Merchant Navy Prefixes

• AE: Ammunition Ship
• AOG: Gasoline Tanker
• AOT: Transport Oiler
• CRV: Coastal Research Vessel
• C/F: Car Ferry
• CS: Container Ship
• DCV: Deepwater Construction Vessel
• DSV: Diving Support Vessel
• DV: Dead Vessel
• ERRV: Emergency Response Rescue Vessel
• EV: Exploration Vessel
• FT: Factory Stern Trawler
• FV: Fishing Vessel
• HLV: Heavy Lift Vessel
• HMHS: Her/His Majesty’s Hospital Ship
• HSC: High Speed Craft
• HTV: Heavy Transport Vessel
• IRV: International Research Vessel
• MSV: Multipurpose Support Vessel
• OSV: Offshore Supply Vessel
• RMS: Royal Mail Ship
• SSCV: Semi-Submersible Crane Vessel
• SSS: Sea Scout Ship
• SV: Sailing Vessel
• TB: Tug Boat
• ULCC: Ultra Large Crude Carrier
• VLCC: Very Large Crude Carrier
• YOS: Concrete Vessel

National & Military Prefixes

• Australia
  • HMAS: His/Her Majesty’s Australian Ship
• Bahamas
  • HMBS: His/Her Majesty’s Bahamian Ship
• Canada
  • HMCS: His/Her Majesty’s Canadian Ship
  • CCGS: Canadian Coast Guard Ship
• China
  • CNS: Chinese Navy Ship
  • PLANS: People’s Liberation Navy Ship
• French
  • FS: French Ship
• India
  • ICGS: Indian Coast Guard
  • INS: Indian Naval Ship
• Norway
  • HNoMS: His Norwegian Majesty’s Ship
• Portugal
  • PNS: Portuguese Navy Ship
• Russian
  • RFS: Ship of the Russian Federation
• United Kingdom
  • RMS: Royal Main Ship
  • RFA: Royal Fleet Auxialiary
  • HMS: Her Majesty’s Ship
• United States
  • USAS: United States Army Ship
  • USS: United States Ship (Commissioned Navy Ships)
  • USCGC: United States Coast Guard Cutter

If you are creating a historical accurate world, know that these prefixes may have changed over time and additional research will be required.

If your world contains fictional countries, kingdoms, or other political entities, what prefixes do they use for their ships and vessels (if any)?