Everything about Boatswain totally explained
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 not a
watchstander, except on vessels with small crews. Other duties vary depending on the type of ship, its crewing, and other factors.
Etymology
The word boatswain has been in the English language since approximately 1450. It is derived from late
Old English batswegen, from
bat ("boat") +
Old Norse sveinn ("
swain"), meaning a young man, a follower,
retainer or
servant. Sometimes, the boatswain is also a
third or
fourth mate. As work is completed, the boatswain checks on completed work for compliance with approved operating procedures.
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's 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. The Royal Navy's last official Boatswain, Commander E W Andrew
OBE, retired in 1990. Later these officers were "warranted" by the
British Admiralty.
Medal of Honor recipients
Francis P. Hammerberg, and
George Robert Cholister were U.S. Navy Boatswain's Mates, as was
Navy Cross recipient
Stephen Bass.
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. Byron wrote the famous poem
Epitaph to a Dog and had a monument made for him at
Newstead Abbey. and a "Boatswain's Mate." Another boatswain from literature is
Smee from
Peter Pan.
Further Information
Get more info on 'Boatswain'.
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