Information About

Bootsmann




In the modern German navies, bootsmann is a senior NCO rank. In the German (federal) Navy since 1955, there are the following bootsmann ranks:

  • Bootsmann (Petty Officer)

  • Oberbootsmann (Senior Petty Officer)

  • Hauptbootsmann (Chief Petty Officer)

  • Stabsbootsmann (Staff Petty Officer)

  • Oberstabsbootsmann (Senior Staff Petty Officer).


The rank of a bootsmann is usually achieved after at least three years of service, requiring the completion of several trining courses (Lehrgänge).

In the German merchant marine, the word Bootsmann means Boatswain . The position, however, is not filled anymore on most German ships; his work as usually been taken over by the ''Schiffsbetriebsmeister'' (literally: master of ship operation).