Up to the mid-16th century, naval matters were supervised by the five-member board of the Savi agli Ordini, but gradually a more complex and professional administration was built up.
[1] As part of this process, already in 1497, two patricians were entrusted with supervising naval affairs, as the Provveditori ed esecutori alle cose marittime, whose number was raised to three in 1499.
With the onset of a longer period of peace after that, the rolls of eligible personnel, supposed to be renewed every ten years, were neglected.
[4] The Provveditori all'Armar were also responsible for supervising the outfitting and decommissioning of every warship in person, checking the presence of the assigned crews and material and the accounting books, and of handing over to the captains their written instructions.
[1] Galley captains (Sopracomiti) were obliged to report the number of their hired crewmen and the money owed to the Provveditori upon the decommissioning of their ship within 15 days.