Historically, sailors have led rugged and interesting lives. Their careers took them to the ports of the world, and their work frequently tested their courage and strength. Today ordinary sailors still make up the majority of personnel aboard ships, which are the biggest self-sufficient mobile structures ever constructed. Most merchant seamen are assigned to a specific department and job title. This is a result of collective bargaining agreements between the ship's management and the unions. However, in recent years some personnel have received the rating of general vessel assistant, which allows them to do entry work in any of the three departments aboard ship.
The Deck Department
The beginning position in the deck department is that of ordinary seaman. This person functions as an apprentice working under the direction of able seamen in all phases of work. Some of the tasks performed are washing, painting, chipping rust and repainting, scrubbing decks, cleaning personnel quarters, and generally keeping the ship clean. The jobs will vary with the type of vessel. For example, on tankers the ordinary seaman also will be involved in cleaning the ship's tanks. The ordinary often will help others stand watch and will relieve the able seamen, who steer the vessel under supervision.
The mainstays of the deck force on all oceangoing vessels are the able seamen. For example, the Queen Elizabeth II employs thirty-two able seamen. Making up about one-fifth of all sailors, they must have a thorough knowledge of all parts of the ship and be able to use all gear and deck equipment. They are responsible for all of the deck rigging and machinery, cleaning, and painting. On some ships, they serve as quartermasters or helmsmen that steer the ship. They must steer the vessel according to the direct orders of the ship's officers. Officially, they must understand steering commands, elementary construction and parts of the ship, nautical terms, passing, fog and distress signals, running lights (lights carried on ships by international agreement between sunset and sunrise), the compass, and many other subjects.
In emergencies these seamen perform many important tasks. During a fire, they close doors and handle fire equipment. In serious difficulties, they assist with the lifeboats-removing covers, swinging the lifeboats free from the ships, and lowering them into the water. They must hold lifeboatmen's certificates and be expert in their use. Able seamen practice emergency procedures to keep their skill levels high. Upon docking they handle lines, assist with loading and discharge of cargo, and sometimes clean the cargo compartments.
The boatswain (or bosun) serves as the highest ranking seaman in the deck department. As foreman of the deck crew, the boatswain assigns work and supervises general maintenance operations. This person meets with the chief officer to plan the day's jobs, which may involve overhauling the lifeboats or cleaning and polishing the metalwork. Some vessels carry a ship's carpenter who works with other deck department personnel in making repairs. The title originates from the days of wooden ships and doesn't accurately describe the carpenter's real duties, which may involve replacing broken glass in a porthole, repairing a lock, or fixing a broken anchor. On some ships, deck utility people (deck maintenance people or deck/machine people) perform deck maintenance work under supervision of the boatswain.
The Engine Department
American ingenuity contributed to the development of the steamship and, consequently, to the demise of the sailing ship. First wood, then coal, and finally oil served to fuel these new vessels; a short experiment in commercial nuclear propulsion (the NS Savannah, named for the first steamship to traverse the Atlantic) proved too expensive. The move away from sails resulted in a new specialty aboard ship; those who tended the area of the ship responsible for propulsion. Today various specialists make up the staff who care for the engines.
The wipers, the lowest ranking in the department, perform general duties. These persons clean and help repair engine room equipment. Oilers lubricate the moving and wearing parts of the engine machinery. They check oil pressure and flow to prevent engine damage and aid in the overhaul and repair of engines. Fire-water tender’s check and regulate the amount of water in the boilers, inspect gauges, and regulate fuel flow to keep steam pressure constant. The qualified member of the engine department (QMED) must be able to perform and assist with all unlicensed machinery work, such as the refrigeration and steering systems, and must know how to operate the new automated engine room consoles. Aboard tank vessels is the pump person, who assists the cargo officer in the handling of liquid cargo and in related tasks such as maintaining pumps and valves. The generator and motors are serviced by the ship's electrician. This person, sometimes called the chief electrician, may have the assistance of a second electrician. The replacement of defective lights and fuses, along with other routine electrical repairs, falls within the domain of electricians.
The Steward's Department
Messmates and utility mates form the lowest rating within this department. The former set the tables, serve meals, and clean the mess rooms. The latter prepare vegetables and clean cooking utensils and galley (kitchen) equipment. The assistant cook, working under the direction of the chief cook, prepares the food for cooking. Similarly, the cook and baker, under the leadership of the chief cook, do all baking and cook all vegetables and hot meals. In charge of the galley is the chief cook. The chief cook directs the preparation and serving of all meals; the orderliness and cleanliness of the galley also fall under this person's direction. The supervision of the department falls under the jurisdiction of the chief steward. Ordering supplies, planning menus, and supervising meals are some of their duties. The chief steward, in consultation with the master, authorizes overtime, receives stores, and accepts responsibility for the efficiency of the department. As with other ratings aboard ship, on many new ships some jobs are combined. For example, the chief cook and chief steward have been replaced by a combination chief steward/cook on some vessels.
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