Everything You Need to Know About Bosun Jobs

Martide is continuing our series of blog posts which explore the theme “what is a seafarer’s job” by looking at examples of maritime jobs and jobs at sea. In this post we’re going to be taking a look at being a Bosun and seeing what that involves.

If you’re interested in following a career at sea, could a Bosun (sometimes called a Boatswain) be the right job for you once you’ve worked your way up through the seafarer ranks? Let’s find out.

First of all, a Bosun isn’t an entry level cargo ship job like a Deck Cadet, an Electrical Cadet, a Junior Engineer, an Engine Cadet, a Motorman or a Messman; it follows a career pathway which involves starting lower down the ladder. Initially you would start out as a trainee Ordinary Seaman (OS) and once you gained the relevant experience you would then become a regular OS.

Following that, you could then work your way up to becoming an Able Bodied Seaman (AB) with a view to further being promoted to the rank of Bosun.

ARE YOU LOOKING FOR BOSUN JOBS? VIEW MARTIDE'S BOSUN JOBS ON SHIPS NOW!

But what is a Bosun and what does his or her job involve?

What are Bosun jobs on ships?

What is a seafarer’s job? If it’s the Bosun you’re talking about, their duties involve looking after the hull and deck of the vessel. Making sure these parts of the ship, as well as her anchors, windlasses and other such equipment are well maintained and in good working order are part of the Bosun’s responsibilities.

Read more: Everything You Need to Know About Marine Pilot Jobs

A Bosun’s work on deck can include anything from painting to repairs to cleaning to general maintenance. Inspections must also be carried out so that preventative maintenance can be executed to ensure any issues such as faults, rust or corrosion caused by the elements and salt water are taken care of as soon as they arise.

A Bosun is also responsible for areas such as the Bosun’s store room, the paint locker, and the deck stores where the tools of their trade such as maintenance equipment, tools and supplies are kept.

As a crew member employed in the deck department, in general, the Bosun will spend most of their working hours on or around the deck. He or she is the supervisor of the lower seafarer ranks in the deck department such as the Deckhands, Ordinary Seamen and Able Seamen and is expected to lead as an example.

With the guidance of the ship’s Chief Officer, the Bosun will decide what needs doing that day, schedule tasks, and then assign them to the members of the deck crew. They then need to ensure that these tasks are done correctly and in full, and are carried out in a timely fashion.

The Bosun can be seen as the contact between the crew and the officers and where possible they should take responsibility for their Ordinary and Able Seamen and avoid having to involve higher seafarer ranks such as the Chief or Second Officers and Master in the deck crew’s daily schedule, tasks and minor problems.

Read more:Everything You Need to Know About Navigation Officer Jobs

Having said that, the Chief Officer may well want progress reports on certain jobs such as repairs.

Other responsibilities assigned to the Bosun

Jobs at sea can have a lot of different parts to them and as well as looking after the ship’s deck and the deck crew, the Bosun is also expected to be well trained in firefighting methods. They must also ensure that their crew is similarly effective in the event of a blaze onboard.

We mentioned that the maintenance and functionality of the anchor and windlass falls under the Bosun’s remit, and so too do mooring operations.

This means that the Bosun is responsible for making sure that the vessel is correctly anchored and that the entire operation is performed without any issues.

ARE YOU LOOKING FOR BOSUN JOBS? VIEW MARTIDE'S BOSUN JOBS ON SHIPS NOW!

You may have read elsewhere on Martide's blog that technology is starting to play a big part in many examples of maritime jobs for a number of seafarer ranks. Back in the old days, pre-GPS and pre-onboard computers, technical knowhow was expected of a Bosun.

However data such as the ship’s global positioning is now left to the tech and this kind of knowledge is now no longer a must-have requirement in a Bosun’s skill set.

Read more: How Tech-Savvy Must You Be to Work in Jobs at Sea?

Having said that, GPS is not always guaranteed to work and if you are thinking about eventually working your way up the maritime career ladder to become a Bosun, having extra skills such as technical knowledge on your seafarer resume definitely won’t hurt your prospects when it comes to looking for jobs at sea!

A summary of a Bosun’s duties and responsibilities

The duties required by Bosun jobs are generally the same, however they may vary slightly depending on the type of vessel - for more on that see the section below. Typically speaking, however, a Bosun is responsible for the following:

• Supervising deck crew – The Bosun is responsible for overseeing the deckhands and ensuring that all assigned tasks are carried out efficiently and safely.
• Maintenance and repairs – They coordinate and perform maintenance on deck equipment, lifeboats, mooring lines, winches, and other critical gear.
• Cargo handling – On cargo vessels, Bosuns assist in loading, securing, and unloading cargo to ensure proper stowage and safety.
• Mooring and anchoring operations – They manage mooring lines during docking and undocking procedures and oversee anchoring operations.
• Safety compliance – The Bosun ensures that the deck crew follows all safety protocols, including proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and adherence to international maritime safety regulations.
• Painting and cleaning – Responsible for overseeing the upkeep of the ship’s exterior, including painting, rust removal, and general cleaning to maintain seaworthiness.
• Training and mentorship – They train new deckhands and provide guidance on seamanship, safe working practices, and vessel operations.
• Communication with Officers – Acts as a liaison between the deck crew and ship’s officers, relaying instructions and reporting any deck-related issues.
• Emergency preparedness – The Bosun assists in emergency drills, such as fire and abandon ship drills, ensuring the crew is well-trained in response procedures.
• Operating deck equipment – They handle and maintain winches, cranes, and hoists used in various ship operations.

What types of vessels do Bosuns work on?

Bosuns work on a variety of commercial ships, playing a crucial role in maintaining and managing the vessel's deck operations, whether it’s a passenger ferry or an oil tanker. 

Bosun jobs are typically found aboard cargo ships, such as container ships, bulk carriers, and general cargo vessels, where they oversee loading and unloading procedures, ensure proper maintenance of deck equipment, and supervise the deck crew. 

In the tanker sector, bosuns work on oil tankers, chemical tankers, and LNG carriers, where their responsibilities include managing deck safety procedures, securing cargo pipelines, and maintaining mooring equipment.

Additionally, bosuns are employed on passenger vessels, such as cruise ships and ferries, where they coordinate deck maintenance, assist with mooring operations, and ensure passenger safety in case of emergency. 

In offshore industries, bosun jobs are found on supply vessels, drilling rigs, and platform support ships, ensuring that equipment is properly maintained and that offshore operations run smoothly. 

Seafarer jobs require more than just qualifications

It should go without saying that qualifications, certificates, training and education are a must if you’re thinking about a career working in jobs at sea.

But a seafarer’s personality can also make a huge difference between a successful life at sea and a miserable or disappointing one.

To work in a seafarer job, you must have both physical and mental strength and agility. Many maritime jobs involve spending weeks or months away from home and it takes a strong personality to be able to cope well with that.

Read more: Everything You Need to Know About Shipfitter Jobs

In addition, having good people and communication skills will come in very handy for a Bosun as they need to be able to relay instructions to their deck crew and act as the go-between between deck ratings and officers.

ARE YOU LOOKING FOR BOSUN JOBS? VIEW MARTIDE'S BOSUN JOBS ON SHIPS NOW!

And due to the likelihood of there being a number of different nationalities and seafarers with different mother tongues onboard, a sound working knowledge of the English language will also be important.

More examples of maritime jobs

Do you think life as a Bosun heading up the deck crew is something that would interest you? Or do you want to keep exploring exactly what is a seafarer’s job and find out more about some other jobs at sea?

Perhaps the idea of being a Pumpman, a Wiper or an Oiler interests you, or how about a Chief Officer or Master? Or Marine Electrician or Electro-Technical Officer jobs could be just the thing for anyone with an interest in electronics or electrical systems.

There are also quite a few jobs that you might not associate with being seafarer jobs - such as excavator driver jobs on ships. There are also ship’s carpenter, plumber or garbage operator jobs - these positions are mainly found on cruise ships, alongside the better known ranks of Chief Steward, Chief Stewardess and First, Second or Third Stewards/Stewardesses.

Or maybe knowing what a Ship’s Cook job involves or what Chief Marine Engineer jobs are all about is something you’d like to know?  

If so, carry on making your way through our series and we hope you’ll find the inspiration you’re looking for!

Meanwhile, if you're already a seaman or woman and you're looking for your next job at sea, take a look at Martide's seafarer job vacancies and see if we have the right position for you!

And don’t forget to download our seafarer job app for iOS or Android from the Apple App Store or from Google Play either!

Read the previous article in this series:Everything You Need to Know About Junior Electrician Jobs

Read the next article in this series:Everything You Need to Know About Able Bodied Seaman Jobs

This blog post was originally published on September 24th 2020 and updated on April 8th 2025