EVERYTHING YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT EPAULETS AND CREW HIERARCHY

Epaulets are the ornamental shoulder pieces worn on the uniform of some members of a ship's crew, including officers and certain senior personnel. They serve as a visual indicator of the wearer's rank or position onboard the ship. In the following text, we summed up an interesting article about epaulets from Dockwalk.

The word "epaulet" comes from the French word "epaule," meaning shoulder. Originally, they were ribbons tied into knots with fringe ends that prevented shoulder belts from slipping as they carried bayonets or swords. By the early 18th century, epaulets became a distinguishing feature of commissioned rank in the military and were later adopted into the United States Navy uniform regulations in 1797.

Epaulets are typically reserved for formal occasions, such as welcoming guests aboard or during dinner service. On more casual occasions, crew members may wear polo shirts or t-shirts branded with the company’s or yacht's name, paired with shorts or jeans.

Overall, understanding the crew ranking system can be useful for identifying and communicating with different members of a ship's crew, as well as for showing respect and deference to those in higher positions.

The crew ranking system typically varies depending on the type of vessel and the country of origin, but there are some general guidelines that can be followed. In general, the higher the rank of the crew member, the more stripes or bars their epaulets will have.

On merchant ships, the ranking system often starts with the captain, who wears four stripes or bars on their epaulets. The chief officer (or first mate) wears three stripes or bars, while other officers wear two or one. Crew members who do not hold officer rank typically do not wear epaulets.

On naval vessels, the ranking system is often more complex and includes more ranks than on merchant ships. In addition to the stripes or bars on their epaulets, naval officers may also wear different symbols or badges to indicate their specialized training or job function.

In addition to the number of stripes, the symbols on the epaulets represent the department to which the crew member belongs. On yachts, captains, first officers, and deckhands have anchors on their epaulets, while engineers have propellers, and stewardesses have silver crescent moons, which are a historic symbol of food and supplies that can be traced back to Napoleon's introduction of crescent-shaped bread into the rations for the Grande Armée in the 1800s. In yachting, these ornamental shoulder pieces are a crucial symbol of rank and should not be overlooked.

It's worth noting that not all crew members wear epaulets, as they are typically reserved for officers or other high-ranking personnel. However, on some ships, crew members may wear different colors or insignia on their uniforms to indicate their job function or department.

To read the original article, go to Dockwalk. For additional information on crew hierarchy and other essential topics, visit Crew Pages - your ultimate guide to all things maritime.

Photo by MorskiHR