Concept in Definition ABC

A captain of boat, an officer, a naval mechanic or a purser of a warship have something in common, since they are all professionals who receive a generic name, marine. Therefore, a sailor is anyone who is integrated into some type of crew on a warship, such as the frigate, the corvette or the armored cruiser.

Difference from sailor

Both terms may seem synonymous at first glance, but they are not. Thus, a sailor is a professional of the Navy, while a sailor is someone who does not have any type of graduation and who performs an activity in some type of boat, for example a merchant ship or a fishing boat. It should be noted, however, that in the practice these two names are used interchangeably.

On the other hand, the term marine is used in very different contexts (in maritime explorations with a scientific interest, to refer to recreational activities at sea or for athletes nautical).

The profession on warships

In a warship, sailors must perform all kinds of tasks, such as

driving sensors or monitoring systems communication, the supervision rigging, fixing the ship on the dock, loading materials, etc.

All the members of the warships are sailors, since each of them has specific functions.

Famous personalities who held this role

In the 18th century, the Spanish admiral Blas de Lezo led the defense of Cartagena de Indias, preventing the British fleet from taking over the city.

The Viking navigator Erik the Red arrived on the island of Greenland in the 10th century and it is believed that he was the first to reach the shores of America from North.

Zheng He was a Chinese sailor and explorer who in the 15th century sailed throughout Southeast Asia in search of new trade routes.

The Portuguese navigator Vasco de Gama was the one who for the first time explored the so-called route of the species.

In the eighteenth century the navigator and cartographer English James Cook reached the shores of New Zealand and discovered the Great Barrier Reef off the coast of Australia.

Juan Sebastián Elcano was a Spanish sailor who in the 15th century made the first return to the globe in the expedition that Fernando de Magallanes had started.

Photo: Fotolia - Cof - Vaidas Bucys

Topics in Marine