Bootsmann

Sleeve insignia

The boatman (plural: boat people ) or even the boat wife is a member of a ship's crew. In the earlier shipping the boatswain was responsible for maintaining the technical equipment of the ship, especially sailing, ropes and anchors. He was subordinate to the captain or the helmsman and commanded the deck teams at all sailor economic tasks. On larger ships passed the Ranks Chief Petty Officer and sub ​​boatswain.

Bosun and ship operations master in the merchant shipping

In the merchant navy is called the foreman of the deck crew as boatswain.

In Germany the master of commercial vessels operating master was created in the 1980s. This approach was necessary because the training set for sailors on vessels, and instead of the ship's mechanic was created as a teaching professional. It can be used both in the field of machine as well as on deck. Ideally, the ship operation master is now in charge on the team plane for the entire ship operation. In the majority of German merchant ships with multinational crew However drives usually a boatman and no ship operation master.

Rank of boatswain in the German Navy

Boatswain ( Abbr BTSm, in lists B ) denotes today in Germany a soldier in the lowest rank of sergeant in the army within the German Navy. In the other branches of the armed forces called this rank sergeant in the People's Navy of the former GDR, he was champion. Members of the category of the officers go through this rank as a Midshipman.

The oral form of address is Mr. Boatswain, in female form women boat man. However, in the German Navy, as well as in the navies of the Anglo-Saxon countries, it is also traditionally common that soldiers are addressed in this grade of service degree higher soldiers without the grade designation, ie, for B Mr. Smith instead of Mr. ( rank ).