What is the Royal Ark Mariner jewel and what does it mean?

The Royal Ark Mariner jewel features a dove bearing an olive branch suspended from a rainbow, attached to a ribbon of rainbow colouring, while the breast jewel for Commanders and Past Commanders is a triangle surmounted by the letter N (cumberlandandwestmorlandmarkmasons.co.uk, markmasonsworcs.org.uk).

Symbolically, the dove bearing an olive branch and the rainbow represented on the jewel refer to the biblical account of Noah, the Flood, and the salvation of mankind from the Deluge (essexmarkmastermasons.org.uk) 1. In the Order of Royal Ark Mariner, attached to the Mark degree, the rainbow colouring is employed for the explicit reason of its connection with the Legend of the Flood 2. Historically, early members of the order worn in lodge time a broad sash ribbon representing a rainbow, alongside an apron embellished with an ark and a dove 1.

The underlying degree itself is based upon the narrative of Noah's Ark, the Deluge, and the Dove 1. In contemporary English practice, the degree of Royal Ark Mariner is conferred under the Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons, whereas in Scotland it operates under the control of the Supreme Grand Royal Arch Chapter 1.