Merchant Services / Navey - are they the same? - Genealogy Chat - Boards

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Profile	Posted by	Options	Post Date
Member Since: January 2006 Posts: 1,295 Send Message	AmazingGrace08	Report	2 Nov 2009 00:14
	Could anyone please advise the difference (if there is any) between the British Navy and the Merchant Services? Are they one and the same thing? I have a number of relatives whose occupation in Scotland is given as either Merchant Services or Seaman, Merchant Services. I have been told by one person that if you were in the Merchant Services that you were employed by the Master of the Ship only, you had no term to serve etc. I'm not sure if this is correct as the kind person who told me this wasn't sure himself, he just thought it might be that way. Apologies if this is a too obvious question to ask, i don't live in the UK so I have no experience in this! Thanks
Member Since: November 2003 Posts: 28,261 Send Message	KathleenBell	Report	2 Nov 2009 00:18
	The Royal Navy (or British Navy) is part of the Armed Forces. The Merchant Navy is a non-combatant commercial fleet, which deals with transporting cargo and occasionally, passengers, by sea. Its fleet is therefore composed of passenger vessels, cargo liners, tankers, carriers, as well as other special types of vehicles. Definitely two separate things. Kath. x
Member Since: January 2006 Posts: 1,295 Send Message	AmazingGrace08	Report	2 Nov 2009 00:22
	Thanks Kath!