What is piping the side?

Asked by: Emily Chavez

What does pipe the side mean?

“Piping the side” is a long-standing naval tradition used to honour important persons as they board or leave ships. The arriving admiral (right) is saluting, as are the officers and petty officers assembled to greet him (left), including the ship’s captain.

What is piping in the Navy?

INTRODUCTION. Piping is a naval method of passing Orders and information, and every Sea Cadet should know how to use a ‘Boatswain’s Call’ (the Call) and how to pipe an order. Verbal Orders passed are known as ‘Pipes’.

What is piping on board?

Pipe Aboard/Ashore: Flag-rank officers or an important guest is boarding or departing a Navy ship; also used to mark the final departure of a sailor retiring from active duty. This is part of a ceremony called “manning the side” which includes a party of sailors known as “side boys”.

Why is it called a bosun?

The name bosun is actually derived from the original term boatswain that was used to describe these professionals for the first time in England in the 15th century. In today’s times, however, both bosun and boatswain are used commonly to describe the people working in this profession.

What is piping in Australia?

Generally the pipes used in most Australian domestic homes are made from copper and PVC plastics but there are still many others such as cast iron and galvanised. Plastic types now form the majority due to their superior corrosion resistance, light weight and malleability or flexibility.

How do you use a bosun call?

The call should be held between the index finger and thumb, with the thumb on or near the shackle The side of the buoy rests against the palm of the hand and the fingers close over the gun and buoy hole in position to throttle the exit of air from the buoy to the desired amount.

What does pipe the still mean?

: a distillation apparatus composed of a series of pipes used especially for petroleum oils and tar.

What time is pipe down in the Navy?

This usage is recorded in Royal Navy workbooks from the 18th century; for example, Gillespie’s Advice to Commanders & Officers, 1798: “At four o’clock, P.M. the hammocks should regularly be piped down.”

How do you make a sailor whistle?

Sounds that must be used in all bosun calls the first one is a low pitch the second one is a high pitch.

What is a bosun salary?

A bosun earns an average salary of $69,177 per year, equivalent to $33.26 an hour. This ranges between $56,995 and $99,293. There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a Bosun.

Is first mate higher than bosun?

“The biggest difference between the bosun and the first mate is the first mate is obviously higher up in the hierarchy,” Berry told Showbiz Cheat Sheet. “And [the first mate] generally has twice as much experience as the bosun.

What is a 1st mate on a ship?

The Chief Mate, Chief Officer, or First Mate/Officer is the department head for the Deck Department. They supervise the members of the deck department including Second and Third Mates, able-seafarers, and ordinary seaman or deckhands. On most vessels, the Chief Mate is second in command after the Captain.

What is the lowest position on a ship?

Ordinary seaman



The lowest ranking personnel in the deck department. An ordinary seaman (OS) generally helps out with work that able seamen do.

Who is second in command on a ship?

Chief Mate

Chief Mate (First Officer/Chief Officer/First Mate)



The Chief Mate is the second in command. As such, the Chief Mate is responsible for all deck operations and for applying the company’s procedures and regulations to both the equipment and the crew. The Chief Mate is also responsible for a Watch.

Who assists the captain of a ship?

The first mate of a ship is the captain’s right-hand man, and often takes control of the ship when the captain is unable to give orders. It’s the first mate that takes care of the day-to-day problems, including paperwork, assisting in navigation, making sure the ship stays clean, and assigning the crew to tasks.

What do you call a female captain of a boat?

noun. cap·​tain·​ess | \ ˈkaptə̇nə̇s \

Can a ship have two captains?

One of the headlines today in the New York Times reads, “In Gulf, It Was Unclear Who Was in Charge of Oil Rig.” If “who was in charge” was, in fact, unclear, it is scary, but, in my experience, too often the case.

Can a ship sail without a captain?

A ship requires a captain to operate the ship and guide the crew. On the other hand, the size of the crew on a boat depends on the size of the boat. It can be one person or a full-fledged crew depending on the size and purpose of the boat.

Can a ships captain marry you?

A ship’s captain often doesn’t have the legal right to perform weddings at sea unless he is also a judge, minister, justice of the peace or a Notary Public.

Why do captains go down with their ship?

“The captain goes down with the ship” is a maritime tradition that a sea captain holds ultimate responsibility for both their ship and everyone embarked on it, and in an emergency will either save those on board or die trying.

What do sailors say when they set sail?

“Aye Aye Captain!” – a sign of approval. “Ahoy!” – sailors would use this exclamation among themselves to call out to each other. “Land Ho!” – an exclamation that a sailor would make when they spotted the land.

Why do sailors say 2 6?

“Two, six, heave” is a phrase used to coordinate seamen’s pulling. As used by sailors, the person at the front of the team will typically call out the “two, six” part of the chant. During this phase all members move their hands up the line ready to pull.

What is slang for a Navy sailor?

1. Squid. Source: Wikia.com. A term used in the old Navy (not the store), Squid is what other branches. (especially Marines) generally called sailors.

How do sailors say see you later?

Answer: It is common to wish a sailor goodbye by using the term: “may you have fair winds and following seas“. The use of the expression “fair winds” is used to wish a person a safe journey or good fortune. Whilst “following seas” is used to express a smooth journey.

What does coming home with a wet sail mean?

I means, to make swift progress to victory, like a ship with sails wetted in order to keep close to the wind. It is most often heard in sporting events, like rugby, cricket, and in Britain, in racing, and means a team, or a horse, stormed home to victory.

What do sailors say when someone dies?

“Fair winds and following seas” is a common phrase for those in the United States Navy, where it’s used to say farewell to those retiring or leaving for deployment.