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On a military vessel, the captain holds absolute authority over the crew. A captain must also be a good leader, being the ultimate person the crew looks to in decision-making. The captain takes care of legal matters on board, and has the final say on the ship's destination, trade, and targets. The captain gives the ship direction and purpose, and holds a number of important responsibilities. The captain has the most authority on the ship, and often is the ship's owner as well. The captain's errands take first priority, of course, followed by those of other senior officers. Not always underage, a cabin boy is a member of the crew who has the task of running whatever errands the crew of the ship require of him. In relation to the ship, the boatswain must inspect the ship daily, and make sure that all repairs are performed as well as possible. In relation to the crew, the boatswain must both keep up morale and make sure the crew works efficiently. It is the boatswain's responsibility to oversee maintenance and deck activity over the entire ship, which is why junior officers are assigned to work under the boatswain to aid in these tasks. Without a good boatswain, a ship might not function at all.
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It is essential that ships employ at least one blacksmith, since it's never known if the ship will break down with no land in sight. Their skills may also be needed to make or repair weapons, or other small jobs on the ship. They usually work with iron or steel, common materials in the construction of ships. Blacksmiths must be highly skilled in metalwork and using a variety of tools in order to make repairs to the ship.
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