Pirate ships usually carried the same complement of crewmen as the ships of navies and merchant traders. Every crewman knew his responsibilities in the mechanical function of sailing a ship, and knew what was expected in the heat of battle. One of the undeniable attributes that virtually all pirates possessed was that of able-bodied seamanship. Laziness or incompetence from any member created more work for others and also posed a threat of disaster for the rest of the crew during times of peace or battle. Such behavior was never tolerated.

The major variation between pirate crews and those of formal sailing vessels was the level of power and respect afforded the officers. Many pirates inherently despised the ruthless authority that they'd endured at the hands of naval commanders and the officers of merchant ships. As pirates, they learned to demand equality and respect. One of the key factors that created that equality and separated pirates from traditional seamen was simply that every pirate was armed to the teeth and capable of inflicting serious harm.

Leader of the Pack

Many pirate crews included an informal council to make important decisions by majority rule, and one of the most important of those decisions was to select a ship's captain. In running down prey at sea and in the actual heat of battle, every experienced sailor for thousands of years has known one inviolable rule: only one man can be in control of the ship, and that control must be absolute. On land, raiding bandits could afford a certain amount of autonomy. At sea, with nowhere to go but the deck beneath a sailor's feet, a single nonconformist acting individually could get an entire crew killed.

Elected captains on pirate ships were chosen for their leadership, their tactical knowledge for closing in on prey vessels, and their ability to orchestrate a successful boarding without destroying the target or harming the cargo. Pirate captains also needed to know trade routes and the locations of potential prizes. When in port, a good captain would intentionally cruise taverns, not so much to drink and make merry, but to gather every tidbit of information possible about incoming and departing ships, and the cargo they carried. For his efforts, the successful pirate captain received additional shares of plunder.

Some pirate captains took control of their ships by intimidation and imposition rather than by democratic procedures. These captains, such as the infamous Blackbeard and buccaneer Henry Morgan, maintained their control by supplying their crews with repeated successes. Those that failed to do so faced mutiny, imprisonment, or even death.

Lieutenant and Ship's Master

A lieutenant was usually second in command to the captain. Acting as the captain's deputy, the lieutenant would help to carry out orders during a chase and in battle. He would also take command of captured vessels and help with the distribution of stolen cargo. The ship's master had oversight over the actual sailing of the ship. This individual had to understand how to coordinate every one of the many hundreds of functional parts of a sailing ship, and how to direct the ship with the greatest possible speed. On relatively small pirate vessels, the position and responsibilities of the master would often be assumed by the captain. In terms of seamanship, the ship's master would invariably be the most experienced and accomplished sailor onboard. If he was able, the ship's master would often assume the responsibilities for navigation.

Navigator

The navigator of any ship was ultimately responsible for getting the ship where it was going and circumventing potentially dangerous waterways. Early navigation was as much an art as a science, utilizing compass readings and the position of the sun and stars to determine the relative position of a tiny pirate vessel in a huge expanse of ocean. Navigators are probably the single most important member of any sailing crew and were often pressed into pirate service from captured merchant vessels. Without a good navigator, a pirate ship would quite literally be lost. A few captains had extensive navigational qualifications. Captain Bartholomew Roberts, for example, served as navigator of an English slave ship when he was taken prisoner and forced into piracy by rogue captain Howell Davis. As Black Bart, Roberts became one of the most prolific pirates in history.

Boatswain and Helmsman

The boatswain, pronounced “bos-un,” was responsible for the ropes, lines, cables, and sails on the ship. Every functional piece of equipment was under the boatswain's domain, and he made certain that every seaman was handling his duties for the operation of the ship. The helmsman operated the large wheel that controlled the rudder of the ship, and worked in close cooperation with both the ship's master and the boatswain to coordinate the movements and direction of the ship.

Master Gunner

The master gunner was invariably a refugee from one of the formal navies, and was highly experienced with cannons and gunpowder. The gunner was responsible for taking charge of the cannon during attacks, and directing the crew in aiming, firing, and reloading the cannons. The master gunner would also ensure that gunpowder for the cannon was in good supply and, above all, dry.

Quartermaster

On a few pirate vessels, it seems that the quartermaster was second in ship's power only to the captain. On most ships, however, the quartermaster was responsible for keeping track of ship stores and inventory. Part of those duties involved keeping track of plunder and helping with its distribution among the crew. He would also serve as arbiter for disputes among crewmembers, and as the liaison between a ship's crew and its captain.

Carpenter

One of the busiest seamen onboard any early sailing vessel was a ship's carpenter. Wooden ships were, by their very nature, continually in need of repair from water damage, wear and tear on the many constantly moving parts, and damage resulting from combat. It's probable that most pirate ships were not given anywhere near the same attention that naval and merchant ships received in regard to carpentry. In the absence of a ship's surgeon and having skill with saws, the carpenter might also participate in amputating the limbs of fellow pirates who were seriously wounded in combat or shipboard accidents.