Deck Department

A ship's Deck Department is administered by the ship's Boatswain, and run by his army of Boatswain's Mates. The men and women of the Deck Department are either raw hands newly brought aboard through draft, as volunteers, or as pressed men, or are Ordinary Voidmen and Able Voidmen who have chosen general voidsmanship as their occupation. They are responsible for maintenance and upkeep of the ship, loading and securing cargo, handling of the ship's ropes, chains, and cables, coordination of underway replenishment operations, maintenance and operation of the ship's boats and shuttles, supervision of EVA and salvage operations (including towing), and serving as shipboard seamanship specialists. Voidmen of the Deck Department are the most common voidmen found aboard ships, and most start their voidfaring career here.