Ship prefix

A ship prefix is a combination of letters, usually abbreviations, used in front of the name of a civilian or naval ship.

Prefixes for civilian vessels may either identify the type of propulsion, such as "PS" for Paddle steamer, or purpose, such as "RV" for research vessel. Civilian prefixes are often used inconsistently, and frequently not at all. Sometimes a slash is used to separate the letters, as in "M/S".

Naval prefixes came into use as abbreviations for longer titles, such as "His/Her Majesty's Ship" in the Royal Navy, abbreviated "H.M.S." and then "HMS". Earlier uses often included the type of vessel, as for instance "U.S.F." ("United States Frigate") for frigates of the United States Navy. Today the common practice is to use a single prefix for all warships of a nation's navy, and other prefixes for auxiliaries and ships of allied services, such as coast guards.

The use of ship prefixes is not universal; in particular neither the German Kriegsmarine nor the Imperial Japanese Navy used ship prefixes. Some English-language writers use prefixes like "DKM" (for "Deutsche Kriegsmarine") and "HIJMS" (for "His Imperial Japanese Majesty's Ship") or "IJN" (for "Imperial Japanese Navy", a translation of 大日本帝国海軍 dai-nippon teikoku kaigun) for consistency with "HMS" and "USS". Other writers follow the practice of the navy and omit any prefix.

From the 20th century onwards, most navies identify ships by hull numbers — identification codes typically painted on the side of the ship. Each navy has its own system: the United States Navy uses hull classification symbols, and the Royal Navy and other navies of Europe and the Commonwealth use pennant numbers.

These tables list both current and historical prefixes known to have been used.

Generic (Merchant Navy) prefixes

AHTS Balder Viking

FPSO Noble Seillean

Prefix	Meaning
AHT	Anchor Handling Tug
AHTS	Anchor Handling Tug Supply vessel
CRV	Coastal Research Vessel
C/F	Car Ferry
CS	Cable Ship
DB	Derrick Barge
DEPV	Diesel Electric Paddle Vessel
DLB	Derrick Lay Barge
DCV	Deepwater Construction Vessel
DSV	Diving Support Vessel/ Deep Submergence Vehicle
DV	Dead vessel
ERRV	Emergency Response Rescue Vessel
FPSO	Floating Production, Storage and Offloading Vessel
FPV	Free Piston Vessel
FPV	Fishery Patrol Vessel
FT	Factory Stern Trawler
FV	Fishing Vessel
GTS	Gas Turbine Ship
HLV	Heavy lift vessel
HSC	High Speed Craft
HSF	High Speed Ferry
HTV	Heavy Transport Vessel
IRV	International Research Vessel
LB	Liftboat
LNG/C	Liquefied natural gas carrier
LPG/C	Liquefied petroleum gas carrier
MF	Motor Ferry
MS (M/S)	Motor Ship (interchangeable with MV)
MSV	Multipurpose support/supply vessel
MSY	Motor Sailing Yacht
MT	Motor Tanker
MTS	Marine Towage and Salvage/Tugboat
MV (M/V)	Motor Vessel (interchangeable with MS)
MY	Motor Yacht
NB	Narrowboat
NRV	NATO Research Vessel
NS	Nuclear Ship
OSV	Offshore Supply Vessel
PS	Paddle Steamer
PSV	Platform Supply Vessel
QSMV	Quadruple Screw Motor Vessel
QTEV	Quadruple Turbo Electric Vessel (see Queen of Bermuda)
RMS	Royal Mail Ship or Royal Mail Steamer
RNLB	Royal National Lifeboat
RV / RSV	Research Vessel
SB	Sailing Barge
SS (S/S)	Screw Steamer driven by propellers or screws, often understood to stand for "steamship"
SSCV	Semi-Submersible Crane Vessel
SSV	Sailing School Vessel, Submarine and Special Warfare Support Vessel
ST	Steam Tug
STS	Sail Training Ship
STV	Sail Training Vessel or Steam Turbine Vessel
SV	Sailing Vessel
SY	Sailing Yacht or Steam Yacht
TEV	Turbine Electric Vessel
TIV	Turbine Installation Vessel
TS	Training Ship
TSS	Turbine Steam Ship or Twin Screw Steamer
TV	Training vessel

National or military prefixes

Country	Service	Prefix	Meaning
Argentina	Argentine Navy	ARA	Navy of the Argentine Republic (Spanish: Armada de la Republica Argentina)
	Argentine Coast Guard	GC	Argentine Coast Guard Ship (Spanish: Guardacostas)
Australia	Royal Australian Navy	HMAS	His/Her Majesty's Australian Ship
Australia (Victoria)	Royal Navy	HMVS	His/Her Majesty's Victorian Ship (obsolete)
Austria-Hungary	Austro-Hungarian Navy	SMS	Seiner Majestät Schiff (English: His Majesty's Ship)
Bahamas	Royal Bahamas Defence Force	HMBS	His/Her Majesty's Bahamian Ship
Bangladesh	Bangladesh Navy	BNS	Bangladesh Naval Ship
Barbados	Barbados Defence Force	HMBS	His/Her Majesty's Barbadian Ship
Belgium	Belgian Navy	BNS	Belgium Naval Ship (NATO prefix)
Brunei	Royal Brunei Navy	KDB	Kapal Di-Raja Brunei — Royal Brunei Ship
Burma	Burmese Navy	UBS	Bamar Sit Yay Yin — Union of Burma Ship
Canada	Canadian Forces	HMCS/NCSM	His/Her Majesty's Canadian Ship/[Navire canadien de Sa Majesté] Error: {{Lang}}: text has italic markup (help) (French)
		CFAV/NAFC	Canadian Forces Auxiliary Vessel/[Navire auxiliaire des Forces canadiennes] Error: {{Lang}}: text has italic markup (help) (French)
	Canadian Coast Guard	CCGS/NGCC	Canadian Coast Guard Ship/[Navire de Garde côtière canadienne] Error: {{Lang}}: text has italic markup (help) (French)
		CCGC/CGCC	Canadian Coast Guard Cutter/[Cotre de Garde côtière canadienne] Error: {{Lang}}: text has italic markup (help) (French) (no longer used)
	Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Department of Transport, and predecessor departments	CGS	Canadian Government Ship (no longer used)
		CSS	Canadian Survey Ship (no longer used)
		DGS	Dominion Government Ship (no longer used)
	Royal Canadian Sea Cadets	SCTS/NECM	Sea Cadet Training Ship/[Navire école des cadets de la Marine] Error: {{Lang}}: text has italic markup (help) (French)
Colombia	Armada Nacional	ARC	Armada de la Republica de Colombia
Confederate States of America	Confederate States Navy	CSS	Confederate States Ship
Cook Islands	Cook Islands Police	CIPPB	Cook Islands Police Patrol Boat
Denmark	Royal Danish Navy	HDMS (Danish: KDM)	His/Her Danish Majesty's Ship (Danish: Kongelige Danske Marine)
Ecuador	Armada Ecuatoriana	BAE	Buque de la Armada de Ecuador
Egypt	Egyptian Navy	ENS	Egyptian Naval Ship
Estonia	Estonian Navy	ENS (Estonian: EML)	Estonian Naval Ship (NATO designation)
	Estonian Coast Guard	ECGS	Estonian Coast Guard Ship (NATO designation)
Fiji	Republic of Fiji Navy	RFNS	Republic of Fiji Naval Ship
Finland	Finnish Navy	FNS	Finnish Navy Ship. Prefixes are not used in Finnish-language communications.
France	French Navy	OF	Okręt Francuski (Polish French Ship); used in 1940-41 for French destroyer Ouragan
		FS	French Ship (NATO designation); France does not use prefixes internally
German Empire	Kaiserliche Marine	SM U##	Seiner Majestät Unterseeboot (English: His Majesty's Submarine)
		SMS	Seiner Majestät Schiff (English: His Majesty's Ship)
Nazi Germany	Kriegsmarine	—	(no prefix; some authors use "DKM" for "Deutsche Kriegsmarine" and "KMS" for "Kriegsmarine Schiffe")
West Germany	Bundesmarine	FGS	Federal German Ship (NATO designation); West Germany did not use prefixes internally
Germany (reunited)	German Navy	FGS	Federal German Ship (NATO designation)
Kingdom of Greece	Royal Hellenic Navy	ΒΠ (VP)	Βασιλικόν Πλοίον (Vassilikón Ploíon), "Royal Ship"; RHS (Royal Hellenic Ship) or HHMS (His Hellenic Majesty's Ship) in use by English-language authors and contemporary foreign navies.
Greece	Hellenic Navy	HS	Hellenic Ship: NATO designation, used in international communications; internally the Hellenic Navy uses prefixes indicating ship type.
Guyana	Guyanese Coast Guard	GDFS	Guyanese Defence Forces Ship
Kingdom of Hawaii	Hawaiian Navy	HHMS	His Hawaiian Majesty's Ships; the only one being the Kaimiloa
Iceland	Icelandic Coast Guard	ICGV (Icelandic: VS)	Icelandic Coast Guard Vessel, (Icelandic:Varðskip)
India	Indian Navy (pre-Republic)	HMIS	His/Her Majesty's Indian Ship
India	Indian Coast Guard	ICGS	Indian Coast Guard Ship
	Indian Navy	INS	Indian Naval Ship
Indonesia	Indonesian Navy	KRI	Kapal Republik Indonesia (Republic of Indonesia Ship)
	Republic of Indonesia	KL	Kapal Layar (Sailing Ship)
	Republic of Indonesia	KM	Kapal Motor (Motor Ship)
Iran	Imperial Iranian Navy	IIS	Imperial Iranian Ship (Persian: ناو شاهنشاهی ایران)
Iran	Islamic Republic of Iran Navy	IRIS	Islamic Republic of Iran ship (Persian: ناو جمهوری اسلامی ایران)
Ireland	Irish Naval Service	LÉ	Long Éireannach — Irish ship
Israel	Israeli Sea Corps	INS	Israeli Naval Ship (Internally Hebrew acronym אח"י (A.Ch.Y.) is used standing for אניית חיל הים (Oniyat Heyl HaYam - Sea Corps Ship)
Kingdom of Italy (until 1946)	Regia Marina	RN	Regia Nave – Royal Ship
	Regia Marina	R.Smg.	Regio Sommergibile – Royal Submarine
Italy	Marina Militare	ITS	Italian Ship (NATO designation); Italy no longer uses prefixes
Jamaica	Jamaica Defence Force	HMJS	His/Her Majesty's Jamaican Ship
Empire of Japan	Imperial Japanese Navy	—	(no prefix; some authors use "HIJMS" for "His Imperial Japanese Majesty's Ship" and "IJN" for "Imperial Japanese Navy")
Japan	Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force	JDS or JS	Japanese Defense Ship or Japanese Ship
Kenya	Kenyan Navy	KNS	Kenyan Naval Ship
Kiribati	Kiribati Police Force	RKS	Republic of Kiribati Ship
North Korea	Korean People's Navy	—	(currently unknown)
South Korea	Republic of Korea Navy	ROKS	Republic of Korea Ship
Latvia	Latvian Navy	LVNS	Latvian Naval Ship (NATO designation)
Lithuania	Lithuanian Navy	LKL LNS	Lietuvos Karinis Laivas – Lithuanian Military Ship Lithuanian Ship (NATO designation)
Malaysia	Royal Malaysian Navy	KD	Kapal Di-Raja — His Majesty's Ship, literal: Royal Ship.
	Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency	KM	Kapal Maritim — Maritime's Ship
Marshall Islands	Marshall Islands Police	RMIS	Republic of the Marshall Islands Ship
Federated States of Micronesia	FSM National Police	FSM	Federated States of Micronesia
Mexico	Armada de México	ARM	Armada de la República Mexicana
Myanmar	Tatmadaw Yay	UMS	Myanma Sit Yay Yin — Union of Myanmar Ship
Namibia	Namibian Navy	NS	Namibian Ship
Netherlands	Royal Netherlands Navy	HNLMS (Dutch: Zr.Ms./Hr.Ms.)	His/Her Netherlands Majesty's Ship (Dutch: Zijner/Harer Majesteits, archaic Dutch language genitive, lit. "His/Her Majesty's")
New Zealand	Royal New Zealand Navy	HMNZS	His/Her Majesty's New Zealand Ship
Nigeria	Nigerian Navy	NNS	Nigerian Naval Ship
Norway	Royal Norwegian Navy	HNoMS (Norwegian: KNM), in use since 1946	His Norwegian Majesty's Ship (Norwegian: Kongelige Norske Marine)
	Norwegian Coast Guard	NoCGV (Norwegian: KV)	Norwegian Coast Guard Vessel (Norwegian: Kystvakten)
Oman	Royal Navy of Oman	SNV	Sultanate Naval Vessel
Pakistan	Pakistan Navy	PNS	Pakistani Naval Ship
Palau	Palau Police	PSS	Palau State Ship
Papua New Guinea	Papua New Guinea Defence Force	HMPNGDFS	His/Her Majesty's Papua New Guinea Defence Force Ship
Peru	Peruvian Navy	BAP	Peruvian Navy Ship (Spanish: Buque Armada Peruana)
		BIC	Scientific Research Ship (Spanish: Buque de Investigación Científica)
Philippines	Philippine Navy	BRP	Barko ng Republika ng Pilipinas; in use since 1 July 1980 (Ship of the Republic of the Philippines)
		RPS	Republic of the Philippines Ship (Obsolete); before 1 July 1980
Poland	Polish Navy	ORP	Ship of the Republic of Poland (Polish: Okręt Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej)
Portugal	Marinha Portuguesa	NRP	Navio da República Portuguesa - Ship of the Portuguese Republic
		PNS	Portuguese Navy Ship (NATO designation, not used internally)
		UAM	Unidade Auxiliar da Marinha - Navy Auxiliary Unit (used by the Portuguese Navy non-military ships)
Romania	Romanian Navy	NMS	Nava Majestăţii Sale (His/Her Majesty's Ship) - used before 1945 by the Royal Romanian Navy
		SMR	Serviciul Maritim Român (The Romanian Sea Service) - used by transport ships
		ROS	Romanian Ship (NATO designation, not used internally)
Russia	Russian Navy	RFS	Russian Federation Ship; Russia does not use prefixes internally
Saudi Arabia	Saudi Navy	HMS	His Majesty's Ship — the same as the Royal Navy
Singapore	Republic of Singapore Navy	RSS	Republic of Singapore Ship
Solomon Islands	Royal Solomon Islands Police	RSIPV	Royal Solomon Islands Police Vessel
South Africa	South African Navy	SAS	South African Ship (previously HMSAS - His/Her Majesty's South African Ship)
		SATS	South African Training Ship
Spain	Armada Española	ESPS	Spanish Naval Ship (Spain does not use prefixes internally)
Sri Lanka	Sri Lankan Navy	SLNS	Sri Lanka Naval Ship
Sweden	Swedish Navy	HMS/HSwMS	Hans/Hennes Majestäts Skepp — the same as the Royal Navy but in Swedish
Republic of China	Republic of China Navy	ROCS (older usage: CNS)	Republic of China Ship (older usage: Chinese Navy Ship)
Thailand	Royal Thai Navy	HTMS	His Thai Majesty's Ship
Timor-Leste	Timor Leste Defense Force	NRTL	Navio da República de Timor Leste (Ship of the Timor Leste Republic)
Tonga	Tonga Defence Services	VOEA	Vaka O Ene Afio (His Majesty’s Vessel)
Turkey	Turkish Navy	TCG	Ship of the Turkish Republic (Turkish: Türkiye Cumhuriyeti Gemisi.)
Tuvalu	Tuvalu Police Force	HMTSS	His/Her Majesty's Tuvaluan State Ship
Trinidad and Tobago	Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force	TTS	Trinidad and Tobago Ship
United Kingdom	Ships carrying mail	RMS	Royal Mail Steamer/Ship
	Fishery protection vessels	FPV	Fisheries Protection Vessel
	Royal Air Force	HMAFV	His/Her Majesty's Air Force Vessel (not currently in use)
	Royal Fleet Auxiliary ships	RFA	Royal Fleet Auxiliary
	Royal Maritime Auxiliary Service ships	RMAS	Royal Maritime Auxiliary Service (now obsolete)
	Royal Navy	HM Sloop	His/Her Majesty's Sloop (now obsolete)
		HMS	His/Her Majesty's Ship/Submarine
		HMSm	His/Her Majesty's Submarine (not currently in use)
		HMT	Hired Military Transport (not currently in use)
		HMAV	His/Her Majesty's Armed Vessel (not currently in use)
		HMY	His/Her Majesty's Yacht (not currently in use)
		HMMGB	His/Her Majesty's Motor Gun Boat (not currently in use)
		HMM	His/Her Majesty's Monitor (not currently in use)
		HMSML	His/Her Majesty's Small Motor Launch
		HBMS	His/Her Britannic Majesty's Ship (archaic)
		HM	His/Her Majesty's, then used with the type of ship in military use (e.g. "HM Trawler")
	Hospital ships	HMHS	His/Her Majesty's Hospital Ship
	Joint Services	HMSTC	His/Her Majesty's Sail Training Craft
	Trinity House	THV	Trinity House Vessel (Lighthouse and Buoy Tender)
	Northern Lighthouse Board	NLV	Northern Lighthouse Vessel (Lighthouse tender)
	Commissioners of Irish Lights	ILV	Irish Lights Vessel (Lighthouse tender)
	British Army	HMAV	Her Majesty's Army Vessel
		RCLV	Royal Corps of Logistics Vessel (not currently in use)
	Government research ships	RRS	Royal Research Ship
	HM Revenue and Customs	HMCC, HMC	His/Her Majesty's Customs Cutter shortened to His/Her Majesty's Cutter after being transferred to the UK Border Agency
	HM Customs and Excise (replaced by HMRC, above)	HMRC	His/Her Majesty's Revenue Cutter (not used since 18 April 2005)
United States	U.S. Air Force	USAF, USAFS	United States Air Force ship (not currently in use)
	U.S. Army (modern)	USAS	United States Army Ship (modern)
		USAV	United States Army Vessel (modern)
	U.S. Army (historical)
		USAT	United States Army Transport (large troop or cargo transports, not currently in use)
		USAMP	U.S. Army Mine Planter (not currently in use)
		U.S. Army	Vessels not otherwise designated: tugs, FS, Q, P etc. (not currently in use)
		USAHS	United States Army Hospital Ship (not currently in use)
	U.S. Navy	USF	United States Frigate (obsolete)
		USFS	United States Flagship (obsolete)
		PCU	Pre-Commissioning Unit, used for ships of the United States Navy that have not been commissioned into service yet
		USS	United States Ship
	U.S. Navy Military Sealift Command	USNS	United States Naval Ship (USN owned, civilian crews)
		USNV	United States Naval Vessel (foreign-built, USN-leased, USN crews)
	United States Coast Guard	USCGC	United States Coast Guard Cutter
		USCGD	United States Coast Guard Destroyer (not currently in use)
	United States Lighthouse Service	USLHT	United States Lighthouse Tender (obsolete)
	United States Revenue Cutter Service	USRC	United States Revenue Cutter (obsolete)
	National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration	NOAAS	NOAA Research Vessel
Uruguay	Uruguayan Navy	ROU	Republica Oriental del Uruguay
Vanuatu	Vanuatu Police Force	RVS	Republic of Vanuatu Ship
Venezuela	Venezuelan Navy	FNV	Fuerzas Navales de Venezuela Not in use since 1949
		ARV	Armada Republica de Venezuela Not in use 1999
		ARBV	Armada Republica Bolivariana de Venezuela
Kingdom of Yugoslavia	Royal Yugoslav Navy	KB	Kraljevski brod or Краљевски брод (English: Royal Ship), 1918-1941

Notes and references

The designations for United Kingdom ships applied at the time of the British Empire, before the establishment of separate navies for the Dominions.

In the Royal Netherlands Navy, "HNLMS" is the prefix in English, a translation of the Dutch original "Hr.Ms." or "Zr.Ms.". "Hr.Ms." should preferably not be used in English-language documents; nevertheless it is often seen on the World Wide Web. Until the moment a Dutch naval ship officially enters active service in the fleet, the ship's name is used without the prefix. Since King Willem-Alexander succeeded Queen Beatrix on 30 April 2013, "Hr.Ms." is replaced by "Zr.Ms.".

In Australia, the prefix NUSHIP is used to denote ships that have yet to be commissioned into the fleet.

In the United States Navy, all prefixes other than "USS," "USNS", "USNV", and "USRC" were made obsolete in 1901 when President Theodore Roosevelt signed into law a bill fixing American naval nomenclature. USRC was replaced by USCGC when the Revenue Cutter Service became the United States Coast Guard in 1915.

A United States ship that has not yet been commissioned in the Navy does not hold the title of USS, it holds the title of PCU (Pre-commissioned unit). For example, say a shipyard is building a new aircraft carrier, the Flattop. From the date the keel is laid to the date it is commissioned, it is called the PCU Flattop. Only after it enters active service in the fleet and is commissioned will it be referred to as USS Flattop.

By law, the U.S. Navy may not purchase foreign-built ships, but it may lease them as United States Naval Vessels.

When it is stricken from the fleet list, a ship typically has the prefix "ex-" added to its name, to distinguish it from any active ships bearing the same name. For example, after USS Constellation (CV-64) was retired in 2003, she became referred to as ex-Constellation.

Note that while calling a US ship "the USS Flattop" may make grammatical sense, the preliminary article "the" is discouraged by nearly all style guides, and the U.S. Navy. The U.S. Navy uses ship names without article, except for USS The Sullivans, named for the five Sullivan brothers, all lost at sea during World War II. Its British equivalent ("the HMS Flattop") is also discouraged, since "the Her Majesty's Ship" would be grammatically incorrect.

Civilian ship naming

In 1939, the British Ministry of Shipping adopted a standard naming system whereby all merchant ships ordered to be built in Britain to Government account, except very small ship types, would be given the prefix Empire to their name. This applied to ships acquired through purchase, requisition, or taken in prize, with some exceptions. It also applied to older ships acquired from the USA, modern ships acquired on Lease/Lend arrangements, salved and refitted ships, and captured enemy ships.

In science fiction

Fictional equivalents of tri-letter prefixes frequently appear in English-language science fiction works, applied to seafaring and spaceborne ships alike. See also Space navy for similar adoption of naval customs for fictional spacefaring military organizations.

• Star Trek – the United Federation of Planets uses the prefix "USS" for its starships. While Gene Roddenberry never defined what the abbreviation stood for, some speculate that it means "United Space Ship" or "United Star Ship".
• Halo – United Nations Space Command spacecraft use the prefix "UNSC".
• Mass Effect – features several prefixes, primarily "SSV" for "Systems Alliance space vehicle" and "MSV" for numerous human commercial ships, as well as "PFS" for a Turian Hierarchy naval craft, and a freighter AML Demeter of unknown affiliation.
• Dead Space – "USG", standing for "United Spacefaring Guild", which oversees civilian spacecraft operation, including the planet-cracker class leader USG Ishimura of the Concordance Extraction Corporation; "USM" for the Earth Defense Force of EarthGov; and "CMS" for its former opponents, the Sovereign Colonies Armed Forces.
• The Moon is a Harsh Mistress - The Federated Nations use "FNS", presumably meaning "Federated Nations Ship".

External links

• Warship National Prefixes