‘File 12/16 Merchant Shipping Acts and instructions to Consuls’ [‎99v] (198/272)

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is desirable, therefore that as little time as possible should have to be
expended on elucidation of details between receipt of the cables
and despatch of the resultant messages to those concerned, and
strict adherence to the following notes will not only ensure the
minimum delay at Cardiff but will reduce very considerably the
necessity for referring back to the port concerned for additional
information:—
Discharge
(а) In reporting a seaman’s discharge it is essential that his Dis.A
Number and capacity should invariably be given. It is unnecessary to
prefix the number by the words “ Dis.A. No.” The number with any
prefixed letter e.g. ‘‘ R ’ or ” S ” will suffice. If the seaman has no
British Seaman’s Identity Card from which his Dis.A No. can be
ascertained or if his number is not shown on the ship’s agreement, his
full Christian names or initials and year and place of birth should be
substituted.
(б) The name and Official Number of the ship from which discharge
has taken place should follow. If the ship is not on the British Register
its nationality should be stated to facilititate indentification of the
Managers, Operators or Allied Mission concerned.
(c) Date and cause of discharge. Exact information as to cause of
discharge is essential. If sickness, the nature of the complaint should
be stated; if injury, its nature and whether or not it was sustained
in the ship’s service; if not in the ship’s service it must be stated
whether due to the seaman’s own fault or not. Cases of ‘‘ War
Injury ” or ” War Risk Injury ” as defined in Ministry of War Trans
port Notice No. 247 should, when the ship is not lost or wrecked, be
identified. Crews coming into the Consul’s or Officer’s charge follow
ing the loss of their vessel by enemy action or marine peril should of
course be the subject of special cables, as indicated herein. Discharges
by mutual consent abroad are, normally, foreign to the spirit of the
Essential Work (Merchant Navy) Order, 1942. When one is un
avoidable, however, the circumstances should be explained. Other
causes of discharge should also be accompanied by brief particulars
as each case suggests, e.g. the nature of misconduct; cause of im
prisonment and duration of sentence; the circumstances in which a
seaman missed his ship and the origin of the report of desertion. In
the case of a desertion if new circumstances emerge later which
satisfy the Consul or officer that the seaman had a good reason for
not sailing with his ship (e.g. sudden sickness, or accident, while
ashore with permission), the facts should be stated in a subsequent
Sealot cable. .
(d) Seamen sometimes remain in charge at a port for a protracted
period. To obviate the necessity for enquiries at the request of the
Shipping Federation or shipowner, officers are, in such cases, re
quested to cable at monthly intervals, a report on the man’s progress
if sick or injured, or otherwise the reason for delayed disposal.
Arrival as passenger
(e) The landing of a seaman travelling on a Conveyance Order and
his subsequent departure should be reported giving the identification
particulars indicated above.
Disposal
(/) A British Seaman should not normally be allowed to undertake
shore employment abroad without the consent of the Ministry, but, if
as a matter of expediency a man is allowed to accept such employ
ment, its nature, probable duration and the reason which rendered the
seaman’s release from his obligations desirable should be stated in the
Sealot cable. Nor should he be allowed to engage in a foreign ship
other than as indicated in paragraph (4).