For the United States Naval Academy's Alumni Magazine, see Shipmate (magazine).

A shipmate is literally a mate

Mate

Mate may refer to one of the following meanings based on the generic dictionary definitions of the word:* One of a pair of animals involved in mating* Mate , a colloquialism used to refer to a friend* A naval officer:...

 on one's own ship

Ship

Since the end of the age of sail a ship has been any large buoyant marine vessel. Ships are generally distinguished from boats based on size and cargo or passenger capacity. Ships are used on lakes, seas, and rivers for a variety of activities, such as the transport of people or goods, fishing,...

 (i.e., a member of the same ship).

Typically, in the United States and other countries the term 'shipmate' is used amongst sailors as a generic name for those who are not on a name-to-name basis with each other. Because many ships have hundreds, if not thousands, of crew members aboard; shipmate is a universally acceptable name for all crew members. Within the United States Navy

United States Navy

The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...

 and the United States Coast Guard

United States Coast Guard

The United States Coast Guard is a branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven U.S. uniformed services. The Coast Guard is a maritime, military, multi-mission service unique among the military branches for having a maritime law enforcement mission and a federal regulatory agency...

 it serves as a convenient and respectful way to address other crew members when rank

Military rank

Military rank is a system of hierarchical relationships in armed forces or civil institutions organized along military lines. Usually, uniforms denote the bearer's rank by particular insignia affixed to the uniforms...

 or naval rating

Naval rating

A Naval Rating is an enlisted member of a country's Navy, subordinate to Warrant Officers and Officers hence not conferred by commission or warrant...

 is not immediately obvious. It also serves as a more professional expression in lieu of vernacular words.

In the United States Navy, one earns the name of a shipmate when he or she graduates from Recruit Training Command

Recruit Training Command

Recruit Training Command Great Lakes, is the command within the United States Navy primarily responsible for conducting the initial orientation and training of new recruits. It commonly is referred to as boot camp, recruit training, or informally "Great Mistakes". It is approximately eight weeks long...

 (or 'boot camp'). Prior to graduation from boot camp, only the terms 'recruit

Recruit

Recruit can refer to:* a recently enlisted member of a military or paramilitary corps, still in training, as in :** Army recruit** Seaman Recruit...

' or 'shipwreck' are used - which are considered for the most part derogatory. Earning the term 'shipmate' is a great honor for all new sailors in the U.S. Navy.

Conversely, in the United States Navy, the term "shipmate" can be the derogatory term used by officers and senior enlisted to refer to a sailor whose name they have not bothered to remember or read off of their uniform (Example: Hey! Shipmate! I need you to swab this deck now!). The term is not endearing when used in this manner.

Usage in literature

Herman Melville

Herman Melville

Herman Melville was an American novelist, short story writer, essayist, and poet. He is best known for his novel Moby-Dick and the posthumous novella Billy Budd....

's Moby-Dick

Moby-Dick

Moby-Dick; or, The Whale, was written by American author Herman Melville and first published in 1851. It is considered by some to be a Great American Novel and a treasure of world literature. The story tells the adventures of wandering sailor Ishmael, and his voyage on the whaleship Pequod,...

, a popular maritime novel, is laced with the term, although the narrator Ishmael seldom uses the word: "This man interested me at once; and since the sea-gods had ordained that he should soon become my shipmate (though but a sleeping partner one, so far as this narrative is concerned), I will here venture upon a little description of him." http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/etext01/moby10b.txt

Usage in contemporary maritime dialogue

One might refer to a fellow crew member by saying, "He and I were shipmates before reporting for duty here in Norfolk." The word is used in this sense in the old song "Don't Forget Your Old Shipmates

Don't Forget Your Old Shipmates

"Don't Forget Your Old Shipmates" is a naval traditional song that was sung by sailors in the Napoleonic Era. It is sung in the Wardroom scene in Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World.- Lyrics :...

".

When getting the attention of a fellow sailor, one might simply call out "Shipmate!" or "Hey, shipmate!"

When speaking to a group or crowd of sailors, i.e. "My fellow shipmates..."