These colonial cook certificates relate to Calcutta, Bombay, Poona in India and Chittagong in Bangladesh. They give the name of seaman stating that 'having produced a certificate of discharge showing over 2 year's service as either (the others are crossed off) a 2nd cook, a baker or chief cook and serving on vessels over 1000 tons. The certificate gives the place issued and that the certificate grants the person to be qualified to act as a ship's cook, dated with signature of holder and a left-thumb mark impression, signed by the shipping master.

RSS/CC/N: cooks certificates anomalies, including certificates issued by government of Pakistan. Circa 60 records.

Due to data protection some records may be closed. The personal details are: year of birth, place, height, colour of eye and hair, tattoo or other distinguishing marks, photograph of cook, registered number of continuous discharge certificate.

Administrative / biographical background
Certificates of competency for cooks in the merchant service came into being as a result of Section 27 of the Merchant Shipping Act of 1906. The registration scheme began on 30 June 1908.