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Operations division crewmember in shuttlebay 2, 2364

A boatswain's whistle

Electronic Boatswains whistle

An electronic boatswain's whistle

Titan-A Haliian boatswain

An early 25th century electronic boatswain's whistle

In nautical terms, the boatswain's whistle or bosun's whistle was a small whistle that was used aboard old sailing ships, usually to gain the attention of the crew. Such devices were used aboard Starfleet vessels during the 23rd, 24th, and 25th centuries.

Constitution-class starships in the 23rd century used the sound of a boatswain's whistle to open shipboard communications via the ship's intercom. (Star Trek: The Original Series; ENT: "In a Mirror, Darkly, Part II")

Aboard starships into the 24th century, it was normally used when an honored guest came aboard or at a crewmember's funeral, when their body was released into space. The shrill whistle was often played before a ship-wide or open frequency communication, usually made by the captain or another senior officer. (TNG: "Where No One Has Gone Before", "Hide And Q") The actual tone of the call has varied, as some captains preferred the distinctive notes of the electronic type over the more traditional metal whistle. (TNG: "Lower Decks")

In 2165 of an alternate timeline, a boatswain's whistle was blown by a crewman aboard Enterprise NX-01, announcing the arrival of Jonathan Archer, T'Pol, and Phlox on the ship. (ENT: "Twilight")

In 2257, the electronic signal was sounded as Captain Christopher Pike arrived on the bridge of the USS Enterprise along with an announcement of "Captain on the bridge." (DIS: "Such Sweet Sorrow")

In 2259, an electronic boatswain's whistle was blown when Dak'Rah, a former Klingon general who defected to the Federation, boarded the USS Enterprise. (SNW: "Under the Cloak of War")

In the mid-23rd century aboard some Federation starships, the boatswain's whistle accompanied the commanding officer's arrival onto his or her bridge: Captain Philippa Georgiou of the USS Shenzhou (DIS: "Battle at the Binary Stars"); Acting Captain Saru of the USS Discovery (DIS: "Will You Take My Hand?", "New Eden"); Admiral Katrina Cornwell, acting captain of the Discovery (DIS: "The War Without, The War Within"); and Captain Christopher Pike on the Discovery (DIS: "New Eden", "The Sound of Thunder", "Light and Shadows", "If Memory Serves", "Project Daedalus") and on the USS Enterprise. (DIS: "Such Sweet Sorrow", "Such Sweet Sorrow, Part 2")

When an Excalbian replica of Abraham Lincoln came aboard the USS Enterprise, Lieutenant Dickerson blew a boatswain's whistle. (TOS: "The Savage Curtain")

An electronic boatswain's whistle was blown when Admiral James T. Kirk set foot on the Enterprise in 2285. (Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan)

Yeoman Burke blew a different electronic boatswain's whistle when the Klingon Chancellor Gorkon came aboard the USS Enterprise-A in 2293. (Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country)

The boatswain's whistle was blown in the shuttlebay when Captain Jean-Luc Picard took command of the USS Enterprise-D in early 2364. (TNG: "All Good Things...")

That same year, the electronic signal sounded over the communications of the Enterprise-D as Lieutenant Commander Data issued an order to abandon ship. (TNG: "11001001")

In 2366, the electronic signal sounded over the communications of the Enterprise-D when Commander William T. Riker warned the ship to brace themselves for a brief burst from the impulse drive as the inertial dampers were on manual. (TNG: "Booby Trap")

In 2367, the electronic signal sounded over the communications of the Enterprise-D when Lieutenant Commander Data, in his role as acting captain, ordered all personnel to emergency shelter areas, as life support was being temporarily discontinued in other areas. (TNG: "Night Terrors")

In 2370, Captain Picard sounded the electronic signal before informing the crew of the Enterprise-D of the loss of Ensign Sito Jaxa. (TNG: "Lower Decks")

The boatswain's whistle was blown in 2372 during a memorial for Kurt Bendera, killed during a Kazon-Nistrim attack. (VOY: "Alliances")

The whistle was blown by one of Kerry Hoyt's three characters: Grimes, Fitzpatrick, or Doug Bronowski.

In 2373, Captain Kathryn Janeway hallucinated her own death and funeral aboard the USS Voyager when a non-corporeal being tried to convince her she was dead, at which Crewman William McKenzie blew the whistle during her memorial. (VOY: "Coda")

In 2375, Nog blew the boatswain's whistle, at the wedding of Kasidy Yates and Benjamin Sisko, right before Kasidy entered the wardroom. Odo complimented him on his playing, despite Nog only having had twenty minutes to learn it. (DS9: "'Til Death Do Us Part")

The boatswain's whistle was blown at the belated funeral of Lieutenant John Kelly. (VOY: "One Small Step")

In 2401, an officer aboard the USS Titan-A used an electronic boatswain's whistle to announce the arrival of Admiral Jean-Luc Picard and Captain William T. Riker, both of whom were visitors to the Titan-A. (PIC: "The Next Generation")

In 3189, the boatswain's whistle sounded aboard the USS Discovery as Michael Burnham entered the bridge and assumed her role as the vessel's new captain. (DIS: "That Hope Is You, Part 2")

See also[]

External link[]

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