Sosnowski, Adam2017-01-052017-01-051983Ruch Prawniczy, Ekonomiczny i Socjologiczny 45, 1983, z. 3, s. 237-2530035-9629http://hdl.handle.net/10593/17186The article touches on a problem which is contained in the problems of maritime sociology and, to be more precise, in sociological theory of a ship. The first part is devoted to a discussion of the organizational structure of sea vessel. Its specific problems are a consequence of interelation of the environment of professional labor and of personal life outside the work on a ship as contrasted with a typical inland working place. Next the basic organizational structures of a sea vessel are indicated. The category of "social organization" is adopted as the particularly adequate to describe life and work on a boat as most sailors are defining their position on a boat through its angle. In the second part of the article basic groups and circles having an impact on the ship along with their social reflections are presented. The groups and circles are defined with regard to 1) the character and substance of the professional activities carried out, functioning in task roles, 2) character and substance of contacts and social relations beyond the task activities- functioning in friendly, comradely, informal and cultural roles, 3) character and substance of the activities indirectly related to professional activities- socio-political roles. The study proves that a problem of circles shaped by the hierarchical structure of a crew is particularly important, it is percepted by almost all sailors. The analyses also prove that ship circles of the privileged and discriminated persons are functioning in sailors' consciousness and in social reality, yet they are not the poles of the social hierarchical structure of a ship.polinfo:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessArtykuł