The exact route from AB to OOW varies from country to country. However, the exact requirements are laid out in the STCW 95 Code.
This website http://www.stcw.org/ may be able to help. You'll probably have to read the document itself, however; there will probably be a copy on board the ship you work on.
Enlisted Ranks - Ordinary Seaman, Able Seaman, Leading Seaman, Petty Officer, Chief Petty Officer, Warrant Officer Officers - Midshipman, Sub Lieutenant, Liuetenant, Lt. Commander, Commander, Captain (Naval), Commodore
The Silent Hunter game uses u-boats and one can choose from a variety of crew members including Seaman, Able Seaman, Veteran Seaman, Warrant Officer, Senior Warrant Officer, and Chief Warrant Officer.
An Able Seaman is an experienced seaman in the upperdeck department who assists the officer on watch, steers the ship and keeps gangway watch; one grade higher than the beginning grade of ordinary seaman; AB for short; AB was used apparently instead of AS to avoid confusion with OS which stands for ordinary seaman
The cast of Five Bells for Logan - 1961 includes: George Baizley as Chocolate Drop, the galley boy Douglas Blackwell as Second Officer Prentiss Noel Johnson as Captain Silver Frank Leighton as First Officer Burke Alfred Maron as The Cook Wilem Meilen as Able Seaman Logan John Rees as Able Seaman Cowan Ivor Salter as Able Seaman Sweeney Will Stampe as Chief Radio Officer Franks John Walker as Able Seaman Conroy
In the US Navy, the ranks of "Seaman Recruit", "Seaman Apprentice" and "Seaman" are junior to the rank of Petty Officer 3rd Class. In increasing rank are Petty Officer 2nd Class, Petty Officer First Class and Chief Petty Officer. So, yes, any of the Petty Officer ranks are higher than any of the Seaman (or Airman or Fireman) ranks.
He was an able seaman for 30 years, then he retired from the merchant navy.
AB Seaman (Able Bodied)
OS - Ordinary Seaman AB - Able Seaman LS - Leading Seaman MS - Master Seaman PO2 - Petty Officer 2nd Class PO1 - Petty Officer 1st Class CPO2 - Chief Petty Officer 2nd Class CPO1 - Chief Petty Officer 1st Class NCDT - Naval Cadet ASLT - Acting Sub-Lieutenant SLT - Sub-Lieutenant Lt - Lieutenant LCdr - Lieutenant-Commander Cdr - Commander Capt - Captain Cmdr - Commodore RAdm - Rear-Admiral VAdm - Vice-Admiral Adm - Admiral
The hierarchy ranks of seamen typically include the following levels: Captain (Master) - The highest authority on the ship, responsible for overall operations and safety. Chief Officer (First Mate) - Second-in-command, overseeing the deck crew and navigation. Second Officer - Assists the Chief Officer and often takes charge of watchkeeping duties. Third Officer - The junior officer responsible for specific tasks and supporting the senior officers. Bosun (Boatswain) - A senior deckhand in charge of the deck crew and maintenance tasks. Able Seaman (AB) - Experienced deckhand who performs various duties under the supervision of officers. Ordinary Seaman (OS) - Entry-level position for deckhands, assisting with basic tasks on the ship.
Ordinary Seaman (Enlisted), Ensign (Officer)
because i want to be an officer of the ship someday
an able bodied seaman makes as much as $ 320.00 US per day