waters. Handles communications. Receives and implements instructions from home office.

FIRST MATE (CHIEF MATE)
In charge of four to eight watch. Directly responsible for all deck operations (cargo storage and handling, deck maintenance deck supplies). Assigns and checks deck department overtime. Ship's medical officer.

SECOND MATE
In charge of twelve to four watch. Ships navigation officer. Keeps charts (maps) up to date and monitors navigation equipment on bridge.

THIRD MATE
In charge of eight to twelve watch. Makes sure emergency survival equipment (lifeboats, life rings, etc.) are in order. Assists other officers as directed.

ENGINE DEPARTMENT
LICENSED

CHIEF ENGINEER
Head of engineer department. Keeps records of all engine parts and repairs. Generally tends to the functioning of all mechanical equipment on ship. Calculates fuel and water consumption and requirements. Coordinates operations with shoreside port engineer.

FIRST ASSISTANT ENGINEER
In charge of four to eight watch. Usually works from eight to four handling engine maintenance. Assigns duties to unlicensed personnel and monitors and records overtime. Consults with Chief regarding work priorities.

SECOND ASSISTANT ENGINEER
In charge of twelve to four watch. On steam vessels has responsibility for the boilers, on diesels, the evaporators and the auxiliary equipment.

THIRD ASSISTANT ENGINEER
In charge of eight to twelve watch. Maintains lighting fixtures. Repairs malfunctioning accessories in living quarters. Assist other engineers as directed.

DECK DEPARTMENT
UNLICENSED

BOATSWAIN (BOSUN)
Receives working orders for deck gang from chief mate and passes them onto AB's and ordinaries. Tantamount to foreman, he is on deck directly supervising maintenance operations.

SHIPS CHAIRMAN (SHOP STEWARD)
In charge of union business for unlicensed personnel. Handles grievances.

ABLE SEAMEN (AB)
Stand watch, during which they steer the vessel, stand lookout, assist the mate on watch and make rounds of the ship to insure that all is in order. They also tie up and untie the vessel to and from the dock and maintain the equipment on deck.

ORDINARY SEAMAN (OS)
An apprentice AB, assists AB's bosun, and officers, keeps facilities clean.

ENGINE DEPARTMENT
UNLICENSED

PUMPMAN AND ELECTRICIAN - QUALIFIED MEMBERS OF THE
ENGINE DEPARTMENT (Q.M.E.D.)
Trained in all crafts necessary to engine maintenance (welding, refrigeration, lathe operation, die casting, electricity, pumping, water purification, oiling, evaluating engine gauges, etc.) Usually watchstanders but on some ships day workers.

PUMPMAN (TANKERS)
Operates pumps and discharges petroleum products. Maintains and repairs all cargo handling equipment.

EQUIPMENT (LINERS)
Maintains and repairs cargo handling equipment and also cargo with special handling characteristics.

WIPERS
Apprentice QMED. Cleans engine room. Assists officers and QMED's.

STEWARD DEPARTMENT

CHIEF STEWARD
Orders food. Prepares menus. Assists chief cook in food preparation.

COOK AND BAKER (CHIEF COOK)
Cooks and bakes.

STEWARD ASSISTANT
Clean galley and mess halls, set tables, prepare salads, clean living quarters.

RADIO DEPARTMENT

RADIO OPERATOR
Maintains and monitors radio, sends and receives messages. Often maintains electronic navigation equipment.

MARITIME ADMINISTRATION (MARAD )
Oversees subsidy programs to the United States Merchant Marine. Assigns routes to subsidized liners.

MARITIME LIEN
A claim which attaches to the res, i.e., the ship,. freight, or cargo.

MARITIME SUBSIDY BOARD (MSB)
A branch within the Maritime Administration which deals with Operating Differential Subsidy and Construction Differential Subsidy.

MARPOL 73/78
The International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973, as modified by the Protocol of 1978.

MASTHEAD LIGHT
A white light positioned over the fore and aft centerline of the vessel.

MIB
Marine Index Bureau.

MFN
Most Favored Nation.

MINILAND BRIDGE
The process of taking inland cargo bound for export to the coast by rail and loading it directly to the ship.

MIRAID
Maritime Institute for Research and Industrial Development.

MIXED SHIPMENT
A shipment consisting of more than one commodity, articles described under more than one class or commodity rate item in a tariff.

MICROBRIDGE
A system of through rates and service offered by a carrier for cargo shipments from any inland U.S. location to a port, by sea to a foreign port and finally overland to foreign inland destination.

MODU
Mobile Offshore Drilling Unit.

MOORING LINE
A cable or line to tie up a ship.

MSB
Maritime Subsidy Board.

M/T
Metric tons (2,250 lbs.).

MTC
Maritime Transport Committee, OECD

MULTIPURPOSE SHIP
Any ship capable of carrying different types of cargo which require different methods of handling. There are several types of ships falling into this category, for example, ships which can carry roll on/roll off cargo together with containers.