Badge “For diligence to members of the crews of ships” with a central medallion painted gold aluminum. Obverse and reverse.
Badge “For diligence to members of the crews of ships” with a gilded central medallion. On the reverse two rivets. Obverse and reverse.
The sign was made of silver. There are at least three varieties of signs, differing mainly in the variant of manufacture and attachment of the central medallion.
Obverse. The basis of the sign is a five-pointed star, each end of which in turn is formed by three different rays. In the center on this star superimposed medallion in the form of a helm in the center of which in the ornament depicts an anchor. The central overlay in the signs of different manufacturers were made differently. In some signs of the central medallion of gilded silver in others is made of painted under gold aluminum. There are signs in which the central medallion was not painted, but made of silver, as well as the base of the sign. The central medallion is attached to the star base with one or two rivets.
Reverse. On the reverse side, the inscription “sign for hard work to members of the crews of ships” (Jap. 船員勤勞章) and in the center one or two rivets, depending on the variety of the sign. At the top and bottom of the badge are soldered elements for attaching a vertical pin for wearing the badge on clothing.
Box. The badge was issued in a black lacquered box, a wooden box with silver hieroglyphs on the lid.
The new design of the badge was approved on July 19, 1943.
These insignia are quite rare, both in museum and private collections.
Statute of the award
Grounds for awarding
The badge is awarded:
only to merchant seamen who have performed their duties in an exemplary manner;
to persons who have proposed a valuable innovation for the merchant marine;
to seamen who have sailed the seas and oceans without fail for more than thirty years.
Together with the badge is awarded a diploma and monetary reward from the Ministry of Communications.
Posthumous awarding of the badge is possible.
Order of wearing
The badge is worn on the right side of the chest.
Place in the hierarchy of awards
These marks belong to the category of departmental awards, but the criteria of awarding, the rarity of awarding and comparing it with the Order of the Golden Kite, indicate that these awards were very desirable and valuable to the sailors of the merchant navy of Japan.
This is a genuine article. Please check the photographs carefully as they reflect the quality of the lot.
