What are all the Officer ranks on HAL?

[Two if by Sea]

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?

[Copper10-8]

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)

[Copper10-8]

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

[Two if by Sea]

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.

[Copper10-8]

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.

[twinkletoes4445]

Wow, thanks for posting all this information. Very interesting. :)

[westboroatty]

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

[CruiserBruce]

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.

[Copper10-8]

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.

[midgecruiser]

Great info....I have always wanted to know about the different stripes, colors, loops, etc. Thanks.

 

Wendy

[Richard in Panama]

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

[manbehindthecurtain]

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

 

 

 

[manbehindthecurtain]

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).....

[rkacruiser]

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?

[sail7seas]

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.

 

[world~citizen]

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.

[Copper10-8]

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

[world~citizen]

 

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.

[manbehindthecurtain]

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.

[Copper10-8]

Here's that 'Nelson loop" Oz is talking about

 

[Copper10-8]

And one more (Dutch Navy officers during a change of command ceremony)

[sail7seas]

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. :)

[gphelps99]

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!:)

[Copper10-8]

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!:)

[ASIWISH]

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!!!!