# Allotments

**URL:** https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/allotments/71379
**Category:** Professional Mariner Forum
**Created:** [December 15, 2024, 10:33pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/allotments/71379 "2024-12-15T22:33:09Z")
**Posts on this page:** 5
**Page:** 1

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### Author: ![Bronxsailor23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4491bb/32.png) [@Bronxsailor23](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Bronxsailor23)
#### Post date: [December 15, 2024, 10:33pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/allotments/71379/1 "2024-12-15T22:33:09Z")

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Prior active duty Navy. Got my license and new to the commercial industry. Can someone please explain what an allotment is? We always had “Draws” for the pay period in the Navy. How does an allotment differ from a draw?

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### Author: ![Seadog6726](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/838e76/32.png) [@Seadog6726](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Seadog6726)
#### Post date: [December 16, 2024, 2:58am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/allotments/71379/2 "2024-12-16T02:58:11Z")

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An allotment is a predetermined amount of your base pay which is sent where you want it to go. I’ve seen allotments as high as 80% of your base pay. OT pay doesn’t figure into it.

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### Author: ![Capt\_Phoenix](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/capt_phoenix/32/281_2.png) [@Capt\_Phoenix](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Capt_Phoenix)
#### Post date: [December 16, 2024, 4:38am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/allotments/71379/3 "2024-12-16T04:38:37Z")

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> [@Bronxsailor23](#):
>
> allotment

The allotment is a pre defined constant amount you get paid on a set interval (usually bi monthly or monthly) then you get the remaining balance of what you’re owed when you pay off at the end of your trip.

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### Author: ![Kennebec\_Captain](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/kennebec_captain/32/13_2.png) [@Kennebec\_Captain](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Kennebec_Captain)
#### Post date: [December 16, 2024, 12:19pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/allotments/71379/4 "2024-12-16T12:19:03Z")

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A draw is a cash payment to crew members, usually before a port call.

As has been said, an allotment is a payment, can be direct deposit or a mailed check. Almost all allotments are reoccurring but (with NS-5 at least) one-time payments can also be set up.

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### Author: ![spowiednick](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/spowiednick/32/35668_2.png) [@spowiednick](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/spowiednick)
#### Post date: [December 17, 2024, 8:56am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/allotments/71379/5 "2024-12-17T08:56:26Z")

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In FOC multinational environment I have never heard of “draw” used for cash payments although it’s meaning is rather obvious. We used the term on board and in official comms with office " cash advance " .