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Boatswain's Mate Job Description

What does a Boatswain's Mate do?

A Boatswain’s Mate is a member of the Royal Navy who works to maintain the ship’s deck and equipment, as well as assist in navigation and mooring operations. They are responsible for rigging sails, operating winches, and maintaining decks and hulls. They also play a key role in the safe handling of cargo, tying and untying lines, and anchoring the ship. In addition, a Boatswain’s Mate provides leadership and guidance to lower-ranking personnel, training them in safety procedures and other vital tasks. Overall, a Boatswain’s Mate is a vital member of the Royal Navy, performing a variety of duties essential to the smooth operation of a ship.

Our Boatswain's Mate job description includes the Boatswain's Mate responsibilities, duties, skills, education, qualifications, and experience.

Boatswain’s Mate Example


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If you need an example job description for a Boatswain's Mate download the one below, alternatively we have many other Transportation and Logistics job description samples and a job description library with over 3000 job descriptions templates that you can download for free.

What does a Boatswain's Mate do?

A Boatswain's Mate is a skilled seafarer responsible for the maintenance, repair and operation of deck equipment and the safe navigation of vessels. They ensure the safety of personnel and equipment on board by monitoring and inspecting the vessel and its equipment. They also manage the crew and maintain the cleanliness and tidiness of the vessel. In addition, Boatswain's Mates are responsible for the maintenance, repair and operation of communications and navigation systems, as well as the management of cargo and stores.

Boatswain's Mate Role Purpose

The Boatswain's Mate's job role is to be responsible for the maintenance, repair and upkeep of boats, ships and other vessels. They are responsible for the supervision of deck crew, and the operation of the vessel's navigation and communication equipment. They may also be responsible for mooring, berthing, anchor handling and other related tasks, as well as helping with the loading and unloading of cargo.

Boatswain's Mate Role

A Boatswain's Mate is a member of the deck department in the Merchant Navy who is responsible for maintaining the ship's hull, mooring and anchoring operations, rigging, deck maintenance and other general duties. They are also responsible for the supervision of other personnel, such as Able Seamen, Ordinary Seamen, and Deckhands.

Boatswain's Mate Duties

  • Responsible for the maintenance and repair of boats and ships' mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems
  • Perform routine maintenance, such as painting and cleaning on the boat
  • Check safety equipment and make sure it is in working order
  • Assist in launching and recovering boats
  • Inspect and test boats and ships' engines
  • Ensure the boat is kept in a safe and seaworthy condition
  • Train and supervise personnel in boat handling and safety procedures

Boatswain's Mate Requirements

  • Ability to operate motorised vessels and equipment
  • Knowledge of shipboard operations and maintenance
  • Able to carry out general maintenance tasks
  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
  • Ability to lead and delegate tasks to a team

Boatswain's Mate Skills

  • Leadership
  • Organisation
  • Knowledge of ships systems and operations
  • Maintenance of equipment
  • Ability to work in a team

Boatswain's Mate Personal Traits

  • Leadership
  • Organisational Skills
  • Attention to Detail
  • Ability to Work Well Under Pressure

How to write a Boatswain's Mate Job Advert

Use our job advert template to write a job advert for posting on job sites and job boards. Our job advertising templates are carefully created to help you reach your audience and beat the competition to the best talent.

A job description informs the reader about a job, whereas a job advert’s main objective is to sell the job opportunity to attract as many suitable applicants possible. A job advert maybe the first touch-point a candidate has with your company so it is important to create a great impression.

Job Advertisements should enticing, so considering using short, exciting language which get the reader’s attention.

How to write a Boatswain's Mate Job Description

To write a job description, we recommend starting with a job description template from our job description library, which contains examples for 800+ positions and professions. Our job description examples include a job summary with duties and responsibilities and skills and requirements, which can be personalised for your job vacancy.

Job Description Advice - Guidance on How to Personalise a Boatswain's Mate Job Specification

The hiring process and recruiting new employees to fill your key roles requires a degree of personalisation if you are to attract the best employees in a competitive employment market. The right person for a crucial role or more senior roles will likely have other employers targeting them. As your job description will be the first point of contact, you need to nail your pitch and provide the best possible service.

Job Description Tips - Help on formatting a Boatswain's Mate Job Specification

When creating your bespoke description and advert, you should cover and promote these points:

Job title: This should accurately reflect the role and include keywords that top talent might be using to search for jobs.

Job duties: The day to day duties, such as administrative tasks, which vary depending on the company and inform the candidate if they can complete the role.

Technical skills: These are the hard skills required through training, such as proficiency with Microsoft Office.

Soft skills: These include the interpersonal skills and general abilities the right candidates will possess. For example, the competency to prioritise multiple tasks, handle customer queries and customer complaints, work alone, or build a good relationship with coworkers.

The company's culture: Highlighting your company culture and values ensures employees thrive and find outstanding job satisfaction. Candidates that are not the right fit won’t waste their time completing the application process, meaning you can focus on qualified individuals and hire in a more timely manner.

Career progression: Including the career path will entice candidates looking for career growth. 

Training and development programs: Smaller companies may need employees with previous experience or provide educational assistance over internal training offered by larger organisations with more significant resources. 

Employee benefits: Compensation and benefits often fail to appear in job ads and while you may want to hold your cards close to your chest, failing to include them is a mistake. Consider answering common questions, such as working hours and paid leave. Researching the average salary for the role in these early stages will ensure you don’t waste your interviewer’s and the candidate’s time.

Skill gaps: Your company may need to bring in new skills beyond those required to complete the key role and duties. Thinking on an organisational level can be beneficial when contemplating skills diversity.

Legal requirements: Ensure your job advert and description does not ask for inappropriate or discriminatory personal details, such as age, marital status, or religion.

How to Hire a Boatswain's Mate

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