Salary$1,500 / mo
BoardingLate Nov 2026
Duration5–7 months
CitizenshipAny citizenship
Bosun (Boatswain) Jobs
8 open vacancies · updated 26 Oct 2026
Late Nov 2026 · 5–7 mos · Any citizenship
Bosun on Oil tanker
$1,800 – $2,200 / moGreat India ship management · Oil / Product Tanker
Oil / Product Tanker
Salary$1,800 – $2,200 / mo
BoardingLate Nov 2026
Duration5–7 months
CitizenshipAny citizenship
Salary$2,200 / mo
BoardingLate Nov 2026
Duration8–10 months
CitizenshipIndia
SalaryNegotiable / mo
BoardingMid Nov 2026
Duration5–7 months
CitizenshipAny citizenship
SalaryNegotiable / mo
BoardingMid Nov 2026
Duration5–7 months
CitizenshipAny citizenship
SalaryNegotiable / mo
BoardingMid Nov 2026
Duration5–7 months
CitizenshipAny citizenship
SalaryNegotiable / mo
BoardingMid Nov 2026
Duration5–7 months
CitizenshipAny citizenship
SalaryNegotiable / mo
Boarding19 Nov 2026
Duration6 months
CitizenshipAny citizenship
About the role
The Bosun is the senior deck rating on board. The Bosun leads the ABs and OSs in the deck department and reports to the Chief Officer. The Bosun usually works day work and turns out for mooring, unmooring and drills. The work is mostly on deck: planning daily maintenance, checking mooring lines and winches, and keeping hatch covers, lashing gear and deck tools in order. The Bosun directs deck ratings during cargo lashing and deck cleaning. The Bosun also checks that PPE is used and reports deck defects to the Chief Officer. Bosuns work on bulk carriers, container ships, tankers and general cargo ships. On ships of 500 GT or more, the Bosun must hold the able seafarer deck certificate under STCW II/5.
Duties on board
- Plan and assign daily deck maintenance work to the ABs and OSs.
- Check mooring lines, winches and fairleads before arrival and departure.
- Inspect hatch covers, lashing gear and cargo securing equipment.
- Supervise chipping, painting, greasing and cleaning of deck areas.
- Keep deck stores and tools in order and report defects to the Chief Officer.
- Direct deck ratings during mooring and unmooring operations.
- Check that deck ratings use PPE during deck work.
- Take charge of deck ratings during emergency drills and fire parties.
Requirements
| Document | Convention | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate as able seafarer deck | STCW II/5 | Every able seafarer deck serving on a seagoing ship of 500 GT or more must be certificated. |
| Rating forming part of a navigational watch | STCW II/4 | A candidate must meet the standard of competence for the rating. |
| BST (basic training) | STCW VI/1 | Seafarers must receive safety familiarization and basic training or instruction. |
| Security-related familiarization and security-awareness training | STCW VI/6 | Seafarers must receive security-related familiarization and security-awareness training or instruction. |
Sea service
While qualified as a watch rating, you need approved seagoing service in the deck department of not less than 18 months, or not less than 12 months together with approved training.
Medical fitness
Under MLC 2006 Reg. 1.2, you need a valid medical certificate before you work on a ship. It must state that hearing, sight and, where relevant, colour vision are satisfactory. It is valid for a maximum of two years, or one year if you are under 18. A colour vision certificate is valid for a maximum of six years.
Documents
- Passport
- Seaman's book (CDC)
- Medical certificate
- Certificate as able seafarer deck
- BST certificate
- Security training certificate
- Visa when the voyage needs it
What employers on Krew Guru ask for
Vessel typesBulk Carrier 31%, Chemical Tanker 21%, Oil Tanker 18%, Container Ship 15%, LPG Carrier 6%
Contracts in rank (median)1
Contract length (median)6 months
Open to any nationality95%
VisasUnited States of America 8%, Schengen 0%
Based on 223 vacancies on Krew Guru over the last 365 days.
Career path
Comes from: Able Seaman (AB)
Next step: Third Officer
Companies hiring Bosun (Boatswain) now
- OSM Thome3 vacancies
- Xfinity maritime2 vacancies
- Anchorpoint crew services1 vacancy
- Great India ship management1 vacancy
- D Marine Shipping Service1 vacancy
Related ranks
- Able Seaman (AB)17 vacancies
- Ordinary Seaman (OS)6 vacancies
Bosun (Boatswain): questions and answers
What certificate do I need to work as a Bosun?
On ships of 500 GT or more, you need the able seafarer deck certificate under STCW II/5. You must also meet the rating forming part of a navigational watch requirements under STCW II/4. The minimum age for the able seafarer deck certificate is 18.
How much sea service do I need for the Bosun certificate?
While qualified as a watch rating, you need approved seagoing service in the deck department of not less than 18 months, or not less than 12 months together with approved training. The service must be in the deck department.
Is Bosun an officer rank?
The Bosun is a senior deck rating, not a deck officer. The Bosun leads the ABs and OSs and works under the Chief Officer. To become a deck officer, you need to meet the officer certificate requirements, for example STCW II/1 for a navigational watch officer on ships of 500 GT or more.
What medical certificate does a Bosun need?
Under MLC 2006 Reg. 1.2, you need a valid medical certificate before you join a ship. It must state that hearing, sight and, where relevant, colour vision are satisfactory. It is valid for a maximum of two years, or one year if you are under 18. A colour vision certificate is valid for a maximum of six years.
1,000+ Bosun (Boatswain) profiles on Krew Guru · 31 vacancies in the last 90 days
Sources
- ILO, Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 (MLC, 2006)
- IMO, STCW/CONF.2/33 (1 July 2010), Resolution 1: The Manila Amendments to the annex to the STCW Convention
Checked against the official texts on 26 Oct 2026.