The lowest position on a ship in the deck department is typically the Ordinary Seaman (OS). This is an entry-level role where the individual assists Able Seamen with basic tasks such as cleaning, maintenance, standing lookout, and general support duties on board the ship

. In historical or pirate ship contexts, the lowest rank was often called a Swab , responsible for menial and undesirable tasks like cleaning the deck

. However, in modern merchant and naval vessels, the Ordinary Seaman is recognized as the lowest-ranking crew member in the deck department hierarchy