Overview

As a member of the military, Boatswains are the seamanship specialists of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF). They are responsible for the safe operation and maintenance of the ship’s rigging, shipboard cargo handling equipment, boats and small craft.

The range of their responsibilities and supervisory duties is wider than in most other seagoing occupations. Their primary responsibilities are to:

• Operate and maintain shipboard equipment associated with cargo handling and inter-ship transfers of personnel, fuel, and materiel while at sea
• Operate and maintain the ship’s equipment for such tasks as anchoring, towing, launching and recovering boats, and surface rescue operations
• Operate and navigate small craft in all waters
• Perform required tasks with ship’s rigging and lifesaving equipment
• Organize the storage, training, maintenance and use of small arms, demolitions and ammunition
• Prepare and lead demol...