The Merchant Navy Medal
Regulations for the award of
The Merchant Navy Medal
The Award:
The Merchant Navy Medal, established in 2005, is a prestigious annual award recognising acts of courage afloat or meritorious service by persons from the United Kingdom, or British Overseas Dependent Territories, within the Merchant Navy or fishing fleet. Up to 20 medals may be awarded annually.
Eligibility:
There are no length of service stipulations for medals awarded for acts of courage afloat.
Those nominated for meritorious service must have served within the industry for a minimum of twelve years, of which at least five shall have been afloat. They can include officers, ratings, or shore-based personnel within maritime organisations such as shipping companies, agencies, authorities, charities, or educational establishments.
Up to five of the Medals may be awarded, honoris causa, to persons who have made a significant contribution to merchant shipping, its personnel or its affairs, but who are not themselves registered as merchant seafarers.
Nominations can only be considered for a maximum of two years after the nominee has left his or her post for which the nomination applies. Consideration is given for posthumous awards.
The Medal:
The Medal is rhodium-plated cupro-nickel and rounded in shape. On its obverse side is a profile portrait of Admiral Lord Nelson inscribed with THE MERCHANT NAVY MEDAL around the top and 1805 TRAFALGAR 2005 around the bottom. The reverse face features the Merchant Navy logo and the inscription reads FOR MERITORIOUS SERVICE. The ribbon, bordered in gold, is vertical striped red, white and green to represent the traditional colours of the Merchant Navy (which depict the port, masthead and starboard navigation lights of a ship). The name of the recipient is inscribed along the outer edge. Miniatures are also available to recipients. Those medals awarded for courage afloat also have a small silver anchor attached to the ribbon.
Nominations:
All nominations for the award must be made in writing, or by email, in strict confidence. Each should contain information about the candidate, including a resumé of their career history and the specific reasons for the nomination. Nominations may be made at any time but, to be considered in that year, must reach the Secretary of the Fund by 30th June. The Merchant Navy Medal Committee will decide the awards and reserves the right to ask for further information. In exceptional circumstances, where there are too many nominations for that year's allocation, or where further information is awaited, names may be carried forward for one further year only. In any event the Committees decision shall be final.
Receipt of every nomination will be acknowledged. Neither the committee nor its secretary will communicate further with the nominator, nor will it enter into any correspondence, or dialogue, with any person about its decisions.
The Committee will endeavour to communicate its decision in writing to the successful candidates and their nominators by 30th July. The names of all recipients will be released immediately before Trafalgar Day, October 21st and will be available on the website.
Award Presentations:
The Medal investiture will take place annually towards the end of the year at a formal ceremony in a prestigious venue in Central London. All recipients will be allotted at least three invitations for guests, which can include their families, friends and employers. Following the investiture there will be an informal reception for all those attending. Where recipients cannot attend, due to personal circumstances, such as being at sea, a local Medal ceremony may be arranged by the nominators or employers at their own expense.
The Committee will arrange for the names of recipients of the medal to be communicated to H.M. The Queen, the relevant Secretary of State and published in the London Gazette. They may also arrange publicity within the maritime press and other media. The names will be recorded, for perpetuity, in the archives held by the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich.
Recipients will be able to use the designation MNM after their names.
The Committee:
The Merchant Navy Medal Fund committee consists of an elected chairman and vice chairman and otherwise consists of representatives of those organisations that contribute either financially, or in kind, towards the Fund. At least two meetings are held annually. The committee's task is to ensure fairness and balance in the making of awards, ensure that all funds are properly used, and to support and advise the Secretary.Administration and Finance
The Fund is administered by the Merchant Navy Welfare Board which, under direction from the Committee, take responsibility for all administrative issues and management of the accounts. The Fund exists solely for the purposes of the purchase of medals, administration and arranging the presentation of the award. All income is composed entirely of corporate and public donations.
Contact details
The Secretary,
Merchant Navy Medal Fund
c/o Merchant Navy Welfare Board
8 Cumberland Place
Southampton, SO15 2BH
Tel 023 8033 7799
Fax 023 8063 4444
Email: enquiries@mnwb.org.uk
Website: www.merchantnavymedal.org