First Mate

"Haul on the main brace! Make ready the guns!&hellip;and run out the sweeps."

- Hector Barbossa to Bo'sun

The First Mate, also known as Chief Mate, Chief Officer or simply The Mate, was placed in charge of a ship's cargo and deck crew. They were head of the deck department on merchant vessels.

The First Mate was responsible to the captain for the safety and security of the ship. Responsibilities included the crew's welfare and training in areas such as safety, firefighting, search and rescue.

Notable First Mates

 * Jack Sparrow (to Nathaniel Bainbridge) ― Fair Wind
 * Robert Greene (to Jack Sparrow) ― Wicked Wench
 * Hector Barbossa (to Jack Sparrow) ― Black Pearl
 * Bo'sun (to Hector Barbossa) ― Black Pearl
 * Joshamee Gibbs (to Jack Sparrow) ― Black Pearl
 * Maccus (to Davy Jones) ― Flying Dutchman
 * Malcom (to Nathaniel Hawk) ― Victory
 * Reece (to Laura Smith) ― La Fleur de la Mort
 * Arabella Smith (to Jack Sparrow) ― (Grand) Barnacle
 * Tai Huang (to Sao Feng) ― Empress
 * Lieutenant James Norrington (to an unnamed captain) ― HMS Dauntless
 * Edward Teach (to Benjamin Hornigold) — Mary Anne
 * Bartholomew Roberts (to Howell Davis) — Royal Rover
 * Lieutenant Theodore Groves (to Lord Cutler Beckett) — HMS Endeavour
 * Penny (to James Sterling) ― Nemesis

Behind the scenes
In Pirates of the Caribbean Online, there is a weapon called First Mate's Cutlass.