able seaman
Experienced naval rating
An able seaman is a merchant sailor qualified to perform all routine deck duties—handling lines, steering, standing watch, and maintaining equipment.
The rank sits between ordinary seaman and bosun in the ship's hierarchy.
In the U.S. and British navies, able seaman (or able-bodied seaman) is a specific enlisted rating.
He shipped out as an able seaman on a cargo vessel.
Assigned evaluative score
- crewmanMember of ship's staff
- enlistedSigned up formally
- promotionRank increase or publicity
- merchant navyCivilian commercial shipping fleet
certificate · qualification · watch · duty · petty officer · mate · apprentice · trainee
Sustained observation duty
- helmsmanOne who navigates vessels
- steeringControlling direction of movement
- lookoutWatcher or vista point
- mooringVessel's secured resting place
anchoring · cargo handling · painting · chipping · splicing · knots · rigging · hauling
rating
Assigned evaluative score
merchant navy · certificate · qualification · watch · duty · petty officer · mate · apprentice · trainee · experienced
watchkeeping
Sustained observation duty
- helmsmanOne who navigates vessels
- steeringControlling direction of movement
- lookoutWatcher or vista point
mooring · anchoring · cargo handling · painting · chipping · splicing · knots · rigging · hauling · fire watch
marlinspike
Pointed tool for splicing
- splicingConnecting by interweaving ends
- knotsSecured loops in rope
- riggingRopes controlling ship sails
belaying · cleat · hawser · fenders · capstan · heaving · lashing · chock · sounding · lead line
helm
Vessel's steering mechanism
course · starboard · port · bow · stern · heading · wheelhouse · bridge · sextant · gyrocompass
- marinerscaptain, ship captain, boat captain, skipper, helmsman
- maritime jobssailor, captain, first mate, fisherman, ship captain
- military ranksgeneral, captain, major, sergeant, private
- sailorscaptain, sailor, skipper, helmsman, first mate
- seafarerssailor, merchant sailor, navy sailor, skipper, helmsman
- ship crewsailor, crewman, first mate, captain, deckhands
able seamanadmiral
Senior naval commander
captain · commodore · rear admiral · vice admiral · commanding officer
able seamanlandsman
Inexperienced crew member
landlubber · raw recruit · trainee · deckhand · bosun
sea, able, seaman, mariner, seafarer, deckhand, seamen, seamanship, shipman