Two if by Sea Posted May 21, 2008 #1 Share Posted May 21, 2008 In another thread, someone posted about how to tell if an officer is in the Deck Department, which got me thinking: Can anyone post a complete run-down of all the various officer ranks onboard and what their uniform stripes mean? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Copper10-8 Posted May 21, 2008 #2 Share Posted May 21, 2008 Deciphering the stripes: Deck Department (gold bars one of which is looped) Engine Department: (straight gold bars) Environmental Officer (Straight gold bars with blue filling) Communications/IT Officer (Straight gold bars with green filling) Hotel Department (straight gold bars with white fillling) Medical Department (Straight gold bars with red filling) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Copper10-8 Posted May 21, 2008 #3 Share Posted May 21, 2008 Captain/Ship’s Master In command - has ultimate responsibility for the overall management of the ship Chief Officer 2nd in command - Head of deck department - Responsible for navigation and safety Second Officer Navigation officer Security Officer In charge of overall security and ship’s discipline Third Officer Navigation officer Fourth Officer Assistant Navigation Officer Cadet Learning the ropes Chief Engineer Head of engine department - responsible for all technical operations Second Engineer Watch officer - engine control room Chief Electrician Responsible for all electronics on board Third Engineer Air conditioning and ships services engineer Third Electrician Assistant to chief electrician Fourth Engineer Assistant watch officer - engine control room Second Electrician Assistant to the chief electrician Assistant engineer Assistant watch officer - engine control room Environmental Officer Information Technology Officer Responsible for all computer systems on board Communications Officer Responsible for satelite communication system MEDICAL DEPT. Ship’s Physician Responsible for medical care of guests and staff Dentist Lead Nurse Nurse HOTEL DEPT. Hotel Manager Head of and responsible for all aspects of the hotel department Purser Responsible for all matters of hotel administration Controller Provision Master Guest Relations Manager/Front Office Manager - Responsible for front office and guests’ concerns Information Service Officer Paymaster Night Manager Human Resources Manager Assistant Controller Passenger Services Coordinator Front Office Supervisor Management Trainee Chief Housekeeper - Responsible for the cleanliness of all staterooms, public areas, staff’s quarters and uniforms Assistant Chief Housekeeper Culinary Operations Manager - Responsible for all aspects of the food & beverage operation in restaurants, bars, lounges and room service Assistant Culinary Operations Manager Dining Room Manager Assistant Dining Rom Manager Alternate Restaurant Manager Lido Restaurant Manager Beverage Manager Assistant Beverage Manager Cellar Master Executive Chef Second Executive Chef (supervises different kitchen sections) Sous Chef (supervises different kitchen sections) Alternate Restaurant Chef Entertainment Dept. Cruise Director - Master of ceremonies - Responsible for all on board entertainment and scheduled activities Event Manager Shore Excursion Manager Onboard Cruise Consultant Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Two if by Sea Posted May 21, 2008 Author #4 Share Posted May 21, 2008 Thanks!! So, can you tell what someone's job is just from the uniform, or are there too many people at each rank? E.g. "three stripes with red-filled gold" would mean a doctor? Or could also be a nurse? Etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Copper10-8 Posted May 21, 2008 #5 Share Posted May 21, 2008 Thanks!! So, can you tell what someone's job is just from the uniform, or are there too many people at each rank? E.g. "three stripes with red-filled gold" would mean a doctor? Or could also be a nurse? Etc. The amount of stripes or bars go downward as the amount of responsibility someone's position has decreases; i.e. the Captain has four 1/2 stripes - no one else does. Chief Officer four, second officer three, security officer two, etc. The doctor has more bars than the lead nurse who has more bars than the nurse. The chief engineer has four bars, followed by the 2nd engineer, 3rd, 4th etc. Same with the hotel dept. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twinkletoes4445 Posted May 21, 2008 #6 Share Posted May 21, 2008 Wow, thanks for posting all this information. Very interesting. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westboroatty Posted May 21, 2008 #7 Share Posted May 21, 2008 I've never been on a HAL ship and it has been years since I have stepped foot on a cruise ship. However, having served in the Coast Guard, I'm familiar with naval rank structure. Does HAL recognize a naval style rank/title system? Would it be appropriate to address a uniformed officer on a HAL ship by rank? Would the officer with two stripes on his/her shoulders look at me funny if I addressed him/her with the title "leiutenant"? Is a three-striper properly addressed as a commander? Thanks in advance. Rick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CruiserBruce Posted May 21, 2008 #8 Share Posted May 21, 2008 I would (and have) called the Captain by his title, and the doctor by his/hers, but have never addressed any other person, face to face, by their title. No, I wouldn't consider it that sort of rank. Yes, they have a clear chain of command, but it is, as we say in the fire service, paramiltary, not true military. I have seen lower ranking (like waiters, bar stewards, etc) HAL employees refer to their superiors as "sir" or "mame", just like they do the passengers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Copper10-8 Posted May 21, 2008 #9 Share Posted May 21, 2008 I've never been on a HAL ship and it has been years since I have stepped foot on a cruise ship. However, having served in the Coast Guard, I'm familiar with naval rank structure. Does HAL recognize a naval style rank/title system? Would it be appropriate to address a uniformed officer on a HAL ship by rank? Would the officer with two stripes on his/her shoulders look at me funny if I addressed him/her with the title "leiutenant"? Is a three-striper properly addressed as a commander? Thanks in advance. Rick Hi Rick! No, HAL is not that formal anymore and does not address their officers (or each other) by military ranks like Ensign, Lt, Lt. Cmdr, etc. So yes, unless they have been former military in the Royal Netherlands Navy, Royal Navy, etc., they would probably raise an eyebrow if you were to address a 2-striper by Lt. Now, the captain will still be adressed by some as "captain", the chief officer by "chief", etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
midgecruiser Posted May 21, 2008 #10 Share Posted May 21, 2008 Great info....I have always wanted to know about the different stripes, colors, loops, etc. Thanks. Wendy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard in Panama Posted May 21, 2008 #11 Share Posted May 21, 2008 Very interesting . . . Any of you nautical buffs know why the "loop" for the deck officers is different on different cruise lines? HAL uses an actual loop, some use more of a square . . . ?? Regards, Richard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manbehindthecurtain Posted May 22, 2008 #12 Share Posted May 22, 2008 Edit of Copper's post with some extra info/corrections: Captain/Ship’s Master - 4.5 stripes In command - has ultimate responsibility for the overall management of the ship Chief Officer - 4 stripes 2nd in command - Head of deck department - Responsible for navigation, safety and security(=ship security officer First officer - 3 stripes senior navigation officer Second Officer -2 stripes Navigation officer Security Officer - 2 stripes Runs security department, reports to chief officer Third Officer - 1 stripe Navigation officer Fourth Officer - 1/2 stripe Assistant Navigation Officer Cadet - 1/4 stripe (aka spaghetti string) Learning the ropes Chief Engineer -4 Head of engine department - responsible for all technical operations First engineer - 3.5 in charge of maintenance operations Second Engineer -3 Watch officer - engine control room Chief Electrician -3 Responsible for all electronics on board Third Engineer -2 Air conditioning and ships services engineer Third Electrician -1 Assistant to chief electrician Fourth Engineer -1 Assistant watch officer - engine control room Second Electrician -2 Assistant to the chief electrician Assistant engineer (no longer exists) Environmental Officer -3 Information Technology Officer -2 Responsible for all computer systems on board Communications Officer -2 Responsible for satelite communication system Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manbehindthecurtain Posted May 22, 2008 #13 Share Posted May 22, 2008 Very interesting . . . Any of you nautical buffs know why the "loop" for the deck officers is different on different cruise lines? HAL uses an actual loop, some use more of a square . . . ?? Regards, Richard I don't know about the other shapes, but the round loop is also known as the "Nelson loop" after Lord Nelson. I still haven't found the complete history behind it yet, but apparently the dutch helped out Nelson at some point in history and he 'allowed' dutch officers to wear the nelson loop. I believe the number of ribs in the loop is supposed to represent the number of battles Nelson has won, but I never got the final story on this (or know the exact number)..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rkacruiser Posted May 22, 2008 #14 Share Posted May 22, 2008 For what it is worth, when I was aboard the Amsterdam during this year's world cruise, one of the 2nd Officers was promoted and became a First Officer. His wife was aboard and pointed this out to me when I was talking with her during one of the shore excursions when she was a ship's escort. When I saw him again, he had 4 stripes on his sleeve. Where does he fit into the scheme of things? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sail7seas Posted May 22, 2008 #15 Share Posted May 22, 2008 First Officer (Chief Officer on HAL) is one step beneath the Captain and carries a great deal of responsibility including being in charge of Life Boat Drill. :) is common to hear him addressed as Chief....same for Chief Engineer. It is a respectful way of addressing them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
world~citizen Posted May 22, 2008 #16 Share Posted May 22, 2008 I understand that members of the engineering department will have purple in the designation of their rank. This goes back to the days after the Titanic sank. All the engineers remained at their post. The king allowed members of that department to wear royal purple to honor them. The tradition caught on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Copper10-8 Posted May 22, 2008 #17 Share Posted May 22, 2008 Edit of Copper's post with some extra info/corrections: Thank you Sir, much obliged! I understand that members of the engineering department will have purple in the designation of their rank. This goes back to the days after the Titanic sank. All the engineers remained at their post. The king allowed members of that department to wear royal purple to honor them. The tradition caught on. Maybe the Brits do but not the Dutch! The cloggies had nothing to do with the sinking of the Titanic Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
world~citizen Posted May 22, 2008 #18 Share Posted May 22, 2008 Thank you Sir, much obliged! Maybe the Brits do but not the Dutch! The cloggies had nothing to do with the sinking of the Titanic True enough, but the tradition seems to hold cross-culturally so to speak. I am not certain about HAL. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manbehindthecurtain Posted May 22, 2008 #19 Share Posted May 22, 2008 First Officer (Chief Officer on HAL) is one step beneath the Captain and carries a great deal of responsibility including being in charge of Life Boat Drill. :) is common to hear him addressed as Chief....same for Chief Engineer. It is a respectful way of addressing them. Actually, it is Captain, then Chief Officer, then First Officer. First officer is 3 stripes and is the most senior of the watchstanding navigation officers. The captain and chief officer do not stand regular seawatches, only arrivals, departures and if there is bad weather/dense traffic/complicated situations or a combination of these. Chief officer (4 stripes) is often called staff captain on other cruiselines. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Copper10-8 Posted May 22, 2008 #20 Share Posted May 22, 2008 Here's that 'Nelson loop" Oz is talking about Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Copper10-8 Posted May 22, 2008 #21 Share Posted May 22, 2008 And one more (Dutch Navy officers during a change of command ceremony) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sail7seas Posted May 22, 2008 #22 Share Posted May 22, 2008 Actually, it is Captain, then Chief Officer, then First Officer. First officer is 3 stripes and is the most senior of the watchstanding navigation officers. The captain and chief officer do not stand regular seawatches, only arrivals, departures and if there is bad weather/dense traffic/complicated situations or a combination of these. Chief officer (4 stripes) is often called staff captain on other cruiselines. Ah so, Thank you. I've now mixed up First Officer twice! Hopefully, I know have it straight. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gphelps99 Posted May 23, 2008 #23 Share Posted May 23, 2008 John, thanks for all the information. Do you know who the Hotel Manager is for the Westerdam currently? We sail this Sunday for Alaska. Thanks!:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Copper10-8 Posted May 23, 2008 #24 Share Posted May 23, 2008 John, thanks for all the information. Do you know who the Hotel Manager is for the Westerdam currently? We sail this Sunday for Alaska. Thanks!:) Should be Ron Bontenbal. Have a great cruise!:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ASIWISH Posted October 4, 2011 #25 Share Posted October 4, 2011 2300 days on HAL ships on August 12, 2010 633 days at sea Most visited ports: 1. 146 visits to Fort Lauderdale 2. 116 times Half Moon Cay 3. 90x St. Thomas Holy Crap, Manbehindthecurtain!!!! That are some impressive numbers!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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