Standing officers

The standing officers of a ship are senior warrant officers who remain with the ship even when she is out of commission unless she is due to be broken up. They are the carpenter (responsible for taking care of the ship's hull, interior fittings and the boats), the bosun (responsible for the masts, spars and cordage), the purser (responsible for the stores, including food and clothing) and the cook (who is responsible for cooking the food to feed the others).