What Does Boatswain Mean
Before entering fully into the establishment of the meaning of the term boatswain, it is necessary and interesting to discover its etymological origin. In this case we can state that most theories establish that it derives from the old Catalan "bosun".
The first document that is preserved where that word is used that we are addressing is in the "Diary of the first voyage of Columbus", dated in the year 1492.
The notion of boatswain is used to name the individual who has the responsibility to direct the seamanship . In the Navy , he carries out the orders issued by the war officer.
The boatswain must perform multiple functions on a boat. It is the person responsible for the conservation and control of the gear , being the one who must indicate to the captain what repairs are necessary. It also has to communicate to the sailors what tasks they must fulfill on board, ensuring that they perform them properly.
The boatswains, on the other hand, must guarantee the discipline and order of the crew, giving intervention to the captain when necessary. If the captain and the pilot are disabled or unable to fulfill their functions, the boatswain assumes command of the ship.
The organization of the cargo and the inventory of the supplies and gear are also the responsibilities of the boatswain, who has the obligation to ensure that the boat is ready to carry out the necessary maneuvers at all times.
Other specific functions of the boatswain are to ensure that the weapons are in order and in perfect condition or that the ship is in the necessary conditions so that the pertinent maneuvers can be carried out.
In the pirate crews there was also the figure of the boatswain. Thus, he was in charge of proceeding to communicate the captain's wishes to the men of the ship's crew. In this sense, it must be stated that, in terms of hierarchy, he was below the captain and the lieutenant.
On the other hand, the space of the ship that is destined to the storage of the elements that are required for the operation and maintenance of the ship is called a boatswain storeroom . Tools, wires, lashing devices and other objects are kept there.
It is interesting to know that, as a general rule, this bosun's locker is located in the bow area, exactly in the forecastle. It is below the deck of that one and above what is the forepeak.
In Cuba , Contramaestre is the name of a municipality that belongs to the province of Santiago de Cuba . It has just over 100,000 inhabitants spread over an area of about 610 square kilometers.
This population was founded in 1976 as a result of the political-administrative division that took place. Its economy is based, fundamentally, on the cultivation of coffee and citrus fruits, on the raising of livestock (cattle, pigs, horses, sheep ...) and on the cultivation of sugar cane.
Contramaestre Casado (A-01) , finally, is an auxiliary ship that has been part of the Spanish Navy since 1982 . It was built in 1951 in Sweden as a merchant ship.