• I have a query regarding my Merchant Navy Pension. Who Do I speak to?
• I am thinking of joining the Merchant Navy, how do I apply?
• How do I go about going back to sea?
• I am seeking information on who was lost on a British & Commonwealth merchant vessel in World War I or II.
• Where are the names of the merchant seafarers and fishermen lost in both World Wars and the Falklands Conflict remembered?
• I am a professional seafarer. Where can I get advice on employment issues?
• I was a professional seafarer. Where can I get advice about claiming for resultant industrial injury or illness?
• I would like to move into Merchant Navy Accommodation. How do I go about this?
• I am a retired seafarer, where can I receive prompt medical treatment?
• I am researching my family’s Merchant Navy history, how do I obtain his Discharge Book records?
• Where can I get advice on benefits, housing, matrimonial & other legal matters?
• How do I trace an ancestor who was in the Merchant Navy?
• How can I obtain my Merchant Navy Campaign Medals?
• Can I make a booking at the Merchant Navy Hotel?
• I still have some unanswered questions. What do I do?

I have a query regarding my Merchant Navy Pension. Who Do I speak to?

You need to contact the Merchant Navy Pension Administration:

Ashcombe House
The Crescent
Leatherhead
Surrey
KT22 8LQ

Tel: 01372 386000

I am thinking of joining the Merchant Navy, how do I apply?

You need to contact either the Chamber of Shipping on 0207 417 2820 or the Marine Society & Sea Cadet Association on 0207 261 9535.

How do I go about going back to sea?

You need to contact the Chamber of Shipping on 0207 417 2820.

I am seeking information on someone who was lost on a British & Commonwealth merchant vessel in World War I or II

The Board holds copies of the Roll Honour for both Wars. It is happy to supply copies of the relevant entries.

Where are the names of the merchant seafarers and fishermen lost in both World Wars and the Falklands Conflict remembered?

The Merchant Navy War Memorial. Please note that these memorials only record the names of those with no known grave.

I am a professional seafarer. Where can I get advice on employment issues?

If you are a British seafarer you should contact either your trade union, if you are a member or contact the Seafarers’ Benefits Advice Line on 0845 7413318. For overseas seafarers you should contact the International Seafarers' Assistance Network (ISAN) www.seafarerhelp.org

I was a professional seafarer. Where can I get advice about claiming for resultant industrial injury or illness?

If you were a member of a trade union, at the time of the accident or illness, you should contact them. Please note:

For Officers who were members of NUMAST, MNAOA, MMSA and REOU you should now contact Nautilus UK on 020 8989 6677.

For ratings who were members of the National Union of Seamen you should contact the RMT on 020 7387 4771.

For all other such enquiries contact the Seafarers’ Benefits Advice Line on 0845 7413318.

I would like to move into Merchant Navy Accommodation. How do I go about this?

There are a number of almshouses, sheltered housing, hostels and care homes for merchant seafarers and fishermen.

I am a retired seafarer, where can I receive prompt medical treatment?

The Dreadnought Medical Service at Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospital in London offers priority treatment to active seafarers and their families and retired seafarers (but not their families) with long service. The dependants of retired seafarers are not entitled to use the Dreadnought. For further information and details on how to apply please visit www.seabal.org.uk/factsheets/dreadnought.htm.

I am researching my family’s Merchant Navy history, how do I obtain Discharge Book records?

Currently, seafarers’ records between 1940 and 1973 are held by in National Archives, at the Public Records Office in Kew. After 1973 the Registrar General was not required by legislation to keep these records. You may visit Kew personally, but it is often difficult to locate information due to the vast numbers of documents held. A simple and comparatively low cost option is to use a professional researcher. When checking service eligibility for charitable help we use Tim Hughes & Associates. They are very experienced in this field and can carry out this work for a small fee. Please visit their website for further information - www.timhughes.com. For other records, there are a number of excellent commercial publications which include seafarers’ records or use a genealogist. Please note the Board is not able to undertake or advise on family history research.

Where can I get advice on benefits, housing, matrimonial and other legal matters?

You can speak to the Seafarers’ Benefits Advice Line on 0845 7413318. It is a telephone advice service funded by the Seamen’s Hospital Society to provide advice to merchant seafarers, fishermen and their families. They can assist with various issues, from housing to legal matters. They are available from 1000hrs to 1230hrs Monday to Friday.

How do I trace an ancestor who was in the Merchant Navy?

You need to contact:

Registry of Shipping and Seamen
Anchor House
Cheviot Close
Parc Ty Glas
Llanishen
Cardiff
CF4 5JA

Tel: 02920 448800

How can I obtain my Merchant Navy Campaign Medals?

You will need to speak to the Registry of Shipping and Seamen on 02920 448800. Campaign Medals for WWII and post war are issued to Merchant Seafarers or close family members if deceased, upon receipt of proof of sea service in specific theatres of war.

Can I make a booking at the Merchant Navy Hotel?

The Merchant Navy Hotel at Lancaster Gate in London closed in December 2002. There is now no longer any such facility in the UK.

I still have some unanswered questions. What do I do?

Contact the Merchant Navy Welfare Board either on 02380 337799 or enquiries@mnwb.org.uk. If you have questions we will be pleased to try and answer them!