Pikeman = man with pointy stick: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pike_(weapon)
Is he trying to take up the slack from c.captain??? I though that was my job, minus the stick.
(Not much use of the “point stick” lately, though. Has he mellowed in his old age??)
BTW; Pikeman should know his stuff, given his many years of experience as Master in the China trade.