One who works his way up to a Licensed Officer's position in either the
deck or engine departments of the Merchant
Marine after starting from the very bottom as either a Wiper or Ordinary Seaman. This is most commonly
seen on tugs and barges nowadays, since the USCG decided that suddenly experienced sailors are too stupid to advance to these positions on deep sea vessels without college degrees.
Climbing the ranks is referred to as 'climbing up the hawsepipe.' A man or
woman who achieved this feat is respectfully called a hawser, or hawsepiper.