Coxswain
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The coxswain (pronounced cox-ən; often called the cox or Coxs'n) is the person in charge of a boat, particularly its navigation and steering. The etymology of the word gives us a literal meaning of "boat servant" since it comes from cock, a cockboat or other small vessel kept aboard a ship, and swain, which can be rendered as boy, servant or attendant.
[edit] Rowing
Most familiarly, the coxswain is the member of a rowing crew who sits in the stern (except in bowloaders) facing the bow, steers the boat, motivates the rowers, and coordinates the power and rhythm of the rowers. However, the term can be used for the skipper of any small muscle or motor-driven boat. The coxswain usually communicates with the crew through a microphone, the most common form being the Nielsen-Kellerman Cox Box, although coxswains may occasionally use megaphones if they don't have a Cox Box.
[edit] Navy
In the Royal Navy in the days of sail, the Coxswain was a Petty Officer or Chief Petty Officer who commanded a Captain's or Admiral's barge. Later he was the senior Chief Petty Officer aboard a smaller vessel such as a corvette or submarine, who was responsible for the steering and also assumed the duties which would be performed by the Chief Boatswain's Mate and Master-at-Arms aboard larger vessels.
In Royal Navy Sections of the Combined Cadet Force, the rank of Cadet Coxswain is the highest that a cadet can achieve, except in the rare occurrence that he/she is promoted to the rank of Cadet Under Officer. The Rank of Coxswain equates to the rank of Cadet Warrant Officer in the Royal Air Force Sections, and the rank of Cadet Regimental Sergeant Major in the Army Sections. A CCF Cadet Under Officer is frequently the most senior cadet in his/her corps, and works with the Contingent Commander along with the Cadet Coxswain, the Cadet Warrant Officer and the Cadet RSM, to run the corps.
In the Canadian Navy, the appointment of Coxswain (or capitaine d'armes in French) is given to the senior non-commissioned officer aboard a ship, the equivalent to a Command Master Chief Petty Officer in the USN. For larger vessels such as a destroyer, frigate or Protecteur class auxiliary vessel, a Coxswain holds the rank of Chief Petty Officer 1st Class (CPO1). For smaller vessels such as a submarine or Kingston class patrol vessel, a Coxswain holds the rank of Chief Petty Officer 2nd Class (CPO2).de:Steuermann nl:Stuurman pt:Timoneiro
