Each year, recipients of the Merchant Navy Medal for Meritorious Service are announced via notices placed in The Gazette. We take a look the origin of the award, its history and its recipients.

When was the Merchant Navy Medal founded?

The original Merchant Navy Medal was founded in 2005. It was conceived by Rev Mike Keulemans, then Warden of St Pauls Trust in Liverpool.

The Trust had a history of providing basic training to young people hoping to join the Merchant Navy and Rev Keulemans had an idea for an award which would recognise seafarers who had made a significant contribution to the Merchant Navy and Fishing Fleets.

Thus, the Merchant Navy Medal was born.

Who were the first recipients of the Merchant Navy Medal?

The first award committee comprised of Rev Keulemans himself, Lord Lingfield, who designed the original medal, and Captain Matthew Easton, a Liverpool Pilot since 2002 and one of the pilots who taught students of St Pauls Trust.

In 2005, the first Merchant Navy Medal ceremony was held in the Ship and Mitre pub, Liverpool, with the Lord Mayor of Liverpool present. There were nine recipients in total:

• J. Armstrong, Chief Engineer, MV ARKLOW VIEW for services to merchant shipping
• W.R.H. Boreham, Fleet Nautical Superintendent, CP Ships (UK) Ltd for services to merchant shipping and to the expansion of the British cadet officer pool
• A.Goulbourne, Master, FPSO JAMESTOWN for brave conduct in hostage incident, offshore Warri, Nigertia, June 2005
• The Revd. M. Keulemans, Chaplain, St. Paul’s Trust, Liverpool for services to British rating training and to the Merchant Navy Medal Fund
• D. McNamee, Master, MV MOONDANCE for services to the Irish Sea ferry sector and to the Ribble Valley branch of the Merchant Navy Association
• R.Marshall, AB, MV ARKLOW VENUS for services to merchant shipping
• W. Pearce, Bosun, MV LOACH for services to merchant shipping and to Liverpool Nautical Sixth Form
• D.H. Smith, Relief Chief Engineer, Arklow Shipping Ltd for services to merchant shipping
• R. Warwick, OBE, Master, QUEEN MARY 2 and Commodore of the Cunard Line for services to merchant shipping and to the growth and prestige of the cruise ship sector

When was the Merchant Navy Medal for Meritorious Service founded?

The original Merchant Navy Medal would continue to be awarded every year on Trafalgar Day, 21 October, until 2015 when, following years of discussion, Her Majesty the Queen signed the Royal Warrant for a new State Award to be named the ‘Merchant Navy Medal for Meritorious Service’.

The first recipients of the Merchant Navy Medal for Meritorious Service were announced on 2 September 2016 by Shipping Minister John Hayes. On the creation of the award, he said:

"This new state award, with a place in the order of wear, is being awarded to those who are serving or have served in the Merchant Navy and fishing fleets of the UK, Isle of Man or Channel Islands for exemplary service and devotion to duty, rewarding those who have set an outstanding example to others. Coinciding with Merchant Navy Day, it provides an opportunity to remember the sacrifices of our brave seafarers of the past and to show our appreciation for British shipping today and in the future."

What is the Merchant Navy Medal awarded for?

According to Captain Matthew Easton, Chairman of the Merchant Navy Honours Consultative Committee: “The Merchant Navy Medal for Meritorious Service recognises the exemplary service and devotion to duty made by the men and women of the Merchant Navy or Fishing Fleets of the United Kingdom, Isle of Man and the Channel Islands, which has been of particular value and has constituted an outstanding example to others.”

It can only be presented to those who have served at sea, in any capacity, in the Merchant Navy or Fishing Fleets. Eligibility is also dependent on a minimum of 20 years’ service, some of which must be afloat and any remainder within the industry.

While the Department for Transport is responsible for recommending awards to Ministers, it consults closely with the Merchant Navy Honours Consultative Committee when reviewing nominations.

The recipients of the award are announced annually on Merchant Navy Day, 3 September, with medals awarded on, or around the date, by HRH The Princess Royal in her capacity as Master of Trinity House. The number of awards granted per year remains at a maximum of 20.

What does the Merchant Navy Medal look like?

The original Merchant Navy Medal in 2005 was made from rhodium-plated cupro-nickel and was rounded in shape. On its obverse side was a profile portrait of Admiral Lord Nelson, due to his seafaring reputation, with an inscription of ‘THE MERCHANT NAVY MEDAL’ around the top and ‘1805 TRAFALGAR 2005’ at the bottom. The reverse face featured the Merchant Navy logo with an inscription reading ‘FOR MERITORIOUS SERVICE’. The ribbon was red, white and green, depicting the traditional colours of the merchant service.

This medal was superseded by the Merchant Navy Medal for Meritorious Service in 2016. The latest medal features the same reverse face with the Merchant Navy logo and the inscription ‘FOR MERITORIOUS SERVICE’, however the obverse side now features a profile of Her Majesty the Queen alongside the inscription ‘ELIZABETH II DEI GRATIA REGINA FID DEF’. While the pattern differs, the ribbon is still red, white and green.

Who has received the Merchant Navy Medal?

The recipients of the Merchant Navy Medal for Meritorious Service are announced annually via notices placed in The Gazette. You can see a full list of each year’s recipients here: Merchant Navy Medal recipients.

See also

Placing notices in The Gazette

Find out more

Department of Transport Nomination Form & Guidance Notes (Merchant Navy Medal)

Merchant Navy Medal for Meritorious Service: nomination process and recipients (Gov)

Merchant Navy Welfare Board

Images: © Mark Dalton