Possible Clues:

• A short boatswain
• Best offer for son, say, handling equipment on board
• Merchant vessel petty officer
• Smee's job
• Warrant officer
• Stinker of a problem by setter for 'Petty Officer'
• Merchant ship supervisor
• Bill Bobstay, on the H.M.S. Pinafore
• Merchant vessel officer
• Officer on board holding seaman during a roll