THE MARITIME MERIT (Civil Order )
HISTORIC :
France furrowed by several coasts is a country of sailors. On one hand with the Marine of war (" The Royal ") and of the other her Navy shopkeeper. It is why, it is considered to award a particular reward for " people of the sea ", governed by a special legislation and incurring of the risks. In March 1913, the administration of the merchant marine separated of the one of the Marine of the war. The law of February 9, 1930 creates the order of the maritime Merit. He/it understands three ranks: knight, officer and commander. May 16, 1930, a decree organizes the order and a second decree of May 1st door on her administration. The parliament already before the Big War insisted for the creation of this decoration.
On the following day of World War II, the law of September 25, 1948, spreads the admission in the order to the staffs of the National Marine.
RECIPIENTS AND CONDITIONS OF OBTAINING :The order of the Maritime Merit rewards the sailors for their value professional and the people who are distinguished themselves for the development of the merchant marine, of the harbor facilities, of the, fishings and the water sports. Two yearly promotions, one, exist January 1st, the second July 14.
The conditions of age and seniority are the following:
- to be aged to the minimum of 30 years and to have 15 years of services for the rank of knight;
- to have 8 years of knight for officer's rank;
- to have 5 years of officer for commander's rank.
The commanders and officers of honor Legion can be promoted directly to the same rank in the order of the Maritime Merit. He can be awarded to the strangers not residing on the territory French without conditions of seniority. The strangers residing in France must to unite the same conditions that the French. The people who accomplished an act of heroism or devotion copy in sea can be named or promues without condition of age or of seniority. It is some in the same way for those that returned some services extraordinary to the Marine. The maritime Merit can be conferred to posthumous title in cases exceptional. The candidacies and the propositions that concern people of the National marine is transmitted by the hierarchical way to the minister of the Defense that transmits them for decision to the minister of the Sea. The other are to put down to the prefecture of the place of residence of the person concerned.
The official receipt in the order of the Maritime Merit is not obligatory. If she takes place, the badge cannot be put back that by one no one decorated to the minimum of an equal rank to the one of the récipiendaire. The member of the order calls the member elect by his name and hands him the badge while saying:
" In the name of the Government of Republic, us you let's make (knight, officer or commander) of the order of the Maritime Merit" .
THE DISTINCTION :She has been created and has been conceived by the house Arthus Bertrand (the Pines). Her be inspired by marine symbols: the anchor and the rose of winds. The badge is a star in the shape of rose of winds to sixteen branches on which is applied an anchor. The eight main branches are decorated of white enamel with, enter them, eight small branches in the shape of tips of gold pike. The anchor applied on the star is of gold. To the center, a medallion of gold, present an effigy of Republic, what is exceptional (she is almost always presented of profile). The medallion is surrounded with the legend " Republic French " on blue enameled bottom. The dimension of commander's badge is of bigger half of the one of the two first ranks. The reverse: the central gold medallion, carry the words " Maritime " Merit. He is surrounded with a blue enameled circle with the legend " merchant marine ". The badge is suspended overseas to a blue ribbon with two vertical stripes green on every side; he includes a bow for the officers. The badge of the commanders is suspended to a tie.
PROTOCOL OF DISCOUNT :The official receipt in the order of the Maritime Merit is not obligatory. If she takes place, the badge cannot be put back that by one no one decorated to the minimum of an equal rank to the one of the récipiendaire. The member of the order calls the member elect by his name and hands him the badge while saying:
" In the name of the Government of Republic, us you let's make (knight, officer or commander) of the order of the Maritime Merit"
COUNCIL OF THE ORDER :He is presided by the minister charged of the Sea or his representative.
His members, are composed of high commissioners of the ministry, one, to counsel state, an admiral, a general maritime business officer and a member of the Big Chancellery of the honor Legion that is vice-president of the Council.
He is charged, of the exam of the proposition files, of the promotions and of the discipline of the order. The secretariat is composed of the chief of the office of the cabinet was a minister and of an associate secretary named by the minister.
The members of the advice are named for four years by the President of the Republic on proposition of the minister.
The members coming capable out of to be of new named.