The bosun (boatswain) is the senior rating on deck — the foreman between the chief officer and the deck crew. The chief officer decides what has to be done; the bosun decides who does it, with which tools, and makes sure it is done safely.
What the bosun does
- Runs the deck crew. Turns the chief officer's plan into the day's jobs for the ABs and OSs, and checks the work.
- Maintenance. Rust removal and painting, greasing, hatch covers and their seals, mooring winches and ropes, lashing gear, cranes and derricks on cargo ships.
- Mooring and anchoring. Usually leads the forward mooring party together with the officer, and handles the windlass.
- Rigging and gear. Ropes, wires, shackles, blocks, pilot ladders, gangways and accommodation ladders — inspected, maintained and recorded.
- Stores. Paint, tools, ropes and deck consumables: keeps the deck store and orders what is running out.
- Safety at work. Work permits, working aloft and over the side, enclosed spaces, protective equipment — the bosun is the first person who stops an unsafe job.
The bosun is usually a day worker, roughly 08:00–17:00, and is called out for mooring at any hour.
What it takes
There is no separate STCW certificate for a bosun. What a company expects:
- the able seafarer deck certificate (STCW II/5) — in practice, years as an AB;
- Basic Training and the other mandatory safety courses, a valid medical;
- experience on the vessel type, and the ability to lead a mixed crew in English.
Most companies promote an AB they already know after several contracts.
The path
Ordinary seaman → able seaman → bosun. Some bosuns go on to study for an officer's certificate; many stay — an experienced bosun is valued and well paid among the ratings.
Pay and jobs
The bosun is usually the highest-paid deck rating. The current range from real vacancies is on the bosun jobs page; a comparison by rank is on our salaries page.
Your CV
For a bosun, crewing desks look at vessel types, the cargo gear you have worked with and how long you have led a crew. The maritime CV puts this first.
Certificates follow STCW; your flag state may add its own requirements.