Here is a list of the most frequently used identification letters that can be seen before the name of a ship that indicate its origin, its function, or its type of propulsion:
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
| Prefix |
Signification |
Service |
Country |
| ARA |
Armada de la Republica Argentina |
Armada Argentina |
Argentina |
| ARC |
Armada de la Republica Colombia |
Armada Nacional |
Colombia |
| ARV |
Armada Republica Venezolana |
Venezuelan Navy |
Venezuela |
| BAE |
Buque de la Armada de Ecuador |
Equadorian Navy |
Ecuador |
| BAP |
Buque Armada Peruana
(Ship of the Peruvian Armada) |
Peruvian Navy |
Peru |
| BNS |
Bangladesh Naval Ship |
Bangladesh Navy |
Bangladesh |
| BNS |
Belgium Naval Ship * |
Belgian Navy |
Belgium |
| BRP |
Barka ng Republika ng Pilipinas |
Philippines Navy |
Philippines |
| CCGC |
Canadian Coast Guard Cutter
(Star of the Canadian Coast Guard) |
Canadian Coast Guard |
Canada |
| CCGS |
Canadian Coast Guard Ship |
Canadian Coast Guard |
Canada |
| CSS |
Confederate States Ship |
Confederate States Navy |
American Confederate States |
| DSV |
Deep Submergence Vessel |
|
International |
| FGS |
Federal German Ship * |
German Navy |
Germany |
| FS |
French Ship * |
French Navy |
France |
| FV |
Fishing Vessel |
|
International |
| GDFS |
Guyanan Defense Forces Ship |
Guyana Defence Force |
Guyana |
| HBMS |
His/Her Britannic Majesty’s Ship |
Royal Navy |
United Kingdom |
HDMS
(in Danish: KDM) |
His/Her Danish Majesty’s Ship |
Royal Danish Navy |
Denmark |
| HMAS |
His/Her Majesty’s Australian Ship |
Royal Australian Navy |
Australia |
| HMAV |
His/Her Majesty’s Armed Vessel |
Royal Navy |
United Kingdom |
| HMBS |
His/Her Majesty’s Bahamian Ship |
Bahamian Defense Force |
Bahamas |
| HMCS |
His/Her Majesty’s Canadian Ship |
Canadian Maritime Command |
English Canada |
| HMHS |
His/Her Majesty’s Hospital Ship |
Royal Navy |
United Kingdom |
| HMIS |
His/Her Majesty’s Indian Ship |
Royal Indian Navy |
India (under the British Empire) |
| HMNZS |
His/Her Majesty’s New Zealand Ship |
Royal New Zeland Navy |
New Zealand |
| HMPNGS |
His/Her Majesty’s Papua New Guinea Ship |
Papuan Navy |
Papua-New-Guinea |
| HMS |
His/Her Majesty’s Ship |
Saudi Navy |
Saudi Arabia |
| HMS |
His/Her Majesty’s Ship |
Royal Swedish Navy |
Sweden |
| HMS |
His/Her Majesty’s Ship/Submarine |
Royal Navy |
United Kingdom |
| HMT |
His/Her Majesty’s Troopship |
Royal Navy |
United Kingdom |
| HMT |
His/Her Majesty’s Tug
(Remorqueur de Sa Majesté) |
Royal Navy |
United Kingdom |
| HMY |
His/Her Majesty’s Yacht |
Royal Navy |
United Kingdom |
HNLMS
(Dutch: Hr.Ms. or Zr.Ms.) |
His/Her Netherlands Majesty’s Ship |
Royal Netherlands Navy |
Netherlands |
HNoMS
(Norwegian: KNM) |
His Norwegian Majesty’s Ship
(Norwegian : Kongelige Norske Marine) |
Royal Norwegian Navy |
Norway |
| HS |
Hellenic Ship * |
Greek Navy |
Greece |
| HTMS |
His Thai Majesty’s Ship |
Royal Thai Navy |
Thailand |
| INS |
Indian Naval Ship |
Indian Navy |
India |
| INS |
Israeli Naval Ship |
Israeli Navy |
Israel |
| JDS |
JMSDF Defense Ship |
Japanese Army |
Japan (after 1945) |
| KD |
Kapal Di-Raja |
Royal Malaysian Navy |
Malaysia |
| KNS |
Kenyan Naval Ship |
Kenyan Navy |
Kenya |
| KV |
Kystvakt |
Norwegian Coast Guard |
Norway |
| LE |
Long Éireannach |
Irish Naval Service |
Ireland |
| MBS |
His/Her Majesty’s Barbadian Ship |
Barbadan Defence Force |
Barbados |
| MS |
Motor Ship |
|
International |
| MSY |
Motor Sailing Yacht |
|
International |
| MT |
Motor Tanker |
|
International |
| MV |
Motor Vessel |
|
International |
| MY |
Motor Yacht |
|
International |
| NCSM |
Navire canadien de Sa Majesté |
Canadian Maritime Command |
French Canada |
| NMM |
Nave Marina Militare |
Italian Navy |
Italy |
| NNS |
Nigerian Naval Ship |
Nigerian Navy |
Nigeria |
| NRP |
Navio da República Portuguesa |
Portuguese Navy |
Portugal |
| NS |
Nuclear Ship |
|
International |
| ORP |
Okret Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej |
Polish Navy |
Poland |
| PNS |
Pakistani Naval Ship |
Pakistani Navy |
Pakistan |
| PS |
Paddle Steamer |
|
International |
| RFA |
Royal Fleet Auxiliary |
Auxiliary Navy |
United Kingdom |
| RFNS |
Republic of Fiji Naval Ship |
Fijian Navy |
Fiji |
| RMS |
Royal Mail Steamer |
Postal Ship |
United Kingdom |
| RN |
Regia Nave |
Regia Marina |
Italy |
| ROU |
Republica del Oriental Uruguay |
Uruguayan Navy |
Uruguay |
| RRS |
Royal Research Ship |
Research Ship |
United Kingdom |
| RV |
Research Vessel |
|
International |
| SAS |
South African Ship |
South African Navy |
South Africa |
| SLNS |
Sri Lanka Naval Ship |
Sri Lankan Navy |
Sri Lanka |
| SMS |
Seiner Majestät Schiff |
Kaiserliche Navy |
Germany |
| SM U-## |
Seiner Majestät Unterseeboot |
Kaiserliche Navy |
Germany |
| SNV |
Sultanate Naval Vessel |
Oman Navy |
Oman |
| SPS |
Spanish Naval Ship |
Armada Espanola |
Spain |
| SS |
Steam Ship |
|
International |
| STS |
Sail Training Ship |
|
International |
| SV |
Sailing Vessel |
|
International |
| SY |
Sailing Yacht |
|
International |
| TCG |
Türkiye Cumhuriyeti Gemisi |
Turkish Navy |
Turkey |
| TS |
Turbine Steamer |
|
International |
| TT |
Tender To (+ ship's name)
(Annexe of) |
|
International |
| TTS |
Trinidad and Tobago Ship |
Trinidadian Navy |
Trinidad and Tobago |
| USAV |
United States Army Vessel |
US Army |
USA |
| USCGC |
United States Coast Guard Cutter |
United States Coast Guard |
USA |
| USF |
United States Frigate |
United States Navy |
USA |
| USFS |
United States Flagship |
United States Navy |
USA |
| USNS |
United States Naval Ship |
U.S. Navy Military Sealift Command |
USA |
| USS |
United States Ship |
United States Navy |
USA |
