Crew

The people assigned to operate, maintain or serve aboard a vessel.

Crew can include the master or skipper, deck and engineering personnel, watchkeepers, catering staff and specialists, with roles determined by vessel type, size, operation and regulation. On a small craft, one person may perform several functions and an owner or guest may also act as crew.

The term normally distinguishes working personnel from passengers, although exact legal definitions vary. Safe operation depends on adequate numbers, competence, fitness, communication and clear allocation of duties rather than on job titles alone.