This article is about a seafaring occupation. For other uses, see Boatswain (disambiguation).
Boatswain
The bosun aboard a modern merchant ship stands cargo watch as freight is lowered into an open hatch.
General
Other names :
Bosun
Department :
Deck department
Licensed :
No
Requirements :
typically Able seaman certificate
Watchstanding
Watch (at sea) :
On smaller vessels (varies)
Watch (in port) :
On smaller vessels (varies)
A boatswain or bosun /ˈbo.sn̩/ is an unlicensed member of the deck department of a merchant ship. The boatswain supervises the other unlicensed members of the ship’s deck department, and typically is not a watchstander, except on vessels with small crews. Other duties vary depending on the type of ship, her crewing, and other factors.
Contents
- 1 Etymology
- 2 Job description
- 3 Working conditions
- 4 Origins in the Royal Navy
- 5 Notable boatswains
- 6 See also
- 7 Notes
- 8 References
- 9 External links
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Etymology
The word boatswain has been in the English language since approximately 1450. Interestingly, this spelling was used in Shakespeare’s “The Tempest” written in 1611, and as “Bos’n” in later editions.
Job description
The boatswain works in a ship’s deck department as the foreman of the unlicensed deck crew.
As deck crew foremen, the boatswain plans the day’s work and assigns tasks to the deck crew.
Outside the supervisory role, the boatswain regularly inspects the vessel and performs a variety of routine, skilled, and semi-skilled duties to maintain all areas of the ship not maintained by the engineering department.
A boatswain’s skills may include cargo rigging, winch operations, deck maintenance, working aloft, and other duties required during deck operations. This master mariner is well versed in the care and handling of lines. A boatswain will have knowledge of and ability to use knots, hitches, bends, whipping, and splices as needed to perform tasks such as mooring a vessel. Competencies extend to the safe operation of a windlass. Duties may require operating the basic functions of a windlass, including letting go and heaving up an anchor. Moreover, a boatswain may be called upon to lead firefighting efforts or other emergency procedures encountered in the inherently dangerous environment of a ship. Effective boatswains are able to integrate their seafarer skills into supervising and communicating with members of deck crew with often diverse backgrounds.
Originally, on board sailing ships the boatswain was in charge of a ship’s anchors, cordage, colours, deck crew and the ship’s boats.
Working conditions
Merchant mariners spend extended periods at sea. Most deep-sea mariners are hired for one or more voyages that last for several months; there is no job security after that. The length of time between voyages varies depending on job availability and personal preference.
At sea, a watchstanding boatswain will usually stand watch for 4 hours and are off for 8 hours, 7 days a week.
People in water transportation occupations work in all weather conditions. Although merchant mariners try to avoid severe storms while at sea, working in damp and cold conditions often is inevitable. While it is uncommon nowadays for vessels to suffer disasters such as fire, explosion, or a sinking, workers face the possibility that they may have to abandon their craft on short notice if it collides with other vessels or runs aground. They also risk injury or death from falling overboard and hazards associated with working with machinery, heavy loads, and dangerous cargo. However, modern safety management procedures, advanced emergency communications, and effective international rescue systems place modern mariners in a much safer position.
Most newer vessels are air conditioned, soundproofed from noisy machinery, and equipped with comfortable living quarters. For some mariners, these amenities have helped ease the sometimes difficult circumstances of long periods away from home. Also, modern communications, especially email, link modern mariners to their families. Nevertheless, some mariners dislike the long periods away from home and the confinement aboard ship and consequently leave the occupation.
In the United States, the rate of unionization for these workers is about 36 percent, much higher than the average for all occupations.
Boatswains employed on Great Lakes ships work 60 days and have 30 days off, but do not work in the winter when the lakes are frozen.
Origins in the Royal Navy
The rank of Boatswain was until recently the oldest rank in Great Britain’s Royal Navy,
In 1040 when five English ports began furnishing warships to King Edward the Confessor in exchange for certain privileges, they also furnished crews whose officers were the Master, Boatswain, Carpenter and Cook.
The warranted officers were often the permanent members of the ships’ companies.
In the Royal Navy the task of disciplining the crew fell to the quartermasters and quartermaster’s mates.
Notable boatswains
A number of boatswains and naval boatswains mates have achieved fame. Reuben James and William Wiley are famous for their heroism in the Barbary Wars and namesakes of the ships USS Reuben James (FFG-57) and USS Wiley (DD-597). The Boatswain in William Shakespere’s The Tempest is a central character is several scenes.
Victoria Cross recipients John Sheppard (VC), John Sullivan (VC), Henry Curtis, and John Harrison (VC 1857) were Royal Navy Boatswain’s Mates.
Lord Byron had a Newfoundland dog named Boatswain.
There are also a handful of fictional boatswains and boatswain’s mates. The father of main character Zack Mayo in An Officer and A Gentleman was a Boatswain’s Mate.
See also
Wikimedia Commons has media related to:
Able Seaman (occupation)
- Merchant Navy
- Ship transport
- United States Merchant Marine
- Nautical chart
- Nautical publications
- Boatswain’s Mate (US Navy)
- Boatswain’s Mate (US Coast Guard)
- Bootsmann
- Deck department
- Seafarer’s professions and ranks
- Serang
Notes
This article incorporates text from public-domain sources, including the Naval Historical Center and/or other U.S. Government websites. For specific sources of text, see notes.
- ^ a b c “Boatswain”. Online Etymology Dictionary. Retrieved on 2007-05-25.
- ^ a b c d e Chisholm, 1911, Boatswain.
- ^ a b c d e Oregon University System, 2004
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Bureau of Labor Statistics 2007, p.1.
- ^ a b c “HMS Victory”. royalnavy.mod.uk. Retrieved on 2007-05-26.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Naval Historical Center (2005-07-20). “Why is the Colonel Called “Kernal”? The Origin of the Ranks and Rank Insignia Now Used by the United States Armed Forces”. United States Navy. Retrieved on 2007-05-26.
- ^ “Ship’s Namesake”. USS Reuben James Official Website. Retrieved on 2007-05-26.
- ^ Naval Historical Center (1981). “Wiley”. Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. United States Navy. Retrieved on 2007-05-26.
- ^ Naval Historical Center (1981). “Hammerberg”. Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. United States Navy. Retrieved on 2007-05-26.
- ^ Naval Historical Center (1997). “Navy Medal of Honor: Interim Period 1920-1940″. Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. United States Navy. Retrieved on 2007-05-26.
- ^ “CPO Stephen Bass, U.S.N.”. LegionOfValor.com. Retrieved on 2007-05-26.
- ^ a b Clinton, George (1828). Memoirs of the Life and Writings of Lord Byron. London: James Robbins and Company, 8. Retrieved on 2007-05-27.
- ^ See quote from “The Complete Annotated Gilbert & Sullivan” at .
- ^ See quote from S.W. Gilbert in “The story of the H.M.S. Pinafore” at .
- ^ J M Barrie (December 27, 1904). “Act II: The Never Land”, Peter Pan or The Boy Who Would Not Grow Up. Retrieved on 2007-05-27.
References
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (U.S.A.) (2007). “Water Transportation Occupations” (PDF). Occupational Outlook Handbook. Government Printing Office. Retrieved on 2007-04-23.
- Encyclopædia Britannica (1911). “Boatswain”. Encyclopædia Britannica (11th edition) 4. Ed. Chisholm, Hugh. 100. Retrieved on 2007-04-17.
- Hayler, William B. (2003). American Merchant Seaman’s Manual. Cornell Maritime Press. ISBN 0-87033-549-9.
- McLeod, William Reynolds (2000). The Boatswain’s Manual. Glasgow: Brown, Son and Ferguson, ltd. ISBN 0-85174-679-9.
- Oregon University System (2004). “Classification Number: 4512 Boatswain”. Position Descriptions. Oregon University System. Retrieved on 2008-04-28.
- United States Naval Institute (1996). The Bluejackets’ Manual, 21st ed., Annapolis, MD: United States Naval Institute. ISBN 1-55750-050-9.
- Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (2003). “Boatswain”. Position Descriptions. Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. Retrieved on 2008-04-28.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to:
Boatswain
- CorPun website on corporal punishments
- Boatswain at OccupationalInfo.org
- International Labour Organization (2000-12-05). “Seaman, Merchant Marine”. International Hazard Datasheets on Occupation. Retrieved on 2007-05-26.
Shipboard occupations
Senior Personnel
Captain · Chief Engineer · Harbor Pilot
Deck Department
Licensed : Chief Mate · 2nd Mate · 3rd Mate
Unlicensed : Boatswain · Carpenter · Able Seaman · Ordinary Seaman
Engine Department
Licensed : 1st Assistant · 2nd Assistant · 3rd Assistant
Unlicensed : QMED · Electrician · Oiler · Wiper · Pumpman
Steward’s Department
Licensed : Purser
Unlicensed : Chief Steward · Chief Cook · Steward’s Assistant
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Categories: Marine occupations | Nautical terms | Titles | Transportation occupationsHidden categories: All articles with unsourced statements | Articles with unsourced statements since May 2007