From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Sailor
Sailor
"Boatmen" redirects here. It may also refer to a gral to the successful operation of an ocean-going ves-
nickname for the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian sel. A ship’s crew can generally be divided into four main
Football League. categories: the deck department, the engineering depart-
ment, the steward’s department, and other.
Deck department
For more details on this topic, see Deck department.
Three types of mariners are seen here in the wheelhouse: a
master, an able seaman, and a harbour pilot.
sailor, mariner,
A sailor mariner or seaman is a person who navi-
gates water-borne vessels or assists in their operation,
maintenance, or service. The term can apply to profes-
sional mariners, military personnel, and recreational
sailors as well as a plethora of other uses. Etymologically,
the name preserves the memory of the time when ships
were commonly powered by sails, but it applies to the
personnel of all vessels, whatever their mode of locomo-
tion.
Professional mariners hold a variety of professions
and ranks which are fairly standard, with the exception
of slight naming differences around the world. Common
categories by department include the Deck department,
the Engineering department, and the Steward’s depart- An able seaman stands iceberg lookout on the bow of the
ment. Mariners can also be categorized by status as se- freighter USNS Southern Cross during a re-supply mission to
nior licensed mariners or unlicensed mariners. McMurdo Station, Antarctica; circa 1981.
A number of professional mariners have left the in-
dustry and led noteworthy lives in the naval services or Officer positions in the deck department include but are
on the shore. For example, Traian Băsescu started his ca- not limited to: Master and his Chief, Second, and Third
reer as a third mate in 1976 and is now the President officers. The official classifications for unlicensed mem-
of Romania. Arthur Phillip joined the Merchant Navy in bers of the deck department are Able seaman and Or-
1751 and 37 years later founded Sydney, Australia. Mer- dinary seaman. With some variation, the Chief Mate is
chant mariner Douglass North went from seaman to nav- most often charged with the duties of Cargo Mate. Se-
igator to winning the 1993 Nobel Prize in Economics. cond Mates are charged with being the medical officer,
in case of medical emergency. All Three mates each do
Four-Hour AM and PM shifts on the bridge, when under-
Professional mariners way at sea.
Seafarers hold a variety of professions and ranks, each A common deck crew for a ship includes:
of which carries unique responsibilities which are inte- • (1) Chief Officer/Chief Mate
• (1) Second Officer /Second Mate
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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Sailor
• (1) Third Officer / Third Mate The chief steward also plans menus; compiles supply,
• (1) Cadet/Officer Cadet overtime, and cost control records. The steward may req-
• (1) Boatswain uisition or purchase stores and equipment. Galley roles
• (2-8) Able seamen may include baking.
• (0-3) Ordinary seamen A chief steward’s duties may overlap with those of the
Steward’s Assistant, the Chief Cook, and other Steward’s
Engineering department Department crewmembers.
For more details on this topic, see Engineering depart- A person has to have a Merchant Mariner’s Document
ment. issued by the United States Coast Guard in the United
A ship’s engineering department consists of the members States Merchant Marine in order to serve as a chief stew-
of a ship’s crew that operates and maintains the propul- ard. All chief cooks who sail internationally are similarly
sion and other systems onboard the vessel. Marine en- documented by their respective countries because of in-
gineering staff also deal with the "hotel" facilities on- ternational conventions and agreements.
board, notably the sewage, lighting, air conditioning and The only time that Steward Department staff are
water systems. Engineering staff manage bulk fuel trans- charged with duties outside the Steward department, is
fers, from a fuel-supply barge in port. When underway at during the execution of the Fire and Boat Drill.
sea, the second and third engineers will often be occu-
pied with oil transfers from storage tanks, to active work- Other departments
ing tanks; Cleaning of oil purifiers is another regular task. For more details on this topic, see Seafarer’s professions
Engineering staff are requireed to have training in fire- and ranks#Other.
fighting and first aid. Additional duties include maintain- Various types of staff officer positions may exist on board
ing the ship’s boats and performing other nautical tasks. a ship, including Junior Assistant Purser, Senior Assistant
Engineers play a key role in cargo loading/discharging Purser, Purser, Chief Purser, Medical Doctor, Professional
gear and safety systems, though the specific cargo dis- Nurse, Marine Physician Assistant, and Hospital Corps-
charge function remains the responsibility of deck offi- man. These jobs are considered administrative positions
cers and deck workers. and are therefore regulated by Certificates of Registry
A common engineering crew for a ship includes: issued by the United States Coast Guard. Pilots are also
• (1) Chief Engineer merchant marine officers and are licensed by the Coast
• (1) Second Engineer / First Assistant Engineer Guard.
• (1) Third Engineer / Second Assistant Engineer
• (1-2) Fourth Engineer / Third Assistant Engineer Working conditions
• (0-2) Fifth Engineer / Junior Engineer Mariners spend extended periods at sea. Most deep-sea
• (1-3) QMED (unlicensed qualified rating: Qualified mariners are hired for one or more voyages that last for
member Engine Dept.) several months. There is no job security after that. The
• (1-3) Oiler (unlicensed qualified rating) length of time between voyages varies by job availability
• (0-3) Greaser/s (unlicensed qualified rating) and personal preference.[1]
• (1-5) Entry-level rating (such as Wiper (occupation), The rate of unionization for these workers in the
Utilityman, etc.) United States is about 36 percent, much higher than the
American ships also carry a Qualified Member of the average for all occupations. Consequently, merchant ma-
Engine Department. Other possible positions include Mo- rine officers and seamen, both veterans and beginners,
torman, Machinist, Electrician, Refrigeration Engineer, are hired for voyages through union hiring halls or di-
and Tankerman. rectly by shipping companies. Hiring halls fill jobs by the
length of time the person has been registered at the hall
Steward’s department and by their union seniority. Hiring halls typically are
For more details on this topic, see Steward’s department. found in major seaports.
A typical Steward’s department for a cargo ship is a Chief At sea, on larger vessels members of the deck depart-
Steward, a Chief Cook, and a Steward’s Assistant. All ment usually stand watch for 4 hours and are off for 8
three positions are typically filled by unlicensed person- hours, 7 days a week.[2]
nel. Mariners work in all weather conditions. Working in
The chief steward directs, instructs, and assigns per- damp and cold conditions often is inevitable, although
sonnel performing such functions as preparing and serv- ships try to avoid severe storms while at sea. It is uncom-
ing meals; cleaning and maintaining officers’ quarters mon for modern vessels to suffer disasters such as fire,
and steward department areas; and receiving, issuing, explosion, or a sinking. Yet workers face the possibility
and inventorying stores. of having to abandon ship on short notice if it collides
with other vessels or runs aground. Mariners also risk in-
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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Sailor
Standard merchant watch system
Day 1 Day 2 Day 3
4am-8am Team 1 Team 1 Team 1
8am-12pm Team 2 Team 2 Team 2
12pm-4pm Team 3 Team 3 Team 3
4pm-8pm Team 1 Team 1 Team 1
8pm-12am Team 2 Team 2 Team 2
12am-4am Team 3 Team 3 Team 3
jury or death from falling overboard and from hazards industry is "almost invariably because they want to be
associated with working with machinery, heavy loads, with their families." U.S. merchant ships typically do not
and dangerous cargo. However, modern safety manage- allow family members to accompany seafarers on voy-
ment procedures, advanced emergency communications, ages. Industry experts increasingly recognize isolation,
and effective international rescue systems place modern stress, and fatigue as occupational hazards. Advocacy
mariners in a much safer position. groups such as International Labor Organization, a Unit-
Most newer vessels are air conditioned, sound- ed Nations agency, and the Nautical Institute seek im-
proofed from noisy machinery, and equipped with com- proved international standards for mariners.
fortable living quarters. These amenities have helped One’s service aboard ships typically extends for
ease the sometimes difficult circumstances of long peri- months at a time, followed by protracted shore leave.
ods away from home. Also, modern communications, es- However, some seamen secure jobs on ships they like
pecially email, link modern mariners to their families. and stay aboard for years. In rare cases, veteran mariners
Nevertheless, some mariners dislike the long periods choose never to go ashore when in port.
away from home and the confinement aboard ship. They Further, the quick turnaround of many modern ships,
consequently leave the profession. spending only a matter of hours in port, limits a seafar-
er’s free-time ashore. Moreover, some seafarers entering
Life at sea U.S. ports from a watch list of 25 countries deemed high-
risk face restrictions on shore leave due to security con-
cerns in a post 9/11 environment. However, shore leave
restrictions while in U.S. ports impact American seamen
as well. For example, the International Organization of
Masters, Mates & Pilots notes a trend of U.S. shipping ter-
minal operators restricting seamen from traveling from
the ship to the terminal gate. Further, in cases where
transit is allowed, special "security fees" are at times as-
sessed.
Such restrictions on shore leave coupled with re-
duced time in port by many ships translate into longer
periods at sea. Mariners report that extended periods at
sea living and working with shipmates who for the most
The tanker SS Overseas Alice takes seas over the bow during a part are strangers takes getting used to. At the same time,
1981 run from New Orleans to Panama. there is an opportunity to meet people from a wide range
of ethnic and cultural backgrounds. Recreational oppor-
Professional mariners live on the margins of society, with tunities have improved aboard some U.S. ships, which
much of their life spent beyond the reach of land. They may feature gyms and day rooms for watching movies,
face cramped, stark, noisy, and dangerous conditions at swapping sea stories, and other activities. And in some
sea. Yet men and women still go to sea. For some, the cases, especially tankers, it is made possible for a mariner
attraction is a life unencumbered with the restraints of to be accompanied by members of his family. However, a
life ashore. Sea-going adventure and a chance to see the mariner’s off duty time at sea is largely a solitary affair,
world also appeal to many seafarers. Whatever the call- pursuing hobbies, reading, writing letters, and sleeping.
ing, those who live and work at sea invariably confront
social isolation.
Findings by the Seafarer’s International Research Notable mariners
Center indicate a leading cause of mariners leaving the Further information: List of notable mariners
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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Sailor
Mariners are well represented in the visual arts.
French pilot’s assistant Paul Gauguin would later become
a leading post-impressionist painter and pioneered mod-
ern art’s synthetist style. American seaman Haskell
Wexler later won two Academy Awards, the latter for a
biography of his shipmate Woody Guthrie. British Mer-
chant Navy member Ken Russell later directed films such
as Tommy, Altered States, and The Lair of the White Worm.
Merchant seaman Johnny Craig was already a working
comic book artist before he joined up, but Ernie Schroed-
er wouldn’t start drawing comics until after returning
home from World War II.
Merchant sailors have also made a splash in the world
of sport. In football, with Fred Blackburn in England and
Statue dedicated to Italian Sailors at Finale Ligure, Liguria the likes of Dan Devine and Heisman Trophy winner
(Italy) Frank Sinkwich in the U.S. In track and field, American
seamen Cornelius Johnson and Jim Thorpe both won
Barbarossa Hayrettin Pasha (Turkish: Barbaros Hayrettin Olympic medals, though Thorpe didn’t get his until 30
Paşa or Hızır Hayrettin Paşa; also Hızır Reis before being years after his death. Seamen Jim Bagby, Jr. and Charlie
promoted to the rank of Pasha and becoming the Kaptan- Keller went on to Major League Baseball. Drew Bundini
ı Derya (Fleet Admiral) of the Ottoman Navy) (c. 1478 – Brown was Muhammad Ali’s assistant trainer and corner-
4 July 1546) was an Ottoman admiral who dominated the man, and Joe Gold went on to make his fortune as the
Mediterranean for decades. He was born on the island of bodybuilding and fitness guru of Gold’s Gym.
Lesbos/ Mytilini and died in Istanbul, the Ottoman capi- Other sporting notables include Edwin Stratton the
tal. founder of Yoshinkan UK, Dutchman Henk de Velde
Merchant seamen have gone on to make their mark known for sailing solo around the world, and Briton
on the world in a number of interesting ways. Traian Băs- Matthew Webb who was the first person to swim the Eng-
escu, who started his career as a third mate in 1976 is now lish Channel without the use of artificial aid.
the President of Romania. Arthur Phillip joined the Mer- Irish Merchant Navy member Kevin McClory spent 14
chant Navy in 1751 and 37 years later founded the city days in a lifeboat and later went on to write the James
of Sydney, Australia. Merchant mariner Douglass North Bond movies Never Say Never Again and Thunderball. Mem-
went from seaman to navigator to winner of the 1993 No- bers of the American Beat Movement Allen Ginsberg, Jack
bel Prize in Economics. Jimmy Carter went on to become Kerouac, Bob Kaufman, and Herbert Huncke were all
the 39th President of the United States after service in Merchant Mariners.
the US Navy. It’s perhaps not surprising that the writers of Moby
Members of the British Merchant Navy have won the Dick, The American Practical Navigator, and Two Years Before
Distinguished Service Cross, and have had careers taking the Mast were Merchant Mariners. It might be surprising
them from ’Deck Boy Peter’ to Air Marshal Sir Beresford that the writers of Borat, A Hard Day’s Night, and Cool Hand
Peter Torrington Horsley KCB, CBE, LVO, AFC. Canadian Luke were.
merchant seamen have won the Victoria Cross and the Seamen always complain about leaving their girl
Medal of Honor. American merchant seamen have won friends ashore, but imagine how James Dougherty felt,
the Medal of Honor in the Korean War and Vietnam War, leaving his 17-year-old wife Marilyn Monroe on the
and one went on to become the "Father of the American beach. Merchant Navy steward Freddie Lennon had a sur-
Navy." One doesn’t have to look far to find merchant sea- prise when he returned home to find he had a newborn
men who became war heroes in Scotland, France, New son. That son would later found the musical group The
Zealand, Peru, or Denmark. Beatles.
Since World War II, a number of merchant seamen A number of U.S. Merchant Mariners from World War
have become notorious criminals. American William II later played well known television characters. The list
Colepaugh was convicted as a Nazi spy in World War II includes Milburn Drysdale on The Beverly Hillbillies, Archie
and Fritz Sauckel was convicted as a Nazi war criminal. Bunker on All in the Family, Columbo on Columbo, Jim
Briton Duncan Scott-Ford was hanged for treachery in Rockford on The Rockford Files, Steve McGarret on Hawaii
World War II. George Hennard was an American mass Five-O, Uncle Jesse Duke on The Dukes of Hazzard, and
murderer who claimed 24 victims on a rampage at Luby’s Cheyenne Bodie on Cheyenne.
Cafeteria in Killeen, Texas. And Perry Smith’s own mur-
derous rampage was made famous in Truman Capote’s
non-fiction novel In Cold Blood.
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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Sailor
Other uses Notes and references
An ancient term, the word "sailor," has come to mean [1] * "Water Transportation Occupations". U.S.
many things. Sailor may refer to: Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics.
• A person who is under sail and not on a vessel with http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos247.htm. Retrieved
motorised power of any kind in the Royal Navy, 2007-03-31.
• A person who goes out sailing, boating or yachting, [2] On smaller vessels with a single mate 6 hours on
• A person who practices the art of controlling the and 6 hours off are common. Mariners employed
motion of a sailing ship or sailboat, across a body of on Great Lakes ships work 60 days and have 30 days
water, off. They do not work in the winter when the lakes
• An enlisted member of a military naval force, are frozen. Workers on rivers, on canals, and in
• Anyone on a boat, harbors are more likely to have year-round work.
• Anyone from a recruit to an admiral in a navy or Some work 8-hour or 12-hour shifts and go home
coast guard, every day. Others work steadily for a week or a
• Members of the deck department as opposed to month and then have an extended period off.
members of other departments in the Merchant When working, they usually are on duty for 6 or 12
Navy. hours and off for 6 or 12 hours. Those on smaller
vessels are normally assigned to one vessel and
See also have steady employment.
• British Merchant Navy
• Marine (military)
External links
• Sailing • Glossary of Shipping Terms for Sailors & Maritime
• Sailor jargon Professionals
• Sailor suit • Survey of Water Transport Occupations
• Seafarer’s professions and ranks • Seafarer Fatigue: The Cardiff Research Programme
• Seaman military rank • Sailor at Etymology Online
• The Marine Society • Sailors Help Line--helpline for seafarers
• United States Merchant Marine
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sailor&oldid=460035148"
Categories:
• Marine occupations
• Nautical terms
• Sailors
• Water transport
• Military occupations
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