Order of Maritime Merit (France)
The Order of Merit of Maritime Merit was founded on February 9, 1930 and awarded by the French President to people who belong to the merchant navy or who have made a contribution to the development of the merchant navy, ports, fishing and nautical sports. In wartime, the award can also be given for military service.
Classes
The order consists of three classes
To be awarded the medal, the person concerned must be at least 30 years old and, in addition to fulfilling the other criteria, have served the merchant navy for 15 years. Periods of service in the Navy can be taken into account. The award ceremony takes place in three categories
- Cat. A: Merchant Navy seafaring personnel
- Cat. B: People who have made a name for themselves in the development of the merchant navy, ports, fishing and nautical sports
- Cat. C: National Navy personnel
The following contingents are awarded per calendar year:
|
1930 to 1946 |
1947 to 1963 |
from 2002 |
||||||||||
| Commander | officer | Knight | total | Commander | officer | Knight | total | Commander | officer | Knight | total | |
| Cat. A |
7th |
70 |
175 |
252 |
5 |
50 |
175 |
230 |
5 |
36 |
120 |
161 |
| Cat. B |
2 |
20th |
50 |
72 |
2 |
15th |
60 |
77 |
3 |
14th |
40 |
57 |
| Cat. C |
1 |
10 |
25th |
36 |
2 |
10 |
25th |
37 |
2 |
20th |
100 |
122 |
| total |
10 |
100 |
250 |
360 |
9 |
75 |
260 |
344 |
10 |
70 |
260 |
340 |
Foreigners who are awarded the medal are not subject to the quota.
Order decoration
The sign of the order is a white enameled star with eight rays and in the corners there are shorter metal rays that are slightly ribbed. An anchor is placed in the center of the star , over which the medallion lies. The head of Française is depicted in the medallion. All around, the inscription REPUBLIQUE FRANÇAISE in a blue enamelled ring and two crossed laurel branches in the lower part of the ring . On the reverse the two-line inscription MERITE MARITIME and all around MARINE MARCHANDE .
Carrying method
The commander's cross is worn around the neck, the officer and knight's cross on a ribbon on the left side of the chest. A rosette is also attached to the officer's tape.
The ribbon is dark ultramarine blue with green side stripes.
Others
Awards are generally held on January 1st and July 14th ( national holiday ). However, this can be deviated from in exceptional cases.
The award of the Maritime Order of Merit was discontinued in 1963 in the course of the reorganization of the French order and the Foundation of the National Order of Merit . With decree 88/2002 of January 17th, 2002 the order was reintroduced.
literature
- Kurt-Gerhard Klietmann , Ottfried Neubecker (ed.): Ordens-Lexikon. Part 2. The Order Collection, Berlin 1962.