MARITIME DICTIONARY – Officer of the Watch 15/12/24, 15:41

OFFICER OF THE WATCH

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MARITIME DICTIONARY
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The majority of the information presented below has been compiled from various sources either from the internet or through personal day to day work
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2H
2H Second Half
A/S
A/S Alongside
AA
AA Always Afloat
AAAA
AAAA Always Accessible Always Afloat
AARA
AARA Amsterdam-Antwerp-Rotterdam Area
A relative term used to describe the location of one object in relation to another, in which the object described is
Abaft
Abaft
farther aft than the other. Thus, the mainmast is abaft the foremast (in back of).
Said of the bearing of an object which bears between the beam and the stern (further back than the ship’s
Abaft
Abaft the
the beam
beam
middle).
Abandon
Abandon ship
ship Get away from the ship, as in an emergency.
Abeam
Abeam The bearing of an object 90 degrees from ahead (in a line with the middle of the ship).
Able
Able bodied
bodied seaman
seaman The next grade above the beginning grade of ordinary seaman in the deck crew.
Aboard
Aboard In the vessel (on the ship).
Aboveboard
Aboveboard Above decks; without concealment of deceit (out in the open).
Abreast
Abreast Abeam of (alongside of).
Abrid
Abrid A bushing plate around a hole in which a pintle works.
ABT
ABT About
Access
Access Holes
Holes Holes cut in ship’s structure to permit entering or leaving various compartments.
Accommodation
Accommodation ladder
ladder The portable steps from the gangway down to the waterline.
Aces
Aces Hooks for the chains.

Acorn
Acorn A solid piece of metal shaped like an acorn, and used to finish off the top of an upright in a railing contructed of
pipe.
ADCOM
ADCOM Address Commission
Added
Added mass
mass The effective increase in mass of a hull, due to the entrained water, when in motion.
One method used in the calculation of a ship’s damaged stability when it is partially fl ooded. It regards the water
Added
Added weight
weight method
method which has entered as an added weight, the basic hull envelope remaining. The other approach uses the concept
of lost buoyancy.
Comes from the Arabic “Emir” or “Amir” which means “First commander” and “Al-bahr which means “the sea”.
Admiral
Admiral
Emir-al-barh evolved into Admiral.
Adrift
Adrift Loose from the moorings (not tied or secured).
AFFF
AFFF Aqueous Film Forming Foam
AFFREIGHTMENT
AFFREIGHTMENT The hiring of a ship in whole or part
Afloat
Afloat Floating.
Aframax
Aframax A term used for the largest dry bulkcarriers.
AFSPS
AFSPS Arrival First Sea Pilot Station (Norway)
Aft
Aft At, or towards the stern of a vessel. (Opposite to forward.)

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MARITIME DICTIONARY – Officer of the Watch 15/12/24, 15:41

Aft
Aft At, or towards the stern of a vessel. (Opposite to forward.)
A tank or compartment located abaft the aftmost watertight transverse bulkhead above propeller(s) and rudder
Aft
Aft peak
peak tank
tank
(often used for fresh water or sea water ballast).
After
After body
body The section aft of amidships.
After
After deck
deck A term applied to a deck aft to the midship portion of a vessel.
After
After frammes
frammes Radiating cant frames fastened to transom plates.
After
After peak
peak A compartment just forward of the stern post. It is generally almost entirely below the load water line.
A term applied to the first transverse bulkhead forward of the stern post. This bulkhead forms the forward
After
After peak
peak bulkhead
bulkhead
boundary of the after-peak tank and should be made watertight.
The vertical line through the intersection of the load water line and the after edge of the stern post. On
After
After perpendicular
perpendicular submarines or ships having a similar stern, it is a vertical line passing through the points where the design
waterline intersects the stern of the ship>
After
After rake
rake That part of the stern which overhangs the keel.
Aftermost
Aftermost Nearest the stern.
Aground
Aground Resting on the bottom.
AGW
AGW All Going Well
AHL
AHL Australian Hold Ladders
Ahoy
Ahoy A call used in hailing a vessel or boat (hey!).
AIO
AIO Admiralty Information Overlay
A ring-shaped plate coaming surrounding the stack and fitted at the upper deck, just below the umbrella. It
Air
Air casing
casing
protects the deck structure from heat and helps ventilate the fireroom.
Air
Air draught
draught The vertical distance from the summer waterline to the highest point in the ship, usually the top of a mast.
Air
Air Hammer
Hammer Hammer driven by compressed air for riveting, or chipping. Sometimes called an air gun or “gun”.
An opening in the side of a ship or a deck house, usually round in shape and fitted with a hinged frame in which a
Air
Air port
port thick glass light is secured. The purpose of the air port is to provide light and ventilation to and vision from the
interior.

Air
Air tank
tank A metal air-tight tank built into a boat to insure flotation even when the boat is swamped.
Air-tight
Air-tight door
door A door so constructed that, when closed, air cannot pass through. They are fitted in air locks.
ALARP
ALARP As Low As Reasonable Practicable
Alee
Alee To the leeward side (away from the wind).
Alive
Alive Alert (pep it up!).
All
All hands
hands The entire crew.
All
All standing
standing To bring to a sudden stop.
Alleyway
Alleyway A vessel’s internal passageway or corridor.
Aloft
Aloft Above the upper deck (above).
Alongside
Alongside The position of a vessel when securely moored on a berth in port.
Altar
Altar A step in a graving dock.
In the longitudinal, or fore-and-aft center of a ship. Halfway between stem and stern. The term is used to convey
Amidship(s)
Amidship(s)
the idea of general locality but not that of definite extent.
(1) Midway (midpoint) between port and starboard sides of a vessel. (2) The midway point between the forward
Amidships
Amidships
and aft perpendiculars.
AMSA
AMSA Australian Maritime Safety Authority
AMVER
AMVER Automated Mutual-Assistance Vessel Rescue System
A heavy steel device (of variable design) so shaped as to grip the sea bed to hold a vessel or offshore installation
in a desired position.

Anchor
Anchor

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MARITIME DICTIONARY – Officer of the Watch 15/12/24, 15:41

anchor

Anchor
Anchor bar
bar Wooden bar with an iron shod, wedge shaped end, used in prying the anchor or working the anchor or working
the anchor chain. Also used to engage or disengage the wild-cat.
A structure on the deck of a vessel upon which the anchor is mounted when not in use.

Anchor
Anchor billboard
billboard

Anchor billboard

Anchor
Anchor cable
cable Chain or wire connecting a vessel to its anchor(s).
Anchor
Anchor chain
chain Heavy, linked chain secured to an anchor for mooring or anchoring.
Anchor
Anchor lights
lights The riding lights required to be carried by vessels at anchor.
A device to hold an anchor cable so as to prevent the anchor from running out or to relieve the strain at the
inboard end.

Anchor
Anchor stopper
stopper

Anchor stopper

The detail on deck at night, when at anchor, to safeguard the vessel (not necessarily at the anchor; a general
Anchor
Anchor watch
watch
watch).
Anchorage
Anchorage A place suitable for anchoring.
Anchor
Anchor’s
’s aweigh
aweigh Said of the anchor when just clear of the bottom (leaving or moving).
Angle
Angle Same as angle bar
Angle
Angle bar
bar A bar of angle-shaped section used as a stiffener and on riveted ships ties floors to the shell.
Angle
Angle clip
clip A short piece of angle bar.
Angle bent to fit a pipe, column, tank or stack, intersecting or projecting through a bulkhead or deck for the
Angle
Angle collar
collar
purposes of making a watertight or oiltight joint.
To heat a metal and to cool it in such a fashion as to toughen and soften it. Brass or copper is annealed by heating
Anneal
Anneal to a cherry red and dipping suddenly into water while hot. Iron or steel is slowly cooled from the heated
condition to anneal.
Zinc or aluminium or some such alloy that is fixed to the hull of a vessel. They are “eaten” up by electrical currents

Anode
Anode moving from the vessel to the water. The anode is sacrificed to protect the metal hull of the vessel – without the
anode, the hull plating would be disolved by electrolysis.

ANTHAM
ANTHAM Antwerp-Hamburg Range
A marine paint composition containing toxic ingredients preventing or retarding marine underwater growth on
Antifouling
Antifouling (paint)
(paint)
the hull of a vessel.
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MARITIME DICTIONARY – Officer of the Watch 15/12/24, 15:41

Antifouling
Antifouling (paint)
(paint)
the hull of a vessel.
Aperture
Aperture The space provided between propeller and stern post for the propeller.
APHIS
APHIS Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service
API
API American Petroeum Institute
Objects protruding from the underwater section of a hull; e.g., bilge keels, rudders, stabilising fins, shaft brackets,
Appendage(s)
Appendage(s)
etc.
Relatively small portions of a vessel projecting beyond its main outline, as shown by cross-sections and water-
Appendages
Appendages sections. The word applies to the following parts of the stern and stern post: the keel below its shell line, the
rolling keel or fin, the rudder, rudder post, screw, bilge keel, struts, bossing and skeg.
APPS
APPS Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships
A plate fitted in the continuation of the shell plating above the forecastle sheer strake at the stem. These plates
Apron
Apron plate
plate
are sometimes fitted one in each side of the stem, and serve as foundation for the bow mooring pipes.
APS
APS Arrival Pilot Station
APTF
APTF Asia Pacific Terminal Forum
ARAG
ARAG Amsterdam-Rotterdam–Antwerp-Ghent Range
Arbor
Arbor The principal axis member or spindle of a machine by which a motion of revolution is transmitted.
Arch
Arch piece
piece The curved portion of the stern frame over the screw aperture, joining the propeller post and stern post.
ARPA
ARPA Automatic Radar Plotting Aid
Ashore
Ashore On the shore (on land).
ASI
ASI Annual Safety Inspection
Assemble
Assemble To fit together small parts, in making a large section, or part.
Astern
Astern The backward direction in the line of a vessel’s centreline.
ATDNSHINC
ATDNSHINC Any Time Day or Night Sundays and Holidays Included
Athwart
Athwart Same as a beam
Athwartship
Athwartship Transverse or across a vessel from side to side.
Athwartships
Athwartships Across the ship, at right angles to the centreline.
ATUTC
ATUTC Actual Times Used to Count
Various winches, pumps motors, engines, etc., required on a ship, as distinguished from main propulsive
Auxiliaries
Auxiliaries
machinery (boilers and engines on a steam installation).
Foundations for condensers, distillers, evaporator pumps or any of the auxiliary machinery in the engine or boiler
Auxiliary
Auxiliary foundations
foundations
rooms.
Auxiliary
Auxiliary machinery
machinery Machinery other than the ship’s main engines.
Avast
Avast An order to stop or cease hauling (stop action at once).
Awash
Awash Level with the water (water ready to, or slightly covering decks).

Awning
Awning A canvas canopy secured over the ship’s deck as a protection from the weather (covering).
Aye,
Aye, aye,
aye, sir
sir The reply to an officer’s order signifying that he is understood and will be obeyed (I understand).
Back
Back bar
bar Used on the opposite side of a bosom bar.
To haul a shipment back over part of a route that it has already traveled; return movement of cargo, usually
Backhaul
Backhaul
opposite from the direction of its primary cargo destination.
Bunker Adjustment Factor. A Fuel Surcharge expressed as a percentage added or subtracted from the freight
BAF
BAF
amount reflecting the movement in the market place price for bunkers.
Bail
Bail To throw water out of a boat; a yoke, as a ladder bail (rung).
The midship frames that are of equal shap and square flanged. There are thirty or more on a cargo vessel, equally
Balanced
Balanced frames
frames
divided between starboard and port sides.
Balanced
Balanced rudder
rudder A rudder with its axis halfway between the forward and after edge.
Bale
Bale capacity
capacity Capacity in hold to edge of frames and stiffeners; refl ects the stowage of bales or boxes.
Balk
Balk (In cerpentry) a piece of timber from 4” to 10” square.
Any weight carried solely for the purpose of making the vessel more seaworthy. Ballast may be either portable or
fixed, depending upn the condition of the ship. Fixed or permanent ballast in the form of sand, concrete, scrap or
pig iron is usually fitted to overcome an inherent defect in stability or trim due to faulty design or changed
character of service. Potrable ballast, usually in the form of water pumped into or out of the bottom, peak, or
wing ballast tanks, is utilized to overcome a temporary defect in stability or trim due to faulty loading, damage,
etc.

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Ballast
Ballast

Ballast

Ballast
Ballast keel
keel A heavy keel fitted to vessels to lower the center of gravity and improve stability.
Ballast
Ballast tanks
tanks Double bottoms for carrying water ballast and capable of being flooded or pumped out at will.
Cylindrical structure built up to armor plates extending from the protected deck of a war vessel to the lower side
Barbette
Barbette of the turret shelf plate. They form protective enclosures in which are located the turret stools, shell stowage flats
and ammunition hoisting gear for the turrets.
Bareboat Charter Owners lease a specific ship and control its technical management and commercial operations

BAREBOAT
BAREBOAT CHTR
CHTR only.

A craft of full body and heavy construction designed gor the carriage of cargo but having no machinery for self-
Barge
Barge
propulsion.
Barnacle
Barnacle Small marine growth which attaches itself to a vessel’s hull in large numbers, often greatly retarding her speed.
A horizontal fore and aft reference line for vertical measurements. This line is perpendicular to the vertical center
line. A horizontal transverse reference line for vertical measurements. This is line is perpendicular to the vertical
center line. A horizontal transverse reference line for vertical measuremnts. This line is perpendicular to both the
vertical center line and fore-and-aft base line.

Base
Base line
line

Baseline

A narrow strip of wood for fairing in lines. Also a stripof wood to fasten objects together. A strip of paulins in
Batten
Batten
place. (Verb) To secure by means of battens, as to “batten down a hatch”.
Batten
Batten down
down To make watertight. Said of hatches and cargo (tie up or secure).
A tern applied to the planks that are fitted to the inside of the frames in a hold to keep the cargo away from the
Battens,
Battens, cargo
cargo
shell plating, the strips of wood or steel used to prevent shifting of cargo.
BBB
BBB Before Breaking Bulk
BDI
BDI Both Dates Inclusive
BDN
BDN Bunker Delivery Note
Beachcomber
Beachcomber A derelict seaman found unemployed on the waterfront, especially in a foreign country (seaman without a ship).
(1) The registered breadth of a vessel, measured at the outside of the hull amidships, or at its greatest breadth. (2)
A transverse structural member supporting a deck and/or strengthening a hull.

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Beam
Beam

Beam

Beam
Beam knees
knees Angular fittings which connect beams and frames together.
Beam
Beam line
line The line showing the top of the frame line.
Beam
Beam plate
plate angles
angles A beam made from a flat plate, with the flange bent at right angles by an angle-bending machine.
Beam
Beam wind
wind A wind at right angles to a vessel’s course (wind blowing at the ship’s side.)
Bear
Bear aa hand
hand To assist or help.
Bear
Bear down
down To approach (overtake or come up to).
Bearer
Bearer A term applied to foundations, particularly those having vertical web plates themselves are called bearers.
Bearing
Bearing The direction of an object (with reference to you, your ship, another object).
Becalmed
Becalmed A sailing vessel dead in the water due to lack of wind (not moving).
A rope eye for the hook of a block. A rope grommet used in place of a rowlock. Also, a small piece of rope with an
Becket
Becket
eye in each end to hold the feet of a sprit to the mast. In general any small rope or strap used as a handle.
A structure fitted for support of the feet of the engine columns, as well as to provide support for crankshaft
Bed
Bed plate
plate bearings. It also helps distribute engine weight and stresses to the ship’s structure. The bed plate consists of a
series of transverse girders, connecting fore-and-aft members or girders.
BEI
BEI Biological Exposure Indices
Belay
Belay To make fast as to a pin or cleat. To rescind an order (tie up).
Belaying
Belaying pin
pin A wooden or iron pin fitting into a rail upon which to secure ropes.
Bell
Bell suction
suction The flared open end of a cargo pipeline which is situated at close tolerances to the bottom of a liquid cargo tank.
Bells
Bells see Ships Time
Belly
Belly strap
strap A rope passed around (center) a boat or other object for hanging.
Below
Below Undernearth the surface of the water. Undernearth a deck or decks
Bend
Bend The twisting or turning of a rope so as to fasten it to some object, as a spar or ring.
Bending
Bending rolls
rolls Large machine used to give curvature to plates by passage in contact with three rolls.
Heavy cast-iron blocks with square or round holes for “dogging down” arranged to form a large solid floor on
Bending
Bending slab
slab
which frames and structural members are bent and formed.
BENDS
BENDS Both Ends (Load & Discharge Ports)
BEP
BEP Best Environmental Practice

A place for a ship. The distance from frame line to frame line. A term applied to a bed or a place to sleep. Berths,
Berth
Berth as a rule, are permanently built into the structure of the staterooms or conpartments. They are constructed singly
and also in tiers of two or three, one above the other. When single, drawers for stowing clothing are often built in
underneath. Tiers of berths constructed of pipe are commonly installed in the crew space.
Berth
Berth term
term Shipped under a rate that does not include the cost of loading or unloading.
Between
Between decks
decks The space between any two, not necessarily adjacent, decks. Frequently expressed as “Tween Decks”.

Any angle other than 90o which one surface makes with another. Also to bevel a beam, flange, or plate for vee
Bevel
Bevel
welding, to tilt a girder to make the sheer bevel.

Bevel
Bevel square
square A device that can be used to make a close bevel, less than 90o, or an open bevel, more than 90o.
BI
BI Both Inclusive
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BI
BI Both Inclusive
Bight
Bight Formed by bringing the end of a rope around, near to, or across its own part.
(1) Intersection or curved transition of bottom and sides of a hull. (2) Lowest points within hull compartments
where liquids may accumulate.

Bilge
Bilge

Bilge

Bilge
Bilge blocks
blocks Supporting blocks used under bilge for support during construction or drydocking.
Vertical transverse plate located beneath side frames in the area of the bilge and between inner and outer
Bilge
Bilge bracket
bracket
bottoms.
Non-retractable elongated longitudinal fin protruding from the bilge used to reduce rolling.

bilge keels

Bilge
Bilge keel
keel

Bilge keel

Bilge
Bilge plates
plates The curved shell plates that fit the bilge.
Bilge
Bilge pump
pump Pump for removing bilge water.
Bilge
Bilge strake
strake Line of shell plating at the bilge between bottom and side plating.
A bilge well is generally located in the lowest part of the compartment. It is used for drainage and is generally
Bilge
Bilge well
well
shaped like a box, and fitted to the underside of the inner bottom, with a strainer on top.
Bilges
Bilges The lowest portion of a ship inside the hull, considering the inner bottom where fitted as the bottom hull limit.
Bilgeway
Bilgeway Same a bilge
A document that establishes the terms of contract between a shipper and a trasportation company. It serves as a
Bill
Bill of
of lading
lading
document title, a contract of carriage, and a receipt for goods.
BIMCO
BIMCO Baltic & International Maritime Council
Bin
Bin A walled enclosure built on the deck of a barge for the purpose of retaining cargo; also called a pen or cargo box.
A stand or case for housing a compass so that it may be conveniently consulted. Binnacles differ in shape and size

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A stand or case for housing a compass so that it may be conveniently consulted. Binnacles differ in shape and size
according to where used and the size of the compass to be accpmmodated. A binnacle for a ship’s navigating
compass consists essentially for a pedestal at whose upper and is a bowl-shaped receptacle having a sliding
hood-like cover. This receptacle accommodates the gimbals supporting the compass. Compensating binnacles are
Binnacle
Binnacle
provided with brackets or arms on either side, starboard and port, for supporting and securing the iron cylinders
or spheres used to counteract the quadrantal error due to the earth’s magnetization of the vessel. This type of
binnacle is usually placed immediately in front of the steering wheel, having its vertical axis in the vertical plane of
the fore-and-aft center-line of the vessel.
Birth
Birth marks
marks Same as Plimsoll marks.
Bitter
Bitter end
end (Nautical). The inboard end of a vessel’s anchor chain which is made fast in the chain locker
Twin stout posts welded to the deck to which mooring lines are fastened.

Bitts
Bitts

bitts

A black, tar-like composition largely of bitumen or asphalt and containing such other ingredients as rosin,
Bitumastic
Bitumastic Portland cement, slaked lime, petroleum, etc. It is used as a protective coating in ballast and trimming tanks,
chain lockers, shaft alleys, etc.
BL
BL (1)
(1) Bale
BL
BL (2)
(2) (Bill of Lading) A document signed by the carrier which acts as a receipt and evidence of title to the cargo.
Black
Black gang
gang Member of the engine-room force, which included the engineers, firemen, oilers, and wipers.
Blank
Blank flange
flange A flange which is not drilled but which is otherwise complete.
A term applied to plugs screwed into the bottom of a ship to provide for drainage of the compartments when the
Bleeders
Bleeders
vessel is in dry dock.
BLG
BLG Bulk Liquids and Gases
The name given a pulley or sheave, or system of pulleys or sheaves mounted in a frame, and used to multiply
Block
Block power when moving objects by means of ropes run over the sheaves. Single, double or triple-when used with the
word “block” indicate the number of sheaves it contains.
Block
Block and
and block
block Same as two blocks.
Block
Block and
and tackle
tackle (Block and Falls). The complete unit of two or more blocks rove up with an adequate amount of rope.
BM
BM Beam
BMP
BMP Best Management Practices
BNWAS
BNWAS Bridge Navigational Watch Alarm System
Boat-fall
Boat-fall A purchase (block and tackle) for hoisting a boat to its davits.
BOB
BOB Bunker on Board
A pair of half transverse and elevations, with a common vertical center line. The right side gives the ship as seen
from ahead, the left side from astern. Water lines, buttock and bow lines, diagonal lines, etc., are shown.

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Body
Body plan
plan

Body plan

BOEMRE
BOEMRE Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement
BOFFER
BOFFER Best Offer
Any vessel, container or receptacle that is capable of generating steam by the internal or external application of
Boiler
Boiler
heat. There are two general classes of boilers. I.E., fire-tube and water-tube.
Boiler
Boiler casing
casing A wall protecting the different deck spaces from the heat of the boiler room.
Boiler
Boiler chocks
chocks Stay braces which prevent fore and aft movement of boilers.
The structure upon which the boiler is secured. It generally consists of girders built up from plates and shapes. In
Boiler
Boiler foundation
foundation
a cylindrical boiler the athwartship girders are often called saddles.
Boiler
Boiler room
room A compartment in the middle or after section of a vessel where the boilers are placed.
The equivalent of a vessel’s mooring bitts used onshore.

Bollard
Bollard

Bollard

Bollard
Bollard pull
pull The static pulling force of a tugboat measured in pounds.
A piece of plate adjoining the hawse hole, to prevent the chafing of the ship’s bow. A plate foe support like a
Bolster
Bolster plate
plate pillow or cushion.

Bond
Bond port
port Port of a vessel’s initial customs entry to any country; also known as first port of call.
A warehouse authorized by customs authorities for storage of goods on which payment of duties is deferred until
Bonded
Bonded warehouse
warehouse
the goods are removed.
Booby
Booby hatch
hatch The cover of a scuttle-way or small hatchway, such as that which leads to the forecastle or fore peak of a vessel.
Boom
Boom A term applied to a spar used in handling cargo, or as the lower piece of a fore-and-aft sail.
Boom
Boom cradle
cradle A rest for a cargo-boom when lowered for securing for sea.
Boom
Boom rest
rest A support for a boom when the boom is not in use.
Boom
Boom step
step A socket for end of boom.
An outrigger attached to the mast, or a structure built up around a mast from the deck, to support the heel
Boom
Boom table
table bearings for booms. Boom tables are necessary to provide working clearances when a number of booms are
installd on one mast.
Boot-topping
Boot-topping Durable paint coating applied to a hull between the light and loaded waterlines.
Special resistant paint or paints used to coat that portion of a vessel between light and load lines. Also the area to
Boot-topping
Boot-topping
which this paint is applied.

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Bort
Bort flange
flange A protruding flange above a port to keep drip from entering.
Shortening of the old term “boatswain,” an unlicensed member of the crew who supervises the work of the deck
Bos
Bos’n
’n
men under direction of the first mate.
Bos
Bos’n’s
’n’s chair
chair The piece of board on which a man working aloft is swung.
Bos
Bos’n’s
’n’s chestb
chestb The deck chest in which the bos’n keeps his deck gear.
Bos
Bos’n’s
’n’s lockerb
lockerb The locker in which the bos’n keeps his deck gear.
Bosom
Bosom The inside of an angle bar.
Bosom
Bosom barb
barb One angle fitted inside another.
Bosom
Bosom plate
plate A plate bar or angle fitted to an angle bar to connect the ends of two angles.
The part of the propeller to which blades are attached. Also the aparture in the stern frame where propeller shaft
Boss
Boss
enters.
Boss
Boss frame
frame A frame bent around to fit the bose in way of the stern tube or shaft.
Boss
Boss plate
plate The plate fitted around the boss of a propeller post or around the curved frames in way of stern tubes.
Hydrodynamically faired outboard portion of hull plating surrounding and supporting propeller shafting. In a
Bossingb
Bossingb
single-screw vessel the bossing is integral to a centreline skeg.
Bottom
Bottom plating
plating That part of the shell plating which is below the water line.
Bottom,
Bottom, outer
outer A term applied to the bottom shell plating in a double bottom ship.
Bounding
Bounding angle
angle A steel angle used for reinforcement at the junction of two steel plates.
Bounding
Bounding bar
bar A bar connecting the edges of a bulkhead to tank top, shell, decks, or another bulkhead.
The fore end or a ship.

Bow
Bow

bow

Watertight hinged door in the fore end of a Ro-Ro vessel through which vehicles and cargo may be loaded or
discharged

Bow
Bow door
door

Bow door

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Bow door

Bow
Bow linesb
linesb Curves representing a vertical section of the bow end of a ship. Similar curves in aft part of hull are buttock lines.

Bow
Bow rudderb
rudderb A rudder placed at the bottom of the forward stem and maneuvered from the fore peak.
A propulsor installed near the bow to provide a transverse thrust component enhancing manoeuvrability.

Bow
Bow thruster
thruster

Bow thruster

Bowsprit
Bowsprit A spar extending forward from the stem.
Boxed
Boxed end
end The end of a barge which is squared for the full depth and width of the hull.
Boxing
Boxing the
the compass
compass Calling names of the points of the compass in order.
BPG
BPG Bridge Procedures Guide
BPQ
BPQ Barge Particulars Questionnaire
A steel plate, commonly with a reinforcing flange, used to stiffen or tie beam angles to bulkheads frames to
Bracket
Bracket
longitudinals, etc.
Braze
Braze To heat and join by means of hard solder (spelter). This may be brass, bronze, or other alloys.
Breadth
Breadth The side-to-side measurements of a vessel at any given place.
Breadth
Breadth extreme
extreme The maximum breadth measured over plating or planking, including heading or enders.
Breadth,
Breadth, molded
molded See Molded Breadth.
Breadth,
Breadth, registered
registered Measured amidships at its greatest breadth to outside of plating.
Break
Break Of poop or forecastle. The point at which the partial poop or forcastle deck are discontinued.
Break
Break ground
ground Said of anchor when it lifts clear of the bottom.
Breakbulk
Breakbulk Loose, noncontainerized cargo stowed directly into a ship’s hold.
Breaker
Breaker A small cask for fresh water carried in ship’s boats. A sea (wave) with a curl on the crest.
A term applied to plates fitted on a forward weather deck to form a V-shaped shield against water that is shipped
Breakwater
Breakwater
over the bow.
Breaming
Breaming Cleaning the barnacles, paint, etc., from a ship’s bottom with a blow torch.
Breast
Breast beam
beam The transverse beam nearest to midship on the poop and forecastle deck.
Breast
Breast hook
hook Ahorizontal plate secured across the fore peak of a vessel to tie the fore-peak frames together and unit the bow.
Breast
Breast rail
rail The upper rail of a balcony on the quarter deck.
Horizontal plate brackets of generally triangular form connecting port and starboard side stringers and bow
Breasthook
Breasthook
plating at the stem.

Bridge
Bridge Elevated centre dedicated to the control and navigation of the vessel. [Alt. Navigating bridge or wheelhouse.]
The erection or superstructure fitted about amidship on the upper deck of a ship. The officer’s quarters,
Bridge
Bridge house
house

staterooms and accommodations are usually in the bridge house.

Bridge
Bridge wing(s)
wing(s) Lateral (open or enclosed) extension(s) to a vessel’s bridge to permit direct vision beyond the hull side.
The uppermost platform erected at the level of the top of the pilot house. It generally consists of a narrow
walkway supported by stan-chions, running from one side of the ship to the other and the space over the top of
Bridge,
Bridge, navigating
navigating or
or flying
flying the pilot house. A duplicate set of navigating instruments and controls for the steering gear and engine room

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Bridge,
Bridge, navigating
navigating or
or flying
flying the pilot house. A duplicate set of navigating instruments and controls for the steering gear and engine room
signals are installed on the flying bridge so that the ship may be navigated in good weather from this platform.
Awnings erected on stanchions and weather cloths fitted to the railing give protection against sun and wind.
A high transverse platform, often forming the top of a bridge house, extending from side to side of the ship, and
from whick a good view of the weather deck may be had. An enclosed space called the pilot house is erected on
the bridge in which are installed the navigating instruments, such as the compass and binnacle, the control for
Bridges
Bridges the steering apparatus, and the signals to the engine room. While the pilot house is generally entended to include
a chartroom and sometimes staterooms, a clear passageway should be left around it. As the operation of the ship
is directed from the bridge or flying bridge above it, there should also be clear, open passage from one side of the
vessel to the other.
A V-shaped chain, wire, or rope attached to a vessel being towed to which the towline is connected.

Bridle
Bridle

Bridle

Bright
Bright work
work Brass work, polished (also varnished wood work in yachts).
BROBb
BROBb Bunkers Remaining on Board
Broker
Broker A person who arranges for transportation of loads for a percentage of the revenue from the load.
A small curved angle or flanged plate fitted on the outside of the shell of a ship over an air port to prevent water
Brow
Brow
running down the ship’s side from entering the open port. Also called a watershed.
BSG
BSG Barge Safety Guide
BSS
BSS Basis

BSS
BSS 1/1
1/1 Basis 1 Port to 1 Port
BT
BT Berth Terms
Buck
Buck frame
frame A transverse truss.

Buckle
Buckle plateb
plateb A plate that has warped from its original shape also a plate that is wider at the center than at the end.
A term applied to a floating object that is moored or anchored so that it remains at one place. Budys are used for
Budy
Budy marking the places on the water where a ship is sunk, where reefs are below, where the edges of the channel are,
or to provide means for mooring ship at a desired position.
Ability to float, the supporting effort exerted by a liquid (usaually water) upon the surface of a boly wholly or
Budyancy
Budyancy
partially immersed.
Building
Building slip
slip An inclined launching berth where the ship is built.
A form of concession where a private party or consortium agrees to finance, construct, operate and maintain a
facility for a specific period and transfer the facility to the concerned government or port authority after the term
Build-operate-transfer
Build-operate-transfer (BOT)
(BOT) of the concession. The ownership of the concession area (port land) remains with the government or port
authority during the entire concession period. the concessionaire bears the commercial risk of operating the
facility.
Bulb
Bulb angle
angle Or bulb angle bar. An angle with one edge having a bulb or swell.
A narrow plate generally of mild steel, rolled with a bulb or swell along one of its edges. Used for hatch coamings,
Bulb
Bulb plate
plate
built up beams, etc.
Bulb
Bulb tee
tee A Tee bar with toe of web reinforced.
Bulge
Bulge Same as bilge.
Bulk
Bulk cargo
cargo Cargo shipped in loose condition and of a homogeneous nature.
Vessel designed for the transportation of dry loose homogeneous cargoes in bulk in self-trimming holds and
constructed to sustain the heavy concentrated weight distribution of the cargoes.
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constructed to sustain the heavy concentrated weight distribution of the cargoes.

Bulk
Bulk carrier
carrier

Bulk carrier

(1) A vertical structural partition dividing a vessel’s interior into various compartments for strength and safety
purposes; (termed strength bulkhead). (2) Term applied to vertical partition walls (non-structural) subdividing the
interior of a vessel into compartments.

Bulkhead
Bulkhead

Bulkhead

A bar used for the purpose of connecting the edges of a bulkhead to the tank top, shell, deck, or to another
Bulkhead
Bulkhead bounding:
bounding: bar
bar
bulkhead. Angle bars are generally used for this purpose, as both flanges are easily calked.
Uppermost deck at which transverse watertight bulkheads terminate

Bulkhead
Bulkhead deck
deck

Bulkhead deck

An opening cut in a bulkhead just above the tank top connecting angle, and fitted with a valve which may be
Bulkhead
Bulkhead sluice
sluice
operated from the deck above.
A term applied to the beams or girders attached to a bulkhead for the purpose of supporting it under pressure
Bulkhead
Bulkhead stiffeners
stiffeners and holding it in shape. Vertical stiffenera are most commonly used, but horizontal stiffeners or a combination of
both may be used.
Bull
Bull riveting
riveting Driving rivets by squeezing them with a high powered air or hydraulic machine.
Bullnosed
Bullnosed bow
bow Bow with large rounded bow point underneath water line.
Barrier of stiffened plating at the outboard edge of the main or upper deck to prevent or inhibit entry of the sea.
Bulwarks may be additionally employed at the forward edges of superstructure decks in lieu of safety railings as a

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Bulwarks may be additionally employed at the forward edges of superstructure decks in lieu of safety railings as a
barrier to wind and spray.

Bulwark
Bulwark

Bulwark

Bulwark
Bulwark stay
stay A brace extending from the deck to a point near the top of the bulwark, to keep it rigid.
This is the assembly of pieces of cargo, secured into one manageable unit. This is a very flexible description; a
BUNDLING
BUNDLING
rule of thumb is to present cargo at a size easily handled by a large (20 ton) fork lift truck.
Bunk
Bunk Built-in bed aboard ship.
Bunker
Bunker Compartment for the storage of oil or other fuel.
Bunker
Bunker stays
stays A brace extending from the deck to a point near the top of the bulwark, to keep it rigid.
BUNKERS
BUNKERS Name given for vessels Fuel and Diesel Oil supplies (Originates from coal bunkers)
Buoy
Buoy A stationary floating object used as an aid for navigation.
Buoyancy
Buoyancy Ability to float, lifting power when immersed.
Burr
Burr edge
edge The rough uneven edge of a punched or burnt hole or plate.
Butt
Butt joint
joint A joint made by fitting two pieces squarely together on their edges, which is then welded or butt strapped.
Butt
Butt strap
strap A bar or plate used to fasten two or more objects together with their edges butted.
A washing process used to gas free or clean a cargo tank, employing hot water or chemicals, sprayed through a
Butterworth
Butterworth
patented rotating nozzle.
Butterworth
Butterworth opening
opening a deck access opening with bolted cover, designed for butterworth operations.
Counter. The rounded-in overhanging part on each side of the stern in front of the rudder, merging undernearth
Buttock
Buttock
into the run.
Buttock
Buttock lines
lines The curves shown by taking a vertical longitudinal section of the after part of a ship’s hull, parallel to the keel.
A cast or fabricated deck item, usually round, that is used to thread cables between vessels when they are made-
Button
Button
up.
BWAD
BWAD Brackish Water Arrival Draft
By
By the
the board
board Overboard (over the side).
By
By the
the head
head Deeper forward (front end deepest in water).
By
By the
the Run
Run To let go altogether.
CAA
CAA Clean Air Act
Cabin
Cabin The captain’s quarters. The enclosed space of decked-over small boat.
Cable
Cable A chain or line (rope) bent to the anchor.

Vessel designed for the laying and repair of seabed telecommunication cables.

Cable
Cable layer
layer

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Cable layer

Cable
Cable locker
locker Compartment located forward to store the anchor cable.
Cable-laid
Cable-laid The same as hawser-laid.
Cable-length
Cable-length 100 fathoms or 600 feet (6 feet to a fathom).
Cabotage
Cabotage Shipments between ports of a single nation, frequently reserved to national flag vessels of that nation.
Calk
Calk To tighten a lap or other seam with a chisel tool, either ny hand or meckanically.
Calm
Calm A wind or force less than one knot (knot 1 nautical mile per hour).
CALM
CALM Catenary Anchor Leg Mooring
A projecting part of a wheel or other simple moving piece in machinery, so shaped as to give predetermined
Cam
Cam
variable motion to another piece against which it acts, in repeating cycles.
CAM
CAM Court Appointed Monitor
Camber
Camber Transverse convex curvature of exposed decks to accelerate runoff.
(In engineering) a decked vessel having great stability designed for use in the lifting of sunken vessel or
Camel
Camel
structures. A submersible float used for the same purpose by submerging, attaching, and pumping out.
The inclination of an object from the perpendicular. As a verb, to turn anything so that it does not stand square to
Cant
Cant
a given object.
Any of the beams supporting the deck plating or planking in the overhanging part of the stern of a vessel. They
Cant
Cant beam
beam
radiate in fan shape from the transom beam to cant frames.
That portion of a vessel’s boly either forward or aft in which the planes of the frames are not at right angles to the
Cant
Cant body
body
center line of the ship.
Cant
Cant frame
frame Hull side frame not aligned perpendicular to the vessel’s centreline.
Cant
Cant frames
frames The frame (generally bulb angles) at the end of a ship which are cented, that is, which rise obliquely from the keel.
A term applied to large cargo vessels that cannot transit either the Panama or Suez Canals. They are usually of the
Capesize
Capesize
order of 120 000–180 000 DWT.
A ship is said to capsize when it loses transverse stability and rolls over and sinks.

capsize

Capsize
Capsize

capsize

Steel warping drum rotating on a vertical axis for the handling of mooring lines and optionally anchor cable.

Capstan
Capstan

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Capstan

A vertical drum or barrel operated by a steam engine and used for handing heavy anchor chains, heavy hawsers,
etc. The engine is usually non-reversing and transmites its power to the capstan shaft through a worm and worm
Capstan,
Capstan, steam
steam sheel. The drum is fitted with pawls to prevent overhauling under the strain of the hawser or chain when the
power is shut off. The engine may be disconnected and the capstan operated by hand through the medium of
capstan bars.
A wooden bar which may be shipped in the capstan head for heaving around by hand (to heave up anchor or
Capstan-bar
Capstan-bar
heavy objects by manpower).
Captain
Captain of
of the
the Head
Head A guy who gets Head (toilet) cleaning detail.
Vessel designed for the delivery transportation of road vehicles.

Car
Car carrier
carrier

Car carrier

CARB
CARB California Air Resources Board
Cardinal
Cardinal pointsb
pointsb The four principal points of the compass North, East, South and West.
Cargo
Cargo Merchandise or goods accepted for transportation by ship.
Cargo
Cargo battens
battens Strips of wood used to keep cargo away from the steel hull.
Cargo
Cargo boom
boom A heavy boom used in handling cargo.
Watertight door in the hull side through which cargo may be loaded or discharged.

Cargo
Cargo door
door

Cargo door

Cargo
Cargo hatch
hatch Large opening in the dec to permit loading of cargo.
An opening, provided with a watertight cover or door, in the side of a vessels of two or more decks, through which
Cargo
Cargo port
port
the cargo is received and discharged.
A short beam running fore and aft between or under transverse deck beams. Also called headers when they
Carlines
Carlines (carlings)
(carlings)
support the ends of interrupted deck beams.
Any person or entity who, in a contract of carriage, undertakes to perform or to procure the performance of
Carrier
Carrier
carriage by sea, inland waterway, rail, road, air, or by a combination of such modes.
Cartage
Cartage Intraport or local hauling of cargo by drays or trucks (also refferd to as drayage).
Carvel
Carvel built
built A type of plating made flush be vee butt welding or butt strap riveting.

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CAS
CAS Condition Assessment Scheme
A kind of plate joint by which an overlap can gradually be made flush. This is done with the aid of liners, and is
Case
Case joint
joint
used on the bow and stern to give the vessel a finer trim.
Casingb
Casingb The extra case or bulkhead built around the ship’s funnel to protect the decks from heat. See Air Casing.
Cast
Cast off
off To let go.
Sacrificial or impressed current system of corrosion protection of hull, tanks and piping.

Cathodic
Cathodic protection
protection

Cathodic protection

Caulk
Caulk To fill in the seams with cotton or oakum.
Caulker
Caulker One who caulks.
The formation of bubbles on an aerofoil section in areas of reduced pressure. Can occur on heavily loaded ship
propellers.

Cavitation
Cavitation

Cavitation

CBA
CBA Collective Bargaining Agreement
CBFT
CBFT (or
(or CFT)
CFT) Cubic Feet
CBM
CBM Cubic Meter

CBP
CBP Customs Border Protection
CCM
CCM Corporate Compliance Manager
CCNR
CCNR Central Commission for Navigation on the Rhine
CCTV
CCTV Close Circuit Television
Ceilingb
Ceilingb The inside skin of a vessel between decks, or in a small vessel from the deck beams to bilge.
Container vessel having specially designed vertical cell guides for the accommodation of standard size containers
thereby precluding movement and lashing.

Cellular
Cellular container
container ship
ship

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Cellular container ship

A term applied where the double bottom is divided into numerous rectangular compartments by the floors and
Cellular
Cellular double
double bottomb
bottomb
longitudinals.
A horizontal fore- and -aft reference line for athwartship measurements, dividing the ship into two symmetrical
Center
Center lineb
lineb
halves. A vertical reference line in the center of the body plan, midship section or other sections.
A fore-and-aft or longitudinal bulkhead erected on the center line or in the same plane as the keel. Also a
Center
Center line
line bulkhead
bulkhead
reference line scrived on a transverse bulkhead to indicate the center of the ship.
That point through which the buoyancy force acts. It is defi ned in space by its longitudinal, vertical and
transverse (respectively, LCB, VCB and TCB) position relative to a set of orthogonal axes. It is also the centroid of
volume of the displaced water.

Centre
Centre of
of buoyancy
buoyancy (CB)
(CB)

Centre of buoyancy (CB)

The centroid of area of a waterplane. A small weight added, or removed, from the ship vertically in line with the

CF will cause a change of draught without heel or trim. For a symmetrical ship the CF will be on the centerline and
its position is given relative to amidships.

Centre
Centre of
of flotation
flotation (CF)
(CF)

Centre of flotation (CF)

The point through which the force due to gravity, that is the weight of the body, acts. Its position is defi ned in a
similar way to the centre of buoyancy and is very important in calculations of stability.

Centre
Centre of
of gravity
gravity (CG)
(CG)

Centre of gravity (CG)

Centreline
Centreline The longitudinal vertical plane of a vessel.
CFG
CFG China Focus Group
CFOb
CFOb Chief Financial Officer
CFR
CFR Code of Federal Regulations
CFR
CFR (or
(or C&F)
C&F) Cost and Freight
Chafe
Chafe To wear the surface of a rope by rubbing against a solid object.

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Chafe
Chafe To wear the surface of a rope by rubbing against a solid object.
A guard of canvas or rope put around spars, mooring lines, or rigging to prevent them from wearing out by
Chafing
Chafing gear
gear
rubbing against something.
Chafing
Chafing plate
plate A bent plate used in minimizing chafing of ropes, as at hatches.
The compartment for storing the anchor chains, located near the hawse pipes in the bow of the ship.

Chain
Chain locker
locker
Chain locker

Chain
Chain locker
locker manger
manger See Manager
The iron-bound opening or section of pipe loading from the chain locker to the deck, through which the chain
Chain
Chain locker
locker pipe
pipe cable passes.

Chain
Chain riveting
riveting Two or more rows of rivets spaces so that the rivets in one row are opposite those in adjacent row.
Chains
Chains Anchor chains
Chamfer
Chamfer A bevel surgace formed by cutting away the angle of two faces of a piece of wood or metal.
The galley smoke-pipe (cook’s stove pipe), named after The English sea captain who was noted for the scrupulous
Charley
Charley Noble
Noble
cleanliness and shine of the brass aboard his ship.
Chart
Chart house
house Small room adjacent to the bridge for charts and navigating instruments.
Chart
Chart room
room A small room adjacent to the Pilot House in which charts and navigating instruments are located.
Chassis
Chassis A frame with wheels and container locking devices to secure the container for movement.
Check
Check To ease off gradually (go slower and move carefully).
Check
Check lines
lines Used in shaping plates, etc., to make sure that the template have not changed in size by shrinking or expending
Cheeks
Cheeks The bilgeways, or curve of the bilges.
Vessel designed specifically for the transportation of volatile, poisonous or corrosive liquids in specially
constructed tanks.

Chemical
Chemical carrier
carrier (Tanker)
(Tanker)

Chemical carrier (Tanker)

Chief
Chief The crew’s term for the chief engineer.
Chief
Chief mate
mate Another term for first mate.
(In naval architecture) a small piece of wood used to make good any deficiency in a piece of tember, frame etc.

Chock
Chock
Chock

Chock
Chock boat
boat A cradle or support for a lifeboat.

Chock
Chock roller
roller A chock with a sheave to prevent chafing of ropes.
Chocks
Chocks Deck fittings for mooring line to pass through.
Choked
Choked The falls foul in a block. The falls may be chocked or jammed intentionally for a temporary securing (holding).
CHOPT
CHOPT Charterers Option

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CHTRS
CHTRS Charterers
CIC
CIC Concentrated Inspection Campaign
CIF
CIF Cost, Insurance & Freight. Seller pays all these costs to a nominated port or place of discharge.
Organisations which set standards for design and construction of vessels and integral machinery amongst much
else. Lloyd’s Register of Shipping, Bureau Veritas, Registro Italiano Navale, American Bureau of Shipping, Det
Norske Veritas, Germanischer Lloyd, Nippon Kaiji Kyokai, Russian Maritime Register of Shipping, Hellenic Register
of Shipping, Polish Register of Shipping, Croatian Register of Shipping, China Corporation Register of Shipping,
Classification
Classification societies
societies
China Classification Society, Korean Register of Shipping, Turk Loydu, Biro Klasifikasi Indonesia, Registo
Internacional Naval, Indian Register of Shipping, International Naval Surveys Bureau, Asia Classification Society,
Brazilian Register of Shipping, International Register of Shipping, Ships Classification Malaysia, Dromon Bureau of
Shipping, Iranian Classification Society
The stopping of articles (such as farm products) for cleaning at a point between the point of origin and
Cleaning
Cleaning in
in transit
transit
destination.
The size beyond which vessels, cars, or loads cannot pass through, under, or over bridges, tunnels, highways, and
Clearance
Clearance
so forth.
A metal fitting having two projecting arms or horns to which a halyard or other rope is belayed. The deck, side
Cleat
Cleat
plating, a stanchion, or other convenient structure serves as a support for securing the cleat.
Clinchimg
Clinchimg pan
pan A flat plate for clinching nails. (used in the mold loft.)
A 4” to 6” angle bar welded temporarily to floors, plates, webs, etc. It is used as a holdfast which, with the aid of a
Clip
Clip bolt, pulls objects up close in fitting. Also, short lengths of bar, generally angle, used to attached and connect the
various members of the ship structure.
Clipper
Clipper bow
bow A bow with an exterme forward rake, once familiar on sailing vessels.
Close
Close butt
butt A joint fitted clese by griding, pulled tight by clips, and welded.
Club
Club foot
foot The flattened, broadened after end of the stern foot.
CMG
CMG Course Made Good
CMID
CMID Common Marine Inspection Document
Contract of Affreightment Owners agree to accept a cost per revenue ton for cargo carried on a specific number
COA
COA
of voyages.
COACP
COACP Contract of Affreightment Charter Party
Strictly speaking, coamings are the fore and aft framing in hatchways and scuttles, while the athwartship pieces
are called head ladges, but the name coaming is commonly applied to all raised framework about deck openings.
Coaming
Coaming
Coamings prevent water from running below, as well as strengthen the deck about the hatches.

COB
COB Close of Business
Cockpit
Cockpit The well of a sailing vessel, especially a small boat, for the wheel and steerman.

COD
COD Cash On Delivery
These relate to the underwater form and give a broad indication of the hull shape. They are the ratios of certain
Coeffi
Coeffi cients
cients of
of fineness
fineness
areas and volumes to their circumscribing rectangles or prisms.
A small space left open between two bulkheads as an air space, to protect another bulkhead from heat, fidre
hazard or collision.

Cofferdam
Cofferdam

Cofferdam

Coffin
Coffin plate
plate The plate used on an enclosed twin bossing, named for its shape. In reality it is inverted boss plate.
COG
COG Course Over Ground

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COG
COG Course Over Ground
COGSA
COGSA Carriage of Goods by Sea Act
Coil
Coil To lay down rope in circular turns.
A system of small diameter pipes installed inside a liquid cargo tank for the purpose of heating the cargo by
Coils
Coils
means of hot oil or steam.
A ring used around a pipe or mast, or a flat plate made to fit around a girder or beam passing through a
Collar
Collar
bulkhead. They serve to make various spaces watertight.
A watertight bulkhead approximately 25′ aft of the bow, extending from the keel to the shelter deck. This
bulkhead prevents the entire ship from being flooded in case of a collision.

Collision
Collision bulkhead
bulkhead

Collision bulkhead

Collision
Collision mat
mat A large mat used to close an aperture in a aperture in a vessel’s side resulting from a collision.
Colors
Colors The national ensign.
A convex curvature of the rake sides of a barge that produces a narrower beam at the headlog than the beam of
Comehome
Comehome
the hull.
Coming
Coming around
around To bring a sailing vessel into the wind and change to another tack. One who is influenced to a change of opinion.
Companion
Companion A covering over the top of a companionway.
Companionway
Companionway A set of steps or ladder leading up to a deck from below.
Compartment
Compartment A subvision of space or room in a ship.
The compass is the most important instrument of navigation in use on board ship, the path of a ship through the
Compass,
Compass, magnetic
magnetic
water depending upon the efficient.
Composite
Composite vessel
vessel A vessel with a steel frame and wooden hull and decks
COMSAR
COMSAR Sub-Committee on Radiocommunciations and Search and Rescue
CONCAWE
CONCAWE The Oil Companies’ European Organisation for Environment, Health and Safety
An arrangement whereby a private party (concessionaire) leases assets from an authorized public entity for an
extended period and has responsibility for financing specified new fixed investments during the period and for
Concession
Concession
providing specified services associated with the assets; in return, the concessionaire receives specified revenues
from the opration of the ssets; the assets revert to the public sector at expiration of the contract.
Conning
Conning tower
tower Protective structure built up of armor plates and having verious shapes and sizes.
CONS
CONS Consumption
Conservancy
Conservancy In some countries, this fee is levied to retain upkeep of the approaches to waterways and canals.
Cargo consisting of shipments of two or more shippers or suppliers. Container load shipments may be
Consolidation
Consolidation
consolidated for one or more consignees.
Container
Container vessel
vessel Vessel designed specifically for the transportation of standard size containers within the hull and on deck.
Contraband
Contraband Cargo that is prohibited.
COP
COP Custom Of Port
Cork
Cork fenders
fenders A fender made of granulated cork and covered with woven tarred stuff.
Corrugated
Corrugated Having a series of wrinkles or grooves arranged so as to produce stiffness.
A bulkhead made from plates of corrugated metal or by flat plates alternately attached to the opposite flanges of
Corrugated
Corrugated bulkhead
bulkhead the bulkhead stiffeners. Corrugated metal bulkheads are used around staterooms and quarters. Corrugated cargo

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hold bulkheads are generally constructed of flat plate alternately attached to opposite flanges of the stiffeners.

COTP
COTP Captain of the Port
The part of a ship’s stern which overhangs the stern post.

Counter
Counter

Counter

A hole tapered or beveled around its edge to allow a rivet or bolt head to seat flush with or below the surface of
Countersunk
Countersunk hole
hole
the bolts object.
Countersunk
Countersunk rivet
rivet A rivet driven flush on one or both sides.
Cowl
Cowl The hood shaped top of a ventilator pipe.
CP
CP (or
(or C/P)
C/P) Charter Party
CPA
CPA Closest Point of Approach
CPD
CPD Charterers Pay Dues
CPR
CPR Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation
CPT
CPT Carriage Paid To
CQD
CQD Customary Quick Dispatch
Cradle
Cradle A framing built up on the ways and in which the ship rests while being launched.
A cup-shaped depression in a weld. The are tends to push the molten metal away from the center of the point
Crater
Crater
being welded, thus forming the crater.
Used on oil tankers. A elevated runway from poop to midship, and midship, and midship to forecastle deck. It
Crew
Crew’s
’s gangway
gangway
affords means of safe passage for crew members when deck is awash in stormy weather.
Cribbing
Cribbing Foundations of heavy blocks and timbers for supporting a vessel during construction.
CRN
CRN Crane
CROB
CROB Cargo Remaining on Board
A series of curves showing how a ship’s transverse stability varies, with displacement, for a range of heel angles.
Cross
Cross curves
curves of
of stability
stability Curve of statical stability. A plot showing how the righting lever experienced by a ship varies with angle as the ship
is rotated about a fore and aft axis. It defi nes a ship’s stability at large angles. Also known as the GZ curve.
Crossheader
Crossheader A pipeline that crosses over a tank providing a transit for cargo without tying into the vessel.
Crossing
Crossing the
the line
line Crossing the Equator.
A temporary horizontal timber brace to hold a frame in position. Cross-spalls are replaced later by the deck
Cross-spall
Cross-spall
beams.
Term sometimes used denoting the round-up or camber of a deck. The crown of an anchor is located where the
Crown
Crown
arms are welded to the shank.
Crown’s
Crown’s nest
nest A lookout station attached to or near the head of a mast.

Crow
Crow’s
’s nest
nest The platform or tub on the mast for the look-out.
Crutches
Crutches Same as breast hooks, but fitted at the after end.
CSC
CSC Convention for Safe Containers
CSM
CSM Cargo Securing Manual
CSR
CSR Continuous Synopsis Record
CSSC
CSSC Code of Safe Practice for Stowage & Securing Cargo
CST
CST Centistoke
CTF
CTF Carbon Task Force
CTR
CTR Container Fitted

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MARITIME DICTIONARY – Officer of the Watch 15/12/24, 15:41

CTR
CTR Container Fitted
CTU
CTU Cargo Transport Unit
A person or firm, licensed by the customs authority of their country when required, engaged in entering and
Custom
Custom broker
broker
clearing goods through customs for a client (importer).
Customhouse
Customhouse A govenrment office where duties are paid, documents filed, and so forth, on foreign shipments.
Cutwater
Cutwater The forward edge of the stem or prow of a vessel at the water level.
Cut-water
Cut-water The foremost part of the stem, cutting the water as the vessel forges ahead.
CWA
CWA Clean Water Act
A system of vertical blades that have taken the place of propellers for propulsion in some applications.
Cyclodial
Cyclodial propulsion
propulsion system
system
Generically referred to as a “tractor system”.
D&A
D&A Drug & Alcohol
A piece of timber that is fastened to the poppets of the bilgeway and crosses them diagonally to keep them
Dagger
Dagger
together. Dagger applies to anything that stands in a diagonal position.
One of the planks whick unite the headsof the poppets or stepping-up pieces of the cradle on which the vessel
Dagger
Dagger plank
plank
rests in launching.
A material made of tarred rope fibers obtained from scrap rope, used for calking seams in a wooden deck. It is
Dakum
Dakum
also used for calking around pipes.
DAPS
DAPS Days all Purposes (Total days for loading & discharging)
A curved metal spar for handling a boat or other heavy objects.

Davit
Davit

Davit(s)

Davits
Davits A set of cranes or radial arms on the gunwale of a ship, from whick are suspended the lifeboats.
DDC
DDC Deck Decompression Chamber
DDP
DDP Delivered Duty Paid.
DDU
DDU Delivered Duty unpaid.
DE
DE Design and Equipment
Dead
Dead ahead
ahead Directly ahead on the extension of the ship’s fore and aft line.
Dead
Dead flat
flat The flat-surfaced midship section of a vessel on the sides above the bilge, or on the bottom below the bilge.
Steel disc, that is dogged down over a porthole to secure against breakage of the glass and to prevent light from

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showing through.

Dead
Dead light
light
Deadlight

The upward slope of a ship’s bottom from the keel to the bilge. This rise is to give drainage of oil or water toward
Dead
Dead rise
rise
the center of the ship.
Deadlifht
Deadlifht A shutter placed over a cabin window in stormy weather to protect the glass against the waves.
Deadlight
Deadlight Steel or alloy cover plate fitted internally to portholes for protection against water ingress in case of glass failure.
Deadman
Deadman An object, such as an anchor, piling, or concrete block, buried on shore.
Deadrise
Deadrise Transverse inclination of the hull bottom from keel to bilge. [Alt rise of floor.]
The total weight of cargo, fuel, water, stores, passengers and crew and their effects that a ship can carry when at
Deadweight
Deadweight
her designed full-load draft.
Deadweight
Deadweight tonnage
tonnage The cargo capacity of a vessel.
Deck
Deck A platform or horizontal floor which extends from side to sede of a vessel.
Deck
Deck beam
beam dimensions
dimensions The molding of a deck beam is its vertied dimension. Its siding is its horizontal dimension.
A round, steel fitting affixed to a vessel’s deck, designed to secure or guide cables for making up barge tows.

Deck
Deck button
button

Deck button

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Deck
Deck height
height Vertical distance between moulded lines of 2 adjacent decks. [Alt deck interval.]
Deck
Deck house
house A small house on the after or midship section of a vessel.
Deck
Deck lashing
lashing strap
strap A steel deck fitting normally used as an attachment for cargo tie down lines.
Deck
Deck stringer
stringer The strip of deck plating that runs along the outer adge of a deck.
Declivity
Declivity Inclination of shipways to provide for launching.
Deconsolidation
Deconsolidation point
point Place where cargo is ungrouped for delivery.
A term applied to any of the floors in the forward or after end of a vessel. Due to the converging sides of ships in
Deep
Deep floor
floor
the bow and stern, the floors become much deeper than in the main body.
Deep
Deep frame
frame A web frame or a frame whose athwartship dimension is over the general amount.
Deep
Deep tank
tank Tank (usually for fuel) having significant depth (typically spanning more than 1 deck interval).
These usually consist of ordinary hold compartments, but strengthened to carry water ballast. They are placed at
either or both ends of the engine and boiler space. They are placed at either or both ends of the engine and
Deep
Deep tanks
tanks
boiler space. They are placed st either or both ends of the engine and boiler space. They usaually run from the
tank top up to or above the lower deck.
DEM
DEM Demurrage
A penalty charge against shippers or consignees for delaying the carrier’s equipment beyond the allowed free
Demurrage
Demurrage
time. The free time and demurage charges are set forth in the charter party or freight tariff.
Derelict
Derelict A vessel obandoned and drifting aimlessly at sea.
A device consisting of a kingpost, boom with variable topping lift, and necessary rigging for hoisting heavy
Derrick
Derrick
weights, cargo, etc.
DESP
DESP Dispatch
DET
DET Detention
The method of drawing the same lines on a flat surface which have already been drawn on a curved surface. The
Development
Development shapes and lines produced by development are the same as though the curved surface from which they are taken
were a flexible sheet which could be spread out flat without change of area or distortion.
DHDATSBE
DHDATSBE Dispatch Half Demurrage on Actual Time Saved Both Ends
DHDWTSBE
DHDWTSBE Dispatch Half Demurrage on Working Time Saved Both Ends
Diagonal
Diagonal line
line A line cutting the body plan diagonally from the frames to the middle line in the loft layout.
Alternator (generator) directly powered by a diesel prime mover producing AC electrical power. 9kw marine diesel
generator

Diesel
Diesel generator
generator

Diesel generator

A position of a flag when lowered part way in salute (method of salute between vessels, like planes dipping
Dip
Dip
wings).
DISCH
DISCH Discharge
The weight in tons of the water displaced by a ship. This weight is the same as the total weight of the ship when
afloat. Displacement may be expressed either in cubic feet or tons, a cubic foot of sea water weighs 64 pounds
Displacement
Displacement and one of fresh water weighs 62.5 pounds, consequently one ton is equal to 35 cubic feet of sea water or 35.9
feet of fresh water. The designed displacement of a vessel is her displacement when floating at her designed
draft.
Distress
Distress signal
signal A flag display or a sound, light, or radio signal calling for assistance.
Ditty-bag
Ditty-bag A small bag used by seamen for stowing small articles.
DK
DK Deck
DLOSP
DLOSP Dropping Last Outwards Sea Pilot (Norway)
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DLOSP
DLOSP Dropping Last Outwards Sea Pilot (Norway)
DMLC
DMLC Decleration of Maritime Labour Convention
DNRSAOCLONL
DNRSAOCLONL Discountless and Non-Returnable Ship and/or Cargo Lost or Not Lost
DO
DO Diesel Oil
DOB
DOB Date of Birth
Dock
Dock A basin for the reception of vessels. “Wet” docks are utilized for the loading and unloading of ships.
Detailed structural plan and profile of the lower hull structure required for correct location of the vessel in dry
docking.

Docking plan

Docking
Docking plan
plan

Docking plan

A hold fast, a short metal rod or bar fashioned to form a clamp or clip and used for holding watertight doors,
Dog
Dog
manholes, or pieces of work in place.
Dog
Dog shores
shores The last supports to be knocked away at the launching of a ship.
Doldrums
Doldrums The belt on each side of the Equator in which little or no wind ordinarily blows.
Dolly
Dolly bar
bar A heavy bar to hold against a rivet, to give backing when riveting.
Dolphin
Dolphin A cluster of piles driven into the bottom of a waterway and bound firmly together for the mooring of vessels.
DOLSP
DOLSP Dropping Off Last Sea Pilot (Norway)
Donkey
Donkey engine
engine A small gass, stem or electric auxiliary engine, set on the deck and used for lifting, etc.
DOP
DOP Dropping Outward Pilot
DOT
DOT Department of Transport
A tank whose bottom is formed by the bottom plates of a ship, used to hold water for ballast, for the storage of
oil, etc. Also a term applied to the space between the inner and outer bottom skins of a vessel. Also applied to
indicate that a ship has a complete inner or extra envelopeof watertight bottom plating. A double bottom is
usually fitted in large ships extending from bilge to bilge and nearly the whole length fore-and-aft.

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Double
Double bottom
bottom

Double bottom

Double
Double skin
skin Double watertight hull construction, usually referring to hull sides but may include double bottom structure.
Double
Double up
up To double a vessel’s mooring lines.
A steel plate installed on an existing structural plate and used as a strengthening base for deck fittings or as a
repair of a damaged area.

Doubler

Doubler
Doubler

Doubler

Extra plates (bars or stiffeners, added to strengthen sections where holes have been cut for hawse pipes,
Doubling
Doubling plates
plates
machinery, etc. Also placed where strain or wear is expected.
Dowel
Dowel A pin of wood inserted in the edge or face of two boards or pieces to secure them together.
Dowse
Dowse To take in, or lower a sail. To put out a light. To cover with water.
DR
DR Dead Reckoning
Draft
Draft The distance from the surface of the water to the ship’s keel (how deep the ship is into the water).
Depth to which a ship is immersed in water. The depth varies according to the design of the ship and will
DRAFT
DRAFT be greater or lesser depending not only on the weight of the ship and everything on board, but also on
the density of the water in which the ship is lying.
The depth of a vessel below the waterline measured vertically to the lowest part of the hull, propellers or other
DRAFT
DRAFT (DRAUGHT)
(DRAUGHT) (of
(of aa vessel)
vessel)
reference points.
Draft
Draft ,, extreme
extreme Draft measured to the lowest projecting portion of the vessel
Numbers marked on the hull side forward, aft (and amidships on large vessels) indicating the draft.

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Draft
Draft marks
marks

Draft marks

Draft(or
Draft(or draught)
draught) Depth to which a hull is immersed.
Draft,
Draft, aft
aft Draft measured at the stern.
Draft,
Draft, forward
forward Draft measured at the bow.
Draft,
Draft, load
load Draft at load displacement.
The numbers which are placed in a vertical scale at the bow and the stern of a vessel to indicate the draft at each
Draft,
Draft, marks
marks
point.
The average between draft measured at bow and at stern, or for a vessel with a straight keel, the darft measured
Draft,
Draft, mean
mean
at the middle length af waterline.
Drag
Drag The amount that the aft end of the keel is below the forward end when the ship is afloat with the stern end down.
The chamber into which seepage water is collected and pumped by drainage pumps into sea through pump
Drain
Drain well
well
dales.
Vessel designed for the removal of sea bed alluvial sediment. Deepen access channels, provide turning basins for
ships, and maintain adequate water depth along waterside facilities.

Dredger
Dredger

Dredger

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Dredger

A display of national colors at all mastheads and the array of signal flags from bow to stern over the masthead
Dressing
Dressing ship
ship
(for special occasions and holidays).
Drift
Drift angle
angle The angle between a ship’s head and the direction in which it is moving.
A conical-shaped pin gradually tapered from blunt point to a diameter a little larger than the rivet holes in which
Drift
Drift pin
pin it is to be used. The point is inserted in rivet holes that are not fair, and the other end is hammered until the holes
are forced into line.
Vessel designed for sea bed drilling operations.

Drill
Drill ship
ship

Drill ship

Drill ship

Drip
Drip pan
pan An open container, located on deck under the ends of a pipeline header to retain cargo drippage.
DRK
DRK Derrick
Drop
Drop strake
strake A strake discontinued near the bow or stern.
Cargo shipped in a dry state and in bulk; e.g., grain, cement.

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Dry
Dry bulk
bulk

Dry bulk

Dry bulk

(1) Large basin with sealing caisson for the repair and maintenance of vessels. (2) General term for basin dry
docks, floating docks or lift platforms for the maintenance and repair of vessels.

Dry dock

Dry
Dry dock
dock

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Dry dock

Dry
Dry docks
docks A dock into which a vessel is flated, the water than being removed to allow for the construction or repair of ships.
DSC
DSC Dangerous Goods, Solid Cargoes and Containers
Duct
Duct Vertical or horizontal large cross-section conduit through which piping, cabling, or fluids may be conducted.
Longitudinal passage within the double bottom, usually on the centreline, extending from the collision bulkhead
Duct
Duct keel
keel to the engine room, through which ballast, bilge, fuel and hydraulic piping may be conducted and providing
access to double-bottom spaces.
Ductility
Ductility That property of a metal which permits its being drawn out into a thread or wire.
Dumb
Dumb vessel
vessel A vessel without means of self-propulsion.
Dungarees
Dungarees Blue working overalls.
Dunnage
Dunnage Any materials used to block or brace cargo to prevent its motion, chafing, or damage and to facilitate its handling.
Materials of various types, often timber or matting, placed among the cargo for separation, and hence protection
DUNNAGE
DUNNAGE from damage, for ventilation and, in the case of certain cargoes, to provide space in which the forks of a lift truck
may be inserted.
A piece of tubing, generally brass, used with paint to transfer rivet hole layout from template to plate. The end pf
Duplicating
Duplicating pipe
pipe the pipe is dipped in paint, and while still wet is pushed through each template hole, leaving an impression on the
plate.
Dutchman
Dutchman A piece of steel fitted into an opening to cover up poor joints, or the crevices caused by poor workmanship.
DWAT
DWAT (or
(or DWT)
DWT) Deadweight. Weight of cargo, stores and water, i.e. the difference between lightship and loaded displacement.
Eagle
Eagle Flies
Flies Pay day
Easy
Easy Carefully (watch what you’re doing).
EBL
EBL Electronic Range Line
EC
EC East Coast
ECDIS
ECDIS Electronic Chart Display & Information System
ECSA
ECSA European Community Shipowners Association
EDI
EDI –– Electronic
Electronic data
data
interchange
interchange Transmission of transactional data between computer systems.

EDIFACT
EDIFACT Electronic Data Interchange for Administration, Commerce, and Trade. International data interchange standards
sponsored by United Nations.
EEDI
EEDI Energy Efficient Design Index
EETF
EETF Eastern European Terminal Forum
EEZ
EEZ Exclusive Economic Zone
EHQ
EHQ Emergency Head Quarters
EIU
EIU Even if Used
Electrode
Electrode A pole or terminal in an electrical circuit. See Polarity.
Term given to hydraulic actuation systems where the hydraulic pressure is produced by electrically driven pumps
Electro-hydraulic
Electro-hydraulic
and controlled via solenoids.
ELVENT
ELVENT Electric Ventilation
EMR
EMR Effective Mooring Revision
EMS
EMS Environmental Management System
EMSA
EMSA European Maritime Safety Authority
ENC
ENC Electronic Navigational Chart
End
End seizing
seizing A round seizing at the end of a rope.
End-for-end
End-for-end Reversing the position of an object or line.
Maximum time period (indicated in hours or days) that a vessel can operate unreplenished while performing its
Endurance
Endurance
intended role.
Space adjacent to engine room from where engine room systems may be controlled and monitored.

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Engine
Engine control
control room
room

Engine control room

Space where the main engines of a ship are located.

Engine
Engine room
room

Engine room

ENOA
ENOA Electronic Notice of Arrival
Ensign
Ensign (1) The national flag. (2) A junior officer.
Entrance
Entrance The forward under-water portion of a vessel at and near the bow.
EOS
EOS Engine Operating Station
EPA
EPA Environmental Protection Agency
EPA
EPA Estimated Position
Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon. EPIRB is a small hand-held battery-operated transmitter, actuated
by water, for use in locating vessels in distress. EPIRBs are devices that trasmit a digital signal on the international
distress signal frequency 406 MHz. Designed to work with satellites, EPIRBs are detectable by COSPAS-SARSAT
satellites, which orbit the poles, and by the GEOSAR system which consists of GOES weather satellites and other
geostationary satellites. There are two types of EPIRBs, Category I or Category II. Category I EPIRBs float-free and
are automatically activated by immersion in water, and they are detectable by satellite anywhere in the world.
EPIRB
EPIRB
Category II EPIRBs are similar to Category I, except in most cases they are manually activated, however some
models can be automatically activated.

EPIRB

EPIRB
EPIRB Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons
Erection
Erection The process of hoisting into place and joining the various parts of a ship’s hull, machinery, etc.
ESPH
ESPH Evaluation of Safety and Pollution Hazards
ETA
ETA Estimated Time of Arrival
ETC
ETC Estimated Time of Completion
ETD
ETD Estimated Time of Departure
ETOPS
ETOPS Emergency Towing-off Pennant System
ETS
ETS Environmental Tags System
ETS
ETS Estimated Time of Sailing
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ETS
ETS Estimated Time of Sailing

Even
Even keel
keel When a boat redes on an even keel, its plane of flotation is either coincident or parallel to the designed water line.
EVTMS
EVTMS Enhanced Vessel Traffic Management System
EXCOM
EXCOM Executive Committee
A term applied to a joint which permits linear movement to take up the expansion and contraction due to
Expansion
Expansion joint
joint
changes in temperature.
A raised enclosure around an opening in the top of a liquid cargo tank which allows for heat expansion of the
Expansion
Expansion trunk
trunk
cargo.
Trunkways extending a short way into oil tanker compartments from the hatches. When the compartment is
Expansion
Expansion trunks
trunks filled, the trunk is partly filled, and thus cuts down the free surface of the cargo, improving stability. Free space at
the top is left for any expansion of the oil.
EXW
EXW Ex Works
The forward end of the spacs below the upper decks of a ship which lies next abaft the stem, where the sides
Eye
Eye
approach very near to each other. The hawse pipes are usually run down through the eyes of a ship.
A bolt having either a head looped to form a worked eye, or a solid head with a hole drilled through it forming a
Eye
Eye bolt
bolt
shackle eye. Its use is similar to that of a pad eye.
Fitting used for mooring arrangements.

Eye
Eye plate
plate

Eye plate

Fabricate
Fabricate To shape, assemble and secure in place the component parts in order to form a complete job.
Face
Face plate
plate A narrow stiffening plate welded alone the edge of any web frame or stiffener.
High endurance vessels designed for processing and packing whale or fish resources off-loaded by smaller
Factory
Factory ship
ship
whaling or fishing vessels.
Fair
Fair To fair a line means to even out curves, sheer lines, deck lines etc., in drawing and mold loft work.
Correcting or fairing up a ship’s lines or structural members; assembling the parts of ship so that they will be fair,
Fairing
Fairing or
or Fairing
Fairing up
up
that is, without kinks, bumps, or waves.
A device consisting of pulleys or rollers arranged to permit the reeling in of a cable from any direction; often used
in conjunction with winches and similar apparatus.

Fairlead
Fairlead

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Fairlead

Plating fitted, in the shape of a frustrum of a cone, around the ends of shaft tubes and struts to prevent an abrupt
Fairwater
Fairwater change in the stream lines. Also any casting or plate fitted to the hull for the purpose of preserving a smooth flow
of water.
Fake
Fake A single turn of rope when a rope is coiled down.
Fake
Fake down
down To fake line back and forth on deck.
FAL
FAL Facilitation Committee
Commonly the antire length of rope used in a tackle, though strictly it means only the end to which the power is
Fall
Fall
applied.
Fantail
Fantail The overhanging stern section of a vessel, from the stern post aft.
Free Alongside Ship. Seller delivers goods to appropriate dock or terminal at port of embarkation and buyer
FAS
FAS
covers costs and risks of loading.
Fathom
Fathom Six feet. A sea-going measure of length.
Fay
Fay To unite closely two planks or plates, so as to bring the surfaces into nitimate contact.
Faying
Faying surface
surface The contact surface between two adjoining parts.
FD
FD Free of Dispatch
FDD
FDD Freight Demurrage Deadfreight
FDIS
FDIS Free Discharge
Transport service whereby loaded or empty containers in a regional are transferred to a “mother ship” for a long-
Feeder
Feeder service
service
haul ocean voyage.
Felloes
Felloes Pieces of wood which from the rim of a wheel.
Fend
Fend off
off To push off when making a landing.
This term is applied to various devices fastened to or hung over the sides of a vessel for the purpose of
preventing rubbing or chafting. On small craft, such as tug boats, it consists of a timber or steel structure running
fore and aft along the outside of the vessel above the water line. On the wearing surface. a strip of iron bark or a

piece of flat bar iron is attached.

Fender
Fender

Fender

Ferry
Ferry Vessel used to convey passengers and/or vehicles on a regular schedule between 2 or more points.
FEU
FEU Forty foot container equivalency unit Standard 40′ Container
FHEX
FHEX Fridays/Holidays Excluded
FHINC
FHINC Fridays/Holidays Included
Fid
Fid A tapered wooden pin used to separate the strands when splicing heavy rope.
Fidley
Fidley Framework built around a deck hatch ladder, leading below.
Fidley
Fidley deck
deck A partially raised deck over the engine and boiler rooms, usually around the smokestack.
Field
Field day
day A day for general ship cleaning.
Figurehead
Figurehead The bust, often of a woman, on the bow of a vessel, just under the bowscript.
Fillet
Fillet The rounded edge of a rolled steel angle or bar.
FILO
FILO Free In/Liner Out. Seafreight with which the shipper pays load costs and the carrier pays for discharge costs.
Fin
Fin A projecting keel.
Free In/Out. Freight booked FIO includes the sea freight, but no loading/discharging costs, i.e. the charterer pays
FIO
FIO
for cost of loading and discharging cargo.
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FIO
FIO
for cost of loading and discharging cargo.
FIOS
FIOS Free In/Out Stowed. As per FIO, but includes stowage costs.
Free In/Out Stowed, Lashed, Secured and Dunnaged. As per FIO, but includes cost of lashing securing and
FIOSLSD
FIOSLSD
dunnaging cargo to Masters satisfaction.
FIOST
FIOST Free In/Out and Trimmed. Charterer pays for cost of loading/discharging cargo, including stowage and trimming.
FIOT
FIOT Free In/Out and Trimmed. As per FIOS but includes trimming the leveling of bulk cargoes
A triangular-shaped steel plate used to strengthen the connection between the towing bridle and the towing
hawser.

Fish
Fish plate
plate

Fish plate

FIT
FIT Free In Trimmed
FIW
FIW Free In Wagon
Costs that do not vary with the level of activity. Some fixed costs continue even if no cargo is carried; for example,
Fixed
Fixed costs
costs
terminal bases, rent, and property taxes.
FIXING
FIXING Chartering a Vessel
The nation in which a vessel is registered and which holds legal jurisdiction as regards operation of the vessel, at
Flag
Flag State
State
home or abroad.
Flagstaff
Flagstaff Flag pole, usually at the stern of a ship, carries the ensign.
A corrosion-resistant fine wire mesh screen used to cover certain openings on tank vessels to prevent the passage
Flame
Flame screen
screen
of flame into the tank.
Flange
Flange The turned edge of a shape or girder, which acts to resist bending strain.
Outward curvature or widening of the hull above the waterline present in the bow section (of a conventional bow)
Flare
Flare
to avoid shipping water.
The spreading out from the central vertical plane of the body of a ship with increasing rapidity as the section rises
Flare
Flare
from the waterline to the rail.
Flared
Flared bow
bow A bow with an extreme flare at the upper and forcastle deck.
Flat
Flat A small partial deck, built level, without curvature.
Flemish
Flemish down
down To coil flat down on deck, each fake outside the other, beginning in the middle and all close together.
A U-shaped dock with double skins which is filled by opening up the sillcocks, and allowed to settle sothe middle
Floating
Floating drydock
drydock
section will be lower than the keel of the ship so that repairs can be made on her hull.
The length of the hull, at any point, that can fl ood without immersing the margin line. Important in studying the
Floodable
Floodable length
length
safety of ships.
Floor
Floor Vertical transverse full-breadth plating between inner bottom and bottom shell plating.
Floor
Floor plan
plan A horizontal section, showing the ship as divided at a water or deck line.
Vertical flat plates running transverse of the vessel, connecting the vertical keel with the margin plates or the
Floors
Floors
frames to which the tank top and bottom shell is fast-ened.
Flotsam
Flotsam The parts of a wrecked ship and goods lost in shipwreck, both found floating.
FLT
FLT Full Liner Terms Shipowner pays to load and discharge the cargo
Fluke
Fluke The palm of an anchor. The broad holding portion which penetrates the ground.
Flush
Flush deck
deck A deck running from stem without being broken by forecastle or poop.
Flush
Flush deck
deck hatch
hatch Hatch in a deck with no coaming.
Flush
Flush deck
deck ship
ship Vessel having an upper deck extend continuously from bow to stern.
A substance such us as borax, used in welding to help in the melting of the metal. Flux also serves to stabilize the
Flux
Flux
electric arc, steady the flow of the filler metal into the weld and protect the weld from oxidation.
FMC
FMC Federal Maritime Commission US government agency
FMS
FMS Fathoms 6 feet
FO
FO (IFO)
(IFO) Fuel Oil/Intermediate FO
Free on Board. Seller sees the goods “over the ship’s rail” on to the ship which is arranged and paid for by the
FOB
FOB buyer

Fo’c
Fo’c’sle
’sle A modem version of the old term “forecastle,” or bow section of the ship, where the crew lived.
Fodley
Fodley hatch
hatch Hatch around smokestack and uptake.
FOFFER
FOFFER Firm Offer
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FOFFER
FOFFER Firm Offer
FOG
FOG For Our Guidance
Fog
Fog horn
horn A sound signal device (not necessarily mechanically operated).
Fog-bound
Fog-bound Said of a vessel when forced to heave to or lie at anchor due to fog.
FOQ
FOQ Free On Quay
FOR
FOR Free On Rail
The tittle of a common clause in contracts, exempting the parties from nonfulfillment of their obligations as a
Force
Force majeure
majeure
result of conditions beyond their control, such as earthquakes, floods, or war.
FORCE
FORCE MAJEURE
MAJEURE Clause limiting responsibilities of the charterers, shippers and receivers due to events beyond their control.
Fore
Fore and
and aft
aft Parallel to the ship’s centerline.
Fore
Fore peak
peak The narrow extremity of a vessel’s bow. Also the hold space within it.
Tank (often for ballast/trimming) forward of the collision bulkhead.

Fore peak tank

Fore
Fore peak
peak tank
tank

Fore peak tank

Fore
Fore rake
rake The forward part of the bow which overhangs the keel.
Fore,
Fore, forward
forward Toward the stem. Between the stem and amidships.
Forebody
Forebody That part of a hull forward of amidships.
Raised and enclosed forward superstructure section of the hull.

Forecastle
Forecastle
Forecastle

A short structure at the forward end of a vessel formed by carrying up the ship’s shell plating a deck height above
Forecastle
Forecastle
the level of her uppermost complete deck and fitting a deck over the length of this structure.
Forecastle
Forecastle deck
deck A deck over the main deck at the bow.
Foredeck
Foredeck Foremost section of exposed main deck.
Forefoot
Forefoot The forward end of a vessel’s stem which is stepped on the keel.
Forehook
Forehook Or breast hook.
The bulkhead nearest the stem, which forms the after boundary of the forepeak tank. When this bulkhead is
Forepeak
Forepeak bulkhead
bulkhead
extended from the bottom of the ship to the weather deck, it is also called the collision bulkhead.
Vessel designed for the transportation of processed timber with large hatchways simplifying stowage and transfer
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Vessel designed for the transportation of processed timber with large hatchways simplifying stowage and transfer
of cargo.

Forest
Forest product
product carrier
carrier

Forest product carrier

Forging
Forging A mass of metal worked to a special shape by hammering, bending, or pressing while hot.
Fork
Fork beam
beam A half beam to support a deck where hatchways occur.
Formal
Formal safety
safety assessment
assessment (FSA)
(FSA) A process for assessing the safety of a ship by studying the risks, their likelihood and consequences.
Forty-foot
Forty-foot equivalent
equivalent unit
unit (FEU)
(FEU) Unit of measurement equivalent to one forty-foot container. Two twenty foot containers (TEUs) equal on FEU.
Forward
Forward Towards or at the fore end of a vessel. (Abbr. Fwd or For’d.)
Forward
Forward perpendicular
perpendicular A line perpendicular to the keel line, and intersecting the forward side of the stem at the designed load water line.
FOT
FOT Free On Truck
Foul
Foul Jammed, not clear.

Fouled
Fouled hawse
hawse Said of the anchor chain when moored and the chain does not lead clear of another chain.
Found
Found To fit and bed firmly. Also, equipped.
Founder
Founder To sink (out of control).
FOW
FOW (1)
(1) First Open Water
FOW
FOW (2)
(2) Free On Wharf
FPD
FPD Fall Preventing Device
Floating production, storage and offloading vessel.

FPSO
FPSO

FPSO

Vertical structural component supporting and/or stiffening hull side plating and maintaining the transverse form.

Frame
Frame

Frame

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Frame
Frame head
head The section of a frame that rises above the deck line.
Lines of a vessel as laid out on the mold loft floor, showing the form and popsition of the grames. Also the line of
Frame
Frame lines
lines
intersection of shell with heel of frame.
Frame
Frame spacing
spacing The fore-and-aft distances between frames, heel to heel.
Points at which transverse frames (or floors) are located, indicated on the baseline, numbered from zero at the aft
perpendicular and terminating at or beyond the forward perpendicular. Stations abaft the aft perpendicular are
Frame
Frame station(s)
station(s)

numbered negatively.
Frames
Frames The ribs of a ship.
FRC
FRC Fast Rescue Craft
FREE
FREE OUT
OUT Free of discharge costs to Owners
Vertical measurement from the vessel’s side amidships from the load waterline to the upperside of the freeboard
deck.

Freeboard
Freeboard Freeboard

Freeboard

The uppermost complete deck exposed to weather and sea, which has permanent means of weathertight closing
Freeboard
Freeboard deck
deck of all openings in the exposed part, and below which all openings in the vessel’s sides are fitted with permanent
means of watertight closing.
Some ships have freefall lifeboats, stored on a downward sloping slipway, dropping into the water as holdback is
released. Such lifeboats are considerably heavier to survive the impact with water. Freefall lifeboats are used for
their capability to launch nearly instantly and high reliability, and since 2006 are required on bulk carriers that are
in danger of sinking too rapidly for conventional lifeboats to be released. Tankers are required to carry fireproof
Freefall
Freefall lifeboat
lifeboat
lifeboats, tested to survive a flaming oil or petroleum product spill from the tanker. Fire protection of such boats
is provided by insulation and sprinkler system, which has pipe system on top, through which water is pumped
and sprayed to cool the surface. This system, while prone to engine failure, allows fireproof lifeboats to be built of
fiberglass and not only metal.
A large opening in the bulwark on an exposed deck of a seagoing vessel which provides for the rapid draining of
water from that deck.

Freeing
Freeing port
port

Freeing port

Heles in the bulwark or rail, which allow deck wash to drain off into the sea. Some freeing ports have swing gates
Freeing
Freeing ports
ports
which allow water to drain off but which aytomatically close from sea water pressure.
Freight,
Freight, demurrage,
demurrage, and
and Class of insurance provided by a protection and indemnity (P&I) club that covers legal costs incurred by a

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defence
defence shipowner in connection with claims arising from the operation of the ship.
Freighter
Freighter A ship designed to carry all types of general cargo, or “dry cargo.”
FSE
FSE Free Surface Effect
FSG
FSG Floating Systems Group
FSI
FSI Flag State Implementation
FSS
FSS Fire Safety Systems
FSU
FSU Floating Storage Unit
External fairing through which exhaust ducting is conducted.

Funnel
Funnel

Funnel

Strips of timber or boards fastened to frames, joists, etc., in order to bring their faces to the required shape or
Furrings
Furrings
level, for attachment of sheating, ceiling, flooring etc.
FWAD
FWAD Fresh Water Arrival Draft
FWDD
FWDD Fresh Water Departure Draft
FYG
FYG For Your Guidance
FYI
FYI For Your Information
G.I.
G.I. Anything of Government Issue.
GA
GA General Average
Gadget
Gadget A slang term applied to various fittings.
Gage
Gage A standard of measure.

Galley
Galley Kitchen compartment aboard a vessel.
The process of coating one metal with another, ordinarily applied to the coating or iron or steel with zinc. The
Galvanizing
Galvanizing
chief purpose of galvanizing is to prevent corrosion.
Gang
Gang board
board Same as gang plank.
Gang
Gang plank
plank A board with cleats forming a bridge reaching from a gengway of a vessel to the wharf.
Gangway
Gangway The opening in the bulkwarks of a vessel through which persons come on board of disembark. Also a gang plank.
Gantline
Gantline A line rove through a single block secured aloft.
High level structure supporting a traversing lifting appliance.

Gantry
Gantry
Gantry

Garboard
Garboard strake
strake Strake (line) of shell plating immediately adjacent to the keel (centreline) plating.
A strake which ends before reaching the stem or stern post. Such strakes are laid at or near the middle of the
Garboard
Garboard strake
strake
ship’s sides to lessen the spiling of the plating.
Tanker designed for the transportation of liquefied gases.

Gas
Gas carrier
carrier

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Gas carrier

Gas
Gas free
free The process of removing all hazardous gases and residues from the compartments of a vessel
Gasket
Gasket An elastic packing material used for making joints watertight.
Packing materials, by which air, water, oil, or steam tightness is secured in such places as on doors, hatches,
Gaskets
Gaskets steam cylinders, manhole covers, or in valves, between the flanges of pipes, etc. Such materials as rubber, canvas,
asbestos, paper, sheet lead and copper, soft iron, and commercial products are extensively used.
Gateway
Gateway A point at which freight moving from one territory to another is interchanged between trasportation lines.
Gather
Gather way
way To attain headway (to get going or pick up speed).
A waterway marker which measures the level of the water in foot increments; also refers to the specific measure
Gauge
Gauge
on the gauge.
GBS
GBS Goal Based Standard

Gear
Gear The general name for ropes, blocks and tackles, tools, etc. (things).
Highly detailed plan drawings of the general layout of a vessel.

General
General arrangement
arrangement

General arrangement

GHG
GHG Green House Gas
Gib
Gib A metal fitting that holds a member in place, or presses two members together.
Gilguy
Gilguy (or
(or gadget)
gadget) A term used to designate an object for which the correct name has been forgotten.
Gipsey
Gipsey (gypsey)
(gypsey) A drum of a windlass for heaving in line.
(1) Longitudinal continuous member with a vertical web providing support of deck beams. (2) Longitudinal
Girder
Girder
continuous vertical plating on the bottom of single- or double-bottomed vessels.
The distance measured on any frame line, from the intersection of the upper deck with the side, around the body
Girth
Girth of the vessel to corresponding point on the opposite side. The half gith is taken from the center line of the keel to
the upper deck beam end.
GISIS
GISIS Global Integrated Shipping Information System
Glass
Glass Term used by mariners for a barometer.
Glory
Glory hole
hole Steward’s quarters.
GLS
GLS Gearless
Global Maritime Distress Safety System. The GMDSS is an internationally agreed-upon set of safety procedures,
types of equipment, and communication protocols used to increase safety and make it easier to rescue distressed
ships, boats and aircraft. GMDSS consists of several systems, some of which are new, but many of which have
been in operation for many years. The system is intended to perform the following functions: alerting (including
position determination of the unit in distress), search and rescue coordination, locating (homing), maritime safety
information broadcasts, general communications, and bridge-to-bridge communications. Specific radio carriage
requirements depend upon the ship’s area of operation, rather than its tonnage. The system also provides
redundant means of distress alerting, and emergency sources of power.

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MARITIME DICTIONARY – Officer of the Watch 15/12/24, 15:41

GMDSS
GMDSS

GMDSS

GMPHOM
GMPHOM Guide to Manufacturing & Purchasing Hoses for Offshore Moorings
GN
GN (or
(or GR)
GR) Grain (capacity)
GNCN
GNCN Gencon a standard BIMCO charter party form
GNSS
GNSS Global Navigation Satellite Systems
GO
GO Gas Oil
Go
Go adrift
adrift Break loose.
Golden
Golden Slippers
Slippers Tan work shoes issued to U.S. Maritime Service trainees

A return, or 180o bend, having one leg shorterthan the other. An iron swivel making up the fastening between a
Gooseneck
Gooseneck
boom and a mast. It consists of a pintle and an eyebolt, or clamp.
Gouge
Gouge Atool with an half round cutting edge used to cut grooves.
GPC
GPC General Purposes Committee
Grapnel
Grapnel A small anchor with several arms used for dragging purposes.
A wooden lattice-work covering a hatch or the bottom boards of a boat; similarly designed gratings of metal are
Grating
Grating
frequently found on shipboard.
Grating
Grating An open iron lattice work used for covering hatchways and platforms.
Graveyard
Graveyard watch
watch The middle watch.
A dry dock. The vessel is floated in, and gates at the entrance closed when the tide is at ebb. The remaining water
Graving
Graving docks
docks
isthen pumped out, and the vessel’s bottom is graved, or cleaned.
GRD
GRD Geared
Green
Green sea
sea A large body of water taken aboard (ship a sea).
Grids
Grids Metal protective bars of sea chests and propeller thrusters.
Gripe
Gripe The sharp forward end of the dished keel on which the stem is fixed.
A reing of fiber usually soaked in red lead or some other packing material, and used under the heads of bolts and
Grommet
Grommet
nuts to preserve tightness.
A formula-derived measure of the internal (enclosed) volume of a vessel less certain excluded spaces. (Stated in

Gross
Gross registered
registered tonnage
tonnage volumetric tons where 1 ton = 100 ft3 , 2.8317 m3.) (Abbr. grt.)

Gross
Gross tons
tons The volume measurement of the internal voids of a vessel wherein 100 cu. ft. equals one ton.
Ground
Ground tackle
tackle A term used to cover all of the anchor gear.
Grounding
Grounding Running ashore (hitting the bottom).
Large pieces of timber laid across the ways on which the keel blocks are placed. Also the large blocks and plans
Groundways
Groundways
which support the cradle on which a ship is launched.
The grouping together of several compatible consignments into a full container load. Also referred to as
Groupage
Groupage
consolidation.
GRP
GRP Glass Reinforced Plastic
GRT
GRT Gross Registered Tonnage
GSB
GSB Good Safe Berth
GSP
GSP Good Safe Port

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GTEE
GTEE Guarantee
Gudgeon
Gudgeon A metallic eye bolted to the stern post, on which the rubber is hung.
Gunwale
Gunwale The upper edge of a vessel or boat’s side.
Gunwale
Gunwale (gunnel)
(gunnel) That part of a barge or boat where the main deck and the side meet.
Gunwale
Gunwale bar
bar A term applied to the bar connecting a stringer plate on a weather deck to the sheer strake.
A steel plate used for reinforcing or bracing the junction of other steel members.

Gusset
Gusset

Gusset

Gusset
Gusset plate
plate A tie plate, used for fastening posts, frames, beams, etc., to other objects.
Gutter
Gutter ledge
ledge A bar laid across a hatchway to support the hatches.
Gutterway
Gutterway The sunken trough on the shelter deck outer edge which disposes of the water from the deck wash.
Wire or hemp rope or chains to support nooms, davits, ets., laterally. Guys are employed in pairs. Where a span is
Guys
Guys
fitted between two booms, for example, one pair only is required for the two.
The distance from the centre of gravity to the line of action of the buoyancy force. It is a measure of a ship’s
GZ
GZ
ability to resist heeling moments.
HA
HA Hatch
HAEMHF
HAEMHF Hose Ancillary Equipment & Managing Hoses in the Field
Hail
Hail To address a vessel, to come from, as to hail from some port (call).
Half
Half deck
deck A short deck below the main deck.
Half
Half model
model A modle of one side of a ship, on which the plate lines are drawn in.
A plan or top view of half of a ship divided longitudinally. It shows the water lines, bow and buttock lines, and
Half-breadth
Half-breadth plan
plan
diagonal lines of construction.
Half-mast
Half-mast The position of a flag when lowered halfway down.
Halliards
Halliards or
or halyards
halyards Ropes used for hoisting gaffs and sails, and signal flags.
Hand
Hand A member of the ship’s company.
A lead of from 7 to 14 pounds used with the hand lead line for ascertaining the depth of water in entering or
Hand
Hand lead
lead
leaving a harbor. (Line marked to 20 fathoms.)
Hand
Hand rail
rail A steadying rail of a ladder (banister).
Hand
Hand rope
rope Same as “grab rope” (rope).
Hand
Hand taut
taut As tight as can be pulled by hand.
Term used in contracts, meaning the process of providing exclusive, unencumbered, peaceful, and vacant
possession of and access to a concession area and the existing operational port infrastructure and also all rights,
Hand-over
Hand-over
title and interest in all the movable assets and all the facilities by the government or the port authority on the
hand over date for the conduct of terminal operations.
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hand over date for the conduct of terminal operations.

Handybilly
Handybilly A watch tackle (small, handy block and tackle for general use).
Handymax
Handymax Dry bulk carrier of 35 – 50,000 tonnes deadweight, popular for full efficiency, flexibility and low draft (<12 m).

Handysize
Handysize A term applied to bulk carriers of 40 000–65 000 DWT.
Dangle a man from one of the yard arms, sometimes by the neck, if the man was to be killed, and sometimes by
Hang
Hang from
from the
the yards
yards the toes, if he was merely to be tortured. A severe punishment used aboard sailing ships long ago. Today, a
reprimand.
Hard
Hard patch
patch A plate riveted over another plate to cover a hole or break.
The fore parts of the wales of a vessel which compass her bows and are fastened to the stem, thickened to
Harpings
Harpings
withstand plunging.
Opening in a deck providing access for cargo, personnel, stores, etc.

Hatch
Hatch

Hatch

Hatch
Hatch bars
bars The bars by which the hatches are fastened down.
Raised rim of vertical plating around a hatchway to prevent entrance of water, the upper edge of which forms a
sealing surface with the hatch-lid or cover.

Hatch
Hatch coaming
coaming

Hatch coaming

One of the large square openings in the deck of a ship through which freight is hoisted in or out, and access is
had to the hold. There are four pieces in the frame of a hatchway. The fore-and-aft pieces are called coaming and
Hatchway
Hatchway
those athwartship are called head ledges. The head ledges rest on the beams and the carlines extending between
the beams. There may be forward, main and after hatcheays, according to the size and character of the vessel.
Hawse
Hawse The part of a ship’s bow in which are the hawse holes for the anchor chains.
Hawse
Hawse buckler
buckler An iron plate covering a hawse hole.
A hole in the boow through which a cable or chain passes. It is a cast steel tube, having rounded projecting lipe
Hawse
Hawse hole
hole
both inside and out.
Steel pipe duct through which the anchor cable is led overboard.

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Hawse
Hawse pipe
pipe

Hawse pipe

Hawse
Hawse plug
plug or
or block
block A stopper used to prevent water from entering the hawse hole in heavy weather.
Hawse-pipes
Hawse-pipes A pipe lead-in for anchor chain through ship’s bow.
A large circumference rope used for towing or mooring a vessel or for securing it at a dock.

Hawser

Hawser
Hawser

Hawser

Hawser-laid
Hawser-laid Left-handed rope of nine strands, in the form of three three-stranded, right-handed ropes.
HCFC
HCFC Hydro Chloro Fluoro Carbons
HDWTS
HDWTS Half Dispatch Working Time Saved
Head
Head (1) The bow of a vessel. (2) Term given to toilet facilities usually in the smaller craft context.
Head
Head ledges
ledges See Hatchway
Head
Head of
of navigation
navigation The uppermost limit of navigation from the mouth of a waterway.
Head
Head room
room The height of the decks, below decks.
The reinforced, vertical plate which connects the bow rake bottom to the rake deck of a barge or square-stemmed
Headlog
Headlog
boat.
Heart
Heart The inside center strand of rope.
The vertical movement of a ship, as a rigid body, in a seaway.

Heave
Heave
Heave

Heave
Heave around
around To revolve the drum of a capstan, winch or windlass. (Pulling with mechanical deck heaving gear).
Heave
Heave away
away An order to haul away or to heave around a capstan (pull).
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Heave
Heave away
away An order to haul away or to heave around a capstan (pull).
Heave
Heave in
in To haul in.
Heave
Heave short
short To heave in until the vessel is riding nearly over her anchor.
Heave
Heave taut
taut To haul in until the line has a strain upon it.
Heave
Heave the
the lead
lead The operation of taking a sounding with the hand lead (to find bottom).
To bring vessel on a course on which she rides easily and hold her there by the use of the ship’s engines (holding
Heave
Heave to
to
a position).
Heaving
Heaving line
line A small line thrown to an approaching vessel, or a dock as a messenger.
Vessel designed specifically for the loading/discharge and transportation of very heavy cargoes.

Heavy-lift vessel
Heavy-lift
Heavy-lift vessel
vessel

Heavy-lift vessel

Inclination of a vessel to one side. [Alt list.]

Heel

Heel
Heel

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Heel

Height
Height Vertical distance between any two decks, or vertical distance measured from the base line to any water line.
Helm
Helm A term applied to the tiller, wheel, or steering gear, and also the rubber.
Helm
Helm port
port The hole in the counter of a vessel through which the rubber stock passes.
Rope made of the fibers of the hemp plant and used for small stuff or less than 24 thread (1.75 inch
Hemp
Hemp
circumference). (Rope is measured by circumference, wire by diameter.)
HGWG
HGWG Mercury Working Group
High,
High, wide
wide and
and handsome
handsome Sailing ship with a favorable wind, sailing dry and easily. A person riding the crest of good fortune
A method of towing whereby the vessel being towed is secured along-side the towboat

Hip
Hip towing
towing (hipping)
(hipping)

hip-towing-hipping

HMS
HMS Heavy Metal Scrap
HNS
HNS Hazardous and Noxious Substances
HO
HO Hold

Hog
Hog A scrub-broom for scraping a ship’s bottom under water.
Hog
Hog frame
frame A fore-and-aft frame, forming a truss for the main frames of a vessel, to prevent bending.
Hog
Hog sheer
sheer The curve of the deck on a vessel constructed so that the middle is higher than the ends.
Hogged
Hogged A ship that is damaged or strained so that the bottom curves upward in the middle opposite of sagged.
A ship is said to hog when the hull is bent concave downwards by the forces acting on it. Hogging is the opposite
of sagging.

Hogging
Hogging

Hogging

Hoist
Hoist away
away An order to haul up.

Hold
Hold That part of a ship where cargo or supplies are carried.
Hold
Hold beams
beams The beams that support the lower deck in a cargo vessel.
Hold
Hold fast
fast A dog or brace to hold objects rigidly in place.
Holiday
Holiday An imperfection, spots left unfinished in cleaning or painting.
Holy
Holy stone
stone The soft sandstone block sailors use to scrub the deck, so-called, because seamen were on their knees to use it.
Hood
Hood A covering for a companion hatch, scuttle or skylight.
Hooding-end
Hooding-end The endmost plate of a complete strake. The hooding-ends fit into the stem or stern post.
Barge designed with a single hopper type hold for the transport of bulk cargo and where the cargo is discharged
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Barge designed with a single hopper type hold for the transport of bulk cargo and where the cargo is discharged
(dumped) through the bottom of the vessel.

hopper barge

Hopper
Hopper barge
barge

Hopper barge

Lower side ballast tank in a bulk carrier, shaped and positioned to create a hopper form to the cargo hold.

Hopper
Hopper tank
tank

Hopper tank

A fitting, usually with two horn-shaped ends, to which lines are made fast. The classic cleat is almost anvil-shaped.

Horn cleat

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Horn
Horn cleat
cleat

Horn cleat

Setting the frames of a vessel square to the keel after the proper inclination to the vertical due to the declivity of
Horning
Horning
the keel has been given.
Horse
Horse latitudes
latitudes The latitudes on the outer margins of the trades where the prevailing winds are light and variable.
A standard unit of power which is often classified in connection with engines as brake, continuous input,
Horsepower
Horsepower
intermittent, output, or shaft horsepower.
A small, light plate fitted on the counter around the rubber stock for the purpose of preventing water from
Horseshoe
Horseshoe plate
plate
backing up into the rudder trunk. Frequently it is made in two pieces.
Hounding
Hounding That portion of a mast between the deck and the hounds.
The mast head projections which support the trestle trees and top. Also applied in vessels without trestle trees to
Hounds
Hounds
that portion at which the hound band for attaching the shrouds is fitted.
House
House To stow or secure in a safe place. A top-mast is housed by lowering it and securing it to a lowermast.
House
House flag
flag Distinguishing flag of a merchant marine company flown from the mainmast of merchant ships.
Housing
Housing That portion of a mast below the surface of the upper deck.
Vessel designed to ride on a cushion of air formed by downthrusting fans.

Hovercraft
Hovercraft

Hovercraft

HP
HP Horse Power

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HP
HP Horse Power
HRU
HRU Hydrostatic Release Unit
HSSC
HSSC Harmonised System of Survey and Certification
Hug
Hug To keep close.
Hulk
Hulk A worn out vessel.
The main body or primary part providing global strength, buoyancy and hydrodynamic qualities of a vessel.

Hull
Hull

Hull

Hull
Hull down
down Said of a vessel when, due to its distance on the horizon, only the masts are visible.
Hull
Hull girder
girder Combined hull structure contributing to the longitudinal global strength of a hull treated as analogous to a girder.
Hurricane
Hurricane Force of wind over 65 knots.
Hurricane
Hurricane deck
deck Same as bridge.
HW
HW High Water
HWP
HWP Hot Work Permit
High-speed craft with immersed foils for developing hydrodynamic lift at speed and a consequential reduction in
resistance.

hydrofoil
Hydrofoil
Hydrofoil

Hydrofoil

Hydrographic
Hydrographic vessel
vessel Vessel designed for the survey of seabed topography, currents, etc., relevant to marine navigation.
Hydroplane
Hydroplane Rotatable lateral fin providing vertical directional control for submersible craft.

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Hydroplane
Hydroplane Rotatable lateral fin providing vertical directional control for submersible craft.
Hydrostatic
Hydrostatic test
test A pressure test employing a static head of water applied to various compartments or components of a vessel.
IAAP
IAAP International Air Pollution Prevention
IACS
IACS International Association of Clasification Societies
IADC
IADC International Association of Drilling Contractors
IAMSAR
IAMSAR International Aeronautical and Maritime Search and Rescue Manual
IAPH
IAPH International Association of Ports and Harbors
IATA
IATA International Air Transport Association
IBC
IBC Intermediate Bulk Container
I-Beam
I-Beam A structural shape with cross section resembling the letter I.
IBTS
IBTS Integrated Bilge Treatment System
Vessel designed for transiting sea ice or for the purpose of creating a channel in polar or winter ice for the
passage of other vessels.

Ice
Ice breaker
breaker

Ice breaker

Ice-bound
Ice-bound Caught in the ice.
ICS
ICS International Chamber of Shipping
ICSW
ICSW International Committee on Seafarers’ Welfare
A term applied to several piles that are bound together situated either at the corner of a pier or out in the stream
Idolphin
Idolphin
and used for docking and warping vessels.
IEA
IEA International Energy Agency
IFO
IFO Intermediate Fuel Oil
IFSMA
IFSMA International Federation of Shipmaster’s Association
IHO
IHO International Hydro graphic Organization
IIP
IIP International Ice Patrol
ILG
ILG Industry Lifeboat Group
IMB
IMB International Maritime Bureau
IMDG
IMDG International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code
IMHA
IMHA International Maritime Health Association
IMO
IMO International Maritime Organisation
IMOSAR
IMOSAR IMO Search & Rescue manual
IMPA
IMPA International Marine Purchasing Association
IMSBC
IMSBC International Maritime Solid Bulk Cargo Code
Inboard
Inboard Towards the center line of a ship (towards the center).
A plan representing a longitudinal section through the center of the vessel, showing heights of decks, location of
Inboard
Inboard profile
profile transverse bulkheads, assignment of various spaces and all machinery, etc., located on the center or betweenthe
center and the shell on the port side.
IND
IND Indication
Placing a port on a vessel’s itinerary because the volume of cargo offered by that port justifies the cost of routing
Inducement
Inducement
the vessel.
A gas such as carbon dioxide or nitrogen that is used to make an oxygen deficient atmosphere. Inerted tanks are
Inert
Inert Gas
Gas

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A gas such as carbon dioxide or nitrogen that is used to make an oxygen deficient atmosphere. Inerted tanks are
Inert
Inert Gas
Gas
useful for preserving cargo integrity and reducing the explosive potential of cargo tanks.
Inerted
Inerted Implies that a tank is filled with an inert gas.

INF
INF Irradiated Nuclear Fuel
A measurement of liquid cargo in a tank. It is the distance from the top of the cargo to the bottom of the tank. It
Innage
Innage
is the opposite of ullage.
Inner
Inner bottom
bottom The tank top.
A plated surface or “shell” inside the outer shell plating, used as additional protection in case of collision or other
Inner
Inner Shell
Shell accidents. The space between the inner and outer shells is often used as a storage space for liquid ballast or
cargo.
Inserted
Inserted packing
packing red
red lead
lead Soaked canvas strip placed between connections that cannot be caulked successfully; stop waters.
A tow of box-ended barges which, as a complete unit, is raked at the bow, boxed at the intermediate connections,
Integrated
Integrated tow
tow
and boxed or raked at the stern.
Plates which fit between floors to stiffen the double bottom of a ship. Intercostal comes from the Latin words
Intercostals
Intercostals
inter, meaning between, and costa, meaning rib.
Movement of cargo containers interchangeably between trasport modes where the equipment is compatible
Intermodal
Intermodal
within the multiple systems.
INTERMODAL
INTERMODAL Carriage of a commodity by different modes of transport, i.e. sea, road, rail and air within a single journey.
IOPC
IOPC International Oil Pollution Compensation
IPIECA
IPIECA International Petroleum Industry Environmental Conservation Association
Irish
Irish pennant
pennant An untidy loose end of a rope (or rags).
IRTC
IRTC International Recommended Transit Corridor
ISAN
ISAN Indigenous Shipowners Association of Nigeria
ISCC
ISCC International Ship Security Certificate
ISGOTT
ISGOTT International Oil Tanker & Terminal Safety Code
A method of framing a vessel which employs closely spaced longitudinals, with extra heavy floors spaced further
Isherwood
Isherwood system
system
apart.
ISOA
ISOA International Stability Operations Association
ISPPC
ISPPC International Sewage Pollution Prevention Certificate
ISTEC
ISTEC Intertanko Technical Committee
ISWG
ISWG Intersessional Working Group on Maritime Security
ITC
ITC International Tonnage Certificate
ITF
ITF International Transport Federation
ITOPF
ITOPF International Tanker Owners Pollution Federation
IU
IU If Used
IUATUTC
IUATUTC If Used, Actual Time Used To Count
IUHATUTC
IUHATUTC If Used, Half Actual Time Used To Count
IWL
IWL Institute Warranty Limits
Jack
Jack The flag similar to the union of the national flag.
Jack
Jack ladder
ladder A ladder with wooden steps and side rops
Sailors were once called by their first names only, and Jack was their generic name. Tar came from seamen’s
Jack
Jack Tar
Tar custom of waterproofing clothing using tar.

Jackstaff
Jackstaff Flagpole at the bow of a ship.
Jacob’s
Jacob’s ladder
ladder A ladder of rope with rungs, used over the side.
Jam
Jam To wedge tight.
Jetsam
Jetsam Items that are thrown overboard from a vessel in distress. Discarded cargo that washes ashore.
Jettison
Jettison To throw goods overboard.
Jetty
Jetty A landing wharf or pier; a dike at a river s mouth.
Jews
Jews harp
harp The ring bolted to the upper end of the shank of an anchor and to which the bending shackle secures.

The arm or boom of a crane providing the reach (working radius).

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Jib
Jib

Jib

The lap a joint by keeping one edge straight and bending the other, in order to leave both surface even on one
Joggle
Joggle
side.
Jolly
Jolly Roger
Roger A pirate’s flag carrying the skull and cross-bones.
That portion of a shaft or other revolving member shich transmits weight directly to end is in immediate contact
Journal
Journal
with the bearing in which it turns.
Jumbo
Jumbo derrick
derrick A derrick designed with a very high lifting capacity, often installed on heavy-lift vessels.
The conversion of a vessel to increase displacement by means of a mid-length transverse cut and the installation
Jumboising
Jumboising
of a new section.
Jump
Jump ship
ship To leave a ship without authority (deserting).
Jury
Jury A term applied to temporary structures, such as masts, rubbers, etc., used in an emergency.
Jury
Jury rig
rig Makeshift rig (emergency rig).
The lowest structural member of a ship or boat which runs the length of the vessel at the centerline and to which
Keel
Keel
the frames are attached.
Lowest longitudinal strake of plating along the bottom centreline of the hull.

Keel
Keel (plate)
(plate)

Keel (plate)

Keel
Keel block(s)
block(s) Support block(s) located beneath the keel strake which are employed during dry-docking of a vessel.
Keel
Keel blocks
blocks Blocks on which the keel of a vessel rests when being built, or when she is in a drydock.
A bracket, usually a triangular plate, connecting the vertical keel and flat keel plates, between the frames or floors
Keel
Keel bracket
bracket
of a ship.
In dry docking, the weight of a ship is carried almost entirely on the keelson provide the means of distributing the
pressure on the center line and docking keels composed of doubling strips of plate or built-up girders are
Keel
Keel docking
docking
sometimes fitted on the bottom at a distance from the center line corresponding to the best position for the bilge
block. The docking keels are fitted in a fore-and-sft direction, generally parallel or nearly so to the keel.
Keel
Keel line
line An imaginary line describing the lowest portion of a vessel’s hull.
Keel
Keel rider
rider A plate running along the top of the floors and connecting to the vertical keel.
To tie a rope about a man and, after passing the rope under the ship and bringing it up on deck on the opposite
side, haul away, dragging the man down and around the keel of the vessel. As the bottom of the ship was always
Keel-haul
Keel-haul
covered with sharp barnacles, this was a severe punishment used aboard sailing ships long ago. Today, a
reprimand.
Keelson
Keelson Longitudinal vertical member above the keel to which frames are attached. (Wooden construction.)
A look-out is stationed in a position to watch for danger ahead. To be on guard against sudden opposition or
Keep
Keep aa sharp
sharp look-out
look-out
danger.

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A detachable shackle which is used to join two forged anchor chain links together.

Kenter
Kenter shackle
shackle
Kenter shackle

Kentledge
Kentledge Pig iron used either as temporary weight for inclining a vessel or as permanent ballast.
In joiner work, a slit or cut made by a saw. Kerfs are made where timber joints require adjusting. Also applied to
Kerf
Kerf
the channel burned out by a cutting torch.
A heavy, metal deck fitting having two horn-shaped arms projecting outward around which lines may be made
fast for towing or mooring of a vessel hull.

Kevel
Kevel (caval)
(caval)

kevel

King
King posts
posts The main center pillar posts of the ship. May be used as synonym for samson post.
The upper spoke of a steering wheel when the rudder is amidships, usually marked in some fashion (top spoke of
King-spoke
King-spoke
neutral steering wheel).

Kink
Kink A twist in a rope.
Knee
Knee Outdated term for a bracket connecting a deck beam and side frame.
Knock
Knock off
off To stop, especially to stop work.
Knocked
Knocked down
down The situation of a vessel when listed over by the wind to such an extent that she does not recover.
Knot
Knot One nautical mile per hour (1.852 km/h, 0.5144 m/s).
A twisting, turning, tying, knitting, or entangling of ropes or parts of a rope so as to join two ropes together or

Knot
Knot (rope)
(rope) make a finished end on a rope, for certain purpose.

Knuckle
Knuckle Abrupt change in direction of hull surface or structure.
Knuckle
Knuckle line
line A line on the stern of a ship, on the cant frames, which divides the upper and lower parts of the stern.!
Knuckle
Knuckle plate
plate A plate bent to form a knuckle.
A steel tube that surrounds a propeller, directing the water and improving efficiency.Kort nozzles are engineered
Kort
Kort nozzles
nozzles
to improve the flow around the propellers. They are similar in some ways to an airplane propeller.
KPI
KPI Key Performance Indicator
Labor
Labor A vessel is said to labor when she works heavily in a seaway (pounding, panting, hogging and sagging).
Ladder
Ladder A metal, wooden or rope stairway.
Lame
Lame duck
duck Term for disabled vessel that had to fall out of a convoy and thus became easy prey for submarines.
Landing
Landing The spaced distance from the edge of a bar or plate to the center of the rivet holes.
Flat-bottomed shallow-draft vessel designed to beach, with a bow and/or stern ramp for the transfer of
Landing
Landing craft
craft
cargo/payload.
Landing
Landing edge
edge Opposite of sight edge, which see.
Large naval vessel capable of carrying small landing craft and amphibious vehicles, despatched via a floodable
Landing
Landing ship
ship dock
dock
stern dock within the hull.
Landing
Landing strake
strake The second strake from the gunwale.
Landlubber
Landlubber The seaman’s term for one who does not go to sea.
A method of measuring the space capacity of Ro/Ro ships whereby each unit of space (Linear Meter) is
LANE
LANE METER
METER
represented by an area of deck 1.0 meter in length x 2.0 meters in width.
Lanyard
Lanyard A rope made fast to an article for securing it (knife lanyard, bucket lanyard, etc.), or for setting up rigging.
Lap
Lap A term applied to the distance that one pieces is laid over the other in making a lap joint.
Applied to boats built on the clinker system, in which the starkes overlap each other. The top strake always laps
Lapstrake
Lapstrake
on the outside of the strake underneath.
Abbreviaton for “lighter aboard ship”. A specially constructed vessel equipped with an overhead traveling gantry
LASH
LASH crane for lifting specially designed barges out of water and stowing them into the cellular holds of the vessel as
well.
LASH
LASH (1)
(1) To hold goods in position by use of Ropes, Wires, Chains or Straps etc.
LASH
LASH (2)
(2) Lighter Aboard Ship a vessel that loads small barges direct from the water

Lashing
Lashing A passing and repassing of a rope so as to confine or fasten together two or more objects; usuafly in the form of a
bunch.

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LAT
LAT Latitude
Launch
Launch To place in the water.
Lay
Lay aloft
aloft The order to go aloft (go up above).
Placing the necessary instructions on plates, shapes, etc., for planing, shearing, punching, bending, flanging,
Laying
Laying out
out
beveling, rolling, etc., from the templates made in the mold loft or taken from the ship.
Lazaretto
Lazaretto A low headroom space below decks used for provisions or spare parts, or miscellaneous storage.
Lazy
Lazy guy
guy A light rope or trackle by which a boom is prevented from swinging around.

LDL
LDL Limiting Danger Line
Lee
Lee shore
shore The land to the leeward of the vessel (wind blows from the ship to the land).
Leeward
Leeward The direction away from the wind.
LEG
LEG Legal Committee
The length of a ship measures from the forward side of stem to the aft side of the stern post at the height of the
Length
Length between
between perpendiculars
perpendiculars
designed water line.
Length
Length over
over all
all The length of a ship measured from the foremost point of the stem to the aftermost part of the stern.
Liberty
Liberty Permission to be absent from the ship for a short period (authorized absence).
Rigid-hulled survival craft deployed from a parent vessel.

Lifeboat
Lifeboat

Lifeboat

A line secured along the deck to lay hold of in heavy weather; a line thrown on board a wreck by life-saving crew;
Life-line
Life-line
a knotted line secured to the span between life-boat davits for the use of the crew when hoisting and lowering.
Is to construct a template to the same size and shape as the part of the ship involved. To lay aot a template is to
Lift
Lift aa template
template
transfer the size and shape into the material and work it into the fabricated object.
Transferring marks and measurements from a drwing, model, etc., to a plate or other object, by templates or
Lifting
Lifting
other means.
Lifting
Lifting gear
gear The lifting equipment (i.e., cranes) for loading and discharging operations.
Light
Light load
load line
line The water line when the ship rides empty.

A thick glass, usually circular in shape, fitted in a frame fixed in an opening in a ship’s side, deck house, or
Light,
Light, fixed
fixed
bulkhead to provide access for light. The fixed light is not hinged.
Large hole cut in a structural member to reduce its weight.

Lightening
Lightening hole
hole

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Lightening hole

A full-bodied, heavily built craft, usually not self-propelled, used in bringingmarchandise or cargo alongside or in
Lighter
Lighter
transferring same from a vessel.
Lightship
Lightship The vessel condition without any form of deadweight aboard (incl.fuel and ballast).
Limber
Limber chains
chains Chains passing through the limber holes of a vessel, by which they may be cleared of dirt.
Limber
Limber hole
hole Small hole or slot cut in a structural member to permit the drainage of liquid.
Holes in the bottoms of floors throught which bilge water runs through tank sections to a seepage basin, where it
Limber
Limber holes
holes
is then pumped out. The row of holes constitutes the limber passage.
Limber
Limber strake
strake The strake on the inner skin of a vessel which is nearest to the keel.
Line
Line A general term for light rope.
Line
Line haul
haul The movement of freight over the tracks of a transportation line from one location (port or city) to another.
Liner
Liner Vessel (over 1000 grt) operating on a regular route between ports according to a particular schedule.
Lines
Lines The ropes or cables used on a vessel for towing, mooring, or lashing.
Plans indicating the hull form via the inclusion of waterlines, buttock lines and section lines shown on profile,
plan and end views.

Lines
Lines plan
plan

Lines plan

List
List To learn to one side.
LL
LL Load Line
LMAA
LMAA London Maritime Arbitrators Association
LNG
LNG Liquefied Natural Gas
Vessel designed to transport natural gas in liquefied form.

LNG
LNG carrier
carrier

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LNG carrier

LOA
LOA Length Overall of the vessel
Load
Load eater
eater line
line The water line when the ship is loaded.
Markings on the ship’s side defi ning the minimum freeboard allowable in different ocean areas and different
seasons of the year. Also known as Plimsol mark.

Load
Load line
line markings
markings

Load line markings

Locker
Locker A storage compartment in a ship.
Loftsman
Loftsman A man who lays out the ship’s lines in the mold loft and makes the molds or templates therefrom.
A continuous operating record of a ship kept by one of its officers. In it are recorded daily all important events
Log
Log book
book
occurring on board, also the condition of the weather, the ship’s position and other data.
A ship which is slightly unstable in the vertical position will heel until the GZ curve becomes zero. It is said to loll
Loll
Loll
and the angle it takes up is the angle of loll.
Lo-lo
Lo-lo (lift
(lift on-lift-off)
on-lift-off) Cargo handling method by which vessels are loaded or unloaded by either ship or shore cranes.
A line in the fore and aft direction parallel to the centreline. Also refers to a longitudinal stiffener running parallel
Longitudinal
Longitudinal
(or nearly parallel) to the centreline.
A partition wall of planking or plating running in a fore-and-aft direction. Oil tankers are required to have at least
Longitudinal
Longitudinal bulkhead
bulkhead
one fore-and-aft bulkhead in the cargo oil space. Fore-and-aft bulkheads are very common on warships.
The fore and aft location of the centre of buoyancy.

Longitudinal
Longitudinal centre
centre of
of buoyancy
buoyancy
(LCB)
(LCB)

Longitudinal centre of buoyancy (LCB)

Longitudinal
Longitudinal centre
centre of
of gravity
gravity
The fore and aft location of the centre of gravity.
(LCG)
(LCG)
Longitudinal
Longitudinal stability
stability The stability of a ship for rotation (trim) about a transverse axis.
Longshoreman
Longshoreman A laborer who works at loading and discharging cargo.
Lookout
Lookout The man stationed aloft or in the bows for observing and reporting objects seen.
The part of an oar between the blade and handle. The reflection of a light below the horizon due to certain
Loom
Loom
atmospheric conditions.
Loose
Loose To unfurl.
LOP
LOP Lines of Position

A small opening to permit the passage of air for the purpose or ventilation, which may by partially or completely
Louver
Louver
closedby the operation of overlapping shutters.
LOW
LOW Last Open Water
Liquefied Petroleum Gas

LPG
LPG
LPG carrier

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LPG carrier

LPG
LPG carrier
carrier Vessel designed to transport petroleum gas in a form of butane or propane.

LRIT
LRIT Long Range Identification & Tracking of Ships
LS
LS (or
(or LUMPS)
LUMPS) Lumpsum
LSA
LSA Life Saving Appliances
LSD
LSD Lashed Secured Dunnaged
LT
LT Liner Terms
LTI
LTI Lost Time Injury
LTIF
LTIF Loss Time Injury Frequency
The black line parallel with ship’s keel marked on the inner surface of the bowl of a compass, indicating the
Lubber
Lubber line
line
compass direction of the ship’s head.
Lug
Lug pad
pad A projection on deck with hole for fastening a block for a lead.
Lurch
Lurch The sudden heave of the ship.
LW
LW Low Water
LWC
LWC Lost Workday Case
LYCN
LYCN Laycan (Layday Canceling Date)
A gun used in the life-saving services to throw a life line to a ship in distress or from ship to shore and used when
Lyle
Lyle gun
gun
a boat cannot be launched.
M/V
M/V Motor Vessel
Term covering main engines, auxiliary engine room machinery(e.g.,pumps, compressors, etc.,) in addition to other
Machinery
Machinery installed plant (e.g., hydraulics, air-conditioning plant, lift machinery, etc.,) and deck machinery (e.g., mooring
winches, windlasses, etc.).
Madeye
Madeye A steel fitting formed by a flat doubler plate and vertical steel member containing a circular opening.
Magazine
Magazine Internal space dedicated to the storage of munitions (shells, surface-to-air missiles, etc.) in a naval vessel.
MAIB
MAIB Marine Accident Investigation Branch
The main longitudinal beam on a ship, running down the center line and supports as a rule by king posts.
Main
Main beam
beam
Sometimes there are two main beams, on each side of the center line.
Main
Main body
body The hull exclusive of all deck erections spars, streaks, etc., the naked hull.
The greatest width of a ship amidships. If a ship’s sides tumble home, the main breesth line will be considerably
Main
Main breadth
breadth line
line
below the bulwarks.
Main
Main deck
deck The main continuous deck or principal deck of a vessel
The principal mast of a vessel.

Main
Main mast
mast

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Main mast

Make
Make colors
colors Hoisting the ensign at 8 a.m. and down at sunset.
Make
Make the
the course
course good
good Steering; keeping the ship on the course given (no lazy steering).
Make
Make the
the land
land Landfall. To reach shore.
Make
Make water
water To leak; take in water.
Maximum size of container and bulk vessels (in terms of draught) that can cross the Malacca Straits. The Malacca-
Malacca-max
Malacca-max max reference is believed to be today the absolute maximum possible size for future container vessels
(approximately 18,000 TEU).
Man
Man ropes
ropes Ropes hung and used for assistance in ascending and descending.
The perforated. Elevated bottom of the chain locker which prevents the chains from touching the main locker
Manger
Manger
bottom, and allows see page water to flow to the drains.
A hole in a tank, boiler or compartment on a ship, designed to allow the entraned of a man for examination,
cleaning and repairs.

Manhole
Manhole

Manhole

Manhole
Manhole A framed opening in the deck of a vessel which primarily provides access for a man.
A cover which seals a manhole and is usually designed to lock in place by twisting or using a centerbolt, studbolts,
or dogs.

Manhole
Manhole cover
cover

Manhole cover

A casting or chest containing several valves. Suction or discharge pipes from or to the various compartments,
Manifold
Manifold tanks, and pumps are led to it, making it possible for several pumps to draw from or deliver to a given place

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through one pipe line.

Manila
Manila Rope made from the fibers of the abaca plant.

Margin
Margin plate
plate A longitudinal plate whick closes off the ends of the floors along the widship section
Marlinspike
Marlinspike Pointed iron implement used in separating the strands of rope in splicing, marling, etc.
Maroon
Maroon To put a person ashore with no means of returning.
To join two ropes ends so that the joint will run through a block, also to place two ropes alongside each other so
Marry
Marry
that both may be hauled on at the same time.
A spar or hollow steel pipe tapering smaller at the top, placed on the center line of the ship with a slight after
Mast
Mast
rake. Masts support the yards and gaffs. On cargo vessels they support cargo booms.
A hole in the deck ti receive a mast. The diameter of the hole is larger than the mast for the purpose of receiving
Mast
Mast hole
hole
two rows of founded wedges to hole the mast in place.
Mast
Mast step
step The frame on the keelson of boat (does not apply on ships) to which the heel of a mast is fitted.

Mast
Mast table
table A structure built up around a mast as a support for the cargo boom pivots.
A term for the captain, a holdover from the days when the captain was literally, and legally, the “master” of the
Master
Master
ship and crew. His word was law.
Masthead
Masthead The top part of the mast.
Masthead
Masthead light
light The white running light carried by steam vessel underway on the foremast or in the forepart of the vessel.
Slabs, usually constructed of timbers, which are placed on the deck of a vessel for the purpose of supporting and
Mats
Mats
distributing the weight of heavy loads. back
Slabs, usually constructed of timbers, which are placed on the deck of a vessel for the purpose of supporting and
Mats
Mats
distributing the weight of heavy loads.
MB
MB Merchant Broker
MBL
MBL Minimum Breaking Load
MBM
MBM Multi-Buoy Moorings
MCA
MCA Maritime Coastguard Agency (United Kingdom)
MDO
MDO (DO)
(DO) Marine Diesel Oil
MEPC
MEPC Maritime Environment Pollution Comittee
MERSAR
MERSAR Merchant Ship Search & Rescue Manual
Mess
Mess gear
gear Equipment used for serving meals.
Messenger
Messenger A light line used for hauling over a heavier rope or cable.
Messman
Messman A member of the steward’s department who served meals to officers and crew.
A space or compartment where members of the crew eat their meals, a dining room in which officers eat their
Messroom
Messroom
neals is called a wardroom messroom.
The intersection of successive vertical lines through the centre of buoyancy as a ship is heeled progressively. For
small inclinations the metacentre is on the centreline of the ship.

Metacentre
Metacentre

Metacentre

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A plot showing how the metacentre and centre of buoyancy change as draught increases.

Metacentric
Metacentric diagram
diagram

Metacentric diagram

The vertical separation of the metacentre and the centre of gravity as projected on to a transverse plane.

Metacentric
Metacentric height
height (GM)
(GM)

Metacentric height (GM)

A mix of financing instruments, including equity, subordinated debt, completion guarantees, and bridge financing,
Mezzamine
Mezzamine financing
financing the balance of which changes as the risk profile of a project changes (that is, as a project moves beyond
construction into operation).
MFAG
MFAG Medical First Aid Guide
That part of a ship adjacent to the midship section. When it has a uniform cross section throughout its length,
Middle
Middle body
body
with its water lines parellel to the center line, it is called the parellel middle body.
Midship
Midship The middle of the vessel.
One of the coefficients of fineness. It is the ratio of the underwater area of the midship section to that of the
circumscribing rectangle.

Midship
Midship area
area coefficient
coefficient (CM)
(CM)

Midship area coefficient (CM)

Midship
Midship beam
beam The longest beam transverse or longitudinal of the midship of a vessel.
Midship
Midship frame
frame The frame at midship, which is the largest on the vessel.
Fully dimensioned sectional drawing of both hull and superstructure principal structural members at the
Midship
Midship section
section
midships station.

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MIN/MAX
MIN/MAX Minimum/Maximum (cargo quantity)
MIO
MIO Marine Information Object
MMSI
MMSI Maritime Mobile Service Identity
MNLO
MNLO Merchant Navy Liaison Officer
MOB
MOB Man Overboard
MOC
MOC Management Of Change
MODU
MODU Mobile Offshore Drilling Unit
MOLCHOPT
MOLCHOPT More or Less Charterers Option
A pattern or template. Also a shape of metal or wood over or in which an object may be hammered or pressed to
Mold
Mold
fit.
Mold
Mold loft
loft The large enclosed floor wher the lines of a vessel are laid out and the molds or templates made.
Molded
Molded breadth
breadth The greatest breadth of a vessel, measured from the heel of frame onone side to heel of frame on the other side.
The extreme height of a vessel amidships, from the top of the keel to the top of the upper deck beam.

Molded
Molded depth
depth

Molded depth

Molded
Molded depth
depth The distance from the top of the keel to the top of the upper deck beams amidships at the gunwale.
A datum line from which is determined the exact location of the various parts of a ship. It may be horizontal and
straight as the molded base line, or curved as a molded deck line or a molded frame line. These lines are
Molded
Molded line
line
determined in the design of a vessel and adhered to throughtout the construction. Molded lines are those laid
down in the mold loft.
Molding
Molding edge
edge The edge of a ship’s frame which comes in contact with the skin , and is represented in the drawings.
Mole
Mole A breakwater used as a landing pier.
MOLOO
MOLOO More or Less Owners Option
Monkey
Monkey fist
fist A knot worked into the end of a heaving line (for weight).
Monkey
Monkey island
island A flying bridge on top of a pilothouse or chart house.
Monkey
Monkey tail
tail A curved bar fitted ti the upper, after end of a rubber, and used as an attachment for the rubber pendants.
Mooring
Mooring Securing to a dock or to a buoy, or anchoring with two anchors.
Mooring
Mooring line
line Cable or hawse lines used to tie up a ship.
Mooring
Mooring pipe
pipe An opening through which hawse lines pass.
Mortise
Mortise A hole cut in any material to receive the end or return of anoter piece.
Mother
Mother Carey
Carey’s
’s chickens
chickens Small birds that foretell bad weather and bad luck.
Greatest breadth of a hull measured between inner surfaces of the side shell plating.

Moulded
Moulded breadth
breadth

Moulded breadth

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Moulded breadth

Mousing
Mousing Small stuff seized across a hook to prevent it from unshipping (once hooked, mousing keeps the hook on).

MSC
MSC Maritime Safety Committee
MSDS
MSDS Material Safety Data Sheet
MSI
MSI Maritime Safety Information
MSL
MSL Maximum Securing Load
MSL
MSL Mean Sea Level
MT
MT Metric Ton (i.e. 1,000 kilos / 2204.6lbs)
MTC
MTC Medical Treatment Case
MTOTS
MTOTS Marine Terminal Operators Training System
MTSC
MTSC Marine Technical Sub-Committee
Mud
Mud scow
scow A large, flat bottomed boat used to carry the mud from a dredge.
Mullion
Mullion The vertical bar dividing the lights in a window.
Mushroom
Mushroom anchor
anchor An anchor without stock and shaped like a mushroom.
NAABSA
NAABSA Not Always Afloat But Safely Aground
A term for what frequently happened to Nantucket whalers when they left the whaling ship in a small boat to go
Nantucket
Nantucket sleigh
sleigh ride
ride after a whale. If they harpooned the whale without mortally wounding it, the animal took off with the whaleboat
in tow.
NARSUC
NARSUC Navigation and Routeing Sub-Committee
Unit of distance used in marine navigation. (International nautical mile = 1.852 km. 6076.12 ft, 1.1508 land miles.)
Nautical
Nautical mile
mile The international nautical mile is equivalent to the average linear distance over 1 minute of latitude arc at 45°
latitude at sea level.
NCB
NCB National Cargo Bureau
NCEC
NCEC National Chemical Emergency Centre
NCMM
NCMM Norwegian Centre for Maritime Medicine
NDA
NDA Non Discharge Area
Neobulk
Neobulk cargo
cargo Non-, or economically not feasible, containerizable cargo such as timber, steel, and vehicles.
Neptune
Neptune The mythical god of the sea.
Implies that cargo is presented stacked in the contour of similarly shaped cargo, it may be likened to a stack of
NESTING
NESTING
plates.
A formula-derived measure of the internal (enclosed) volume in a vessel except spaces for machinery, navigation
Net
Net registered
registered tonnage
tonnage
and accommodation. Net tonnage is always less than the gross tonnage.
Net
Net tonnage
tonnage The cubical space available for carrying cargo and passengers.
Netting
Netting A rope network.
NIS
NIS Non Indigenous Species
NLS
NLS Noxious Liquid Substances
(Detention). If loading completed sooner than expected, then saved days will not be added to discharge time
NON-REVERSIBLE
NON-REVERSIBLE
allowed.
A cargo consolidator in ocean trades who buys space from a carrier and resells it to smaller shippers. The NVOCC
Nonvessel
Nonvessel operating
operating common
common issues bills of lading, publishes tariffs, and otherwise conducts itself as an ocean common carrier, except that it
carrier
carrier (NVOCC)
(NVOCC) does not provide the actual ocean or intermodal service.

Non-watertight
Non-watertight door
door A term applied to a door that is not constructed to prevent water under pressure from passing through.
NOR
NOR Notice of Readiness
Not
Not under
under command
command Said of a vessel when unable to maneuver.
Not
Not under
under control
control Same as not under command.

NPDES
NPDES National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
NPRM
NPRM Notice of Proposed Rule Making
NRT
NRT Net Registered Tonnage
NTVRP
NTVRP Non Tank Vessel Response Plan
NUC
NUC Not Under Command
NYPE
NYPE New York Produce Exchange
Oakum
Oakum Material used for caulking the seams of vessels and made from the loose fibers of old hemp rope.

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Oakum
Oakum Material used for caulking the seams of vessels and made from the loose fibers of old hemp rope.
OBO
OBO (Oil-bulk
(Oil-bulk ore
ore (carrier))
(carrier)) Vessel designed for the transportation of oil and/or bulk ores.
OBQ
OBQ On Board Quantity
OBS
OBS Observation
OCIMF
OCIMF Oil Company International Marine Forum
OCM
OCM Oil Content Monitor
ODMCS
ODMCS Oil Discharge Monitoring & Control Systems
ODME
ODME Oil Discharge Monitoring Equipment
ODS
ODS Ozone Depleting Substances
OEL
OEL Occupational Exposure Limit
OFAC
OFAC Office of Foreign Assets Control
Off
Off and
and on
on Standing toward the land and off again alternately.
Officer
Officer of
of the
the watch
watch The officer in charge of the watch.
Are given in feet, inches and eights of an inch. They are taken from large body plans and given the horizontal
distance from the center line to the molded frame line on each of the water lines, which are usually spaced 2′-0”
apart. Offsets also give the height of each buttock above the baseline at each frame< the heights of decks from
the base line, the location of longitudinals and stringers by half breadths and heights, or heights above the base
line intersecting the molded frame lines, and all dimensions such that the entire molded form of a ship and the
location of all membersof the structure are definitely fixed.

Offsets
Offsets

offsets

Dimensional co-ordinates of a hull form, (referenced to the moulded baseline, centreline and transom or AP)
Offsets
Offsets
usually presented in tabular format.
OFG
OFG Offshore Floating Group
Ogee
Ogee A molding with a concave and convex outline like an S.
OHG
OHG Offshore Hose Guidelines
OIC
OIC Officer in Charge
Oil
Oil bag
bag A bag filled with oil and triced over the side for making a slick in a rough sea (to keep seas from breaking).
Vessel designed for the transportation of liquid hydrocarbons in bulk.

Oil
Oil tanker
tanker

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Oil tanker

Oilskin
Oilskin Waterproof clothing.
Oiltight
Oiltight Having the property of resisting the passage of oil.
A partition of plating reinforced where necessary with stiffering bars and capable of preventing the flow of oil
Oiltight
Oiltight bulkhead
bulkhead under pressure from one compartment to another. The riveting must be closer spaced than in watertight work
and special care must be taken with the calking.
A piece of heavy bar iron bent to the form of a Z. One leg of the Z is bolted to the material that is to be drilled,
Old
Old man
man
and the drill top placed under the other leg and adjusted so the “old man” holds the drill against the material.
OMC
OMC Offshore Marine Committee
OMOG
OMOG Offshore Maritime Operations Group

On
On board
board On or in a ship.
On
On deck
deck On the upper deck, in the open air.
On
On report
report In trouble.
On
On soundings
soundings Said of a vessel when the depth of water can be measured by the lead (within the 100 fathom curve).
ONI
ONI Office of Naval Initiative

OO
OO Owners Option
OPA
OPA Oil Pollution Act
OPRC
OPRC Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response and Cooperation
Ordinary
Ordinary seaman
seaman The beginning grade for members of the deck department. The next step is able bodied seaman.
Orlop
Orlop deck
deck The lowest deck in a ship.
ORS
ORS Open Reporting System
OSH
OSH Open Shelter Deck
OTF
OTF Offshore Terminal Forum
Out
Out of
of trim
trim Not properly trimmed or ballasted (not on even keel; listing).
Outboard
Outboard In a direction towards the side of the ship.
Outboard
Outboard Away from the keel or center of a vessel on either side.
A plan representing the longitudinal exterior of a vessel, showing the starboard side of the shell, all deck
Outboard
Outboard profile
profile
erections, masts, yards, rigging, rails, etc.
Over-all
Over-all The extreme deck fore and aft measurement of a vessel.
Overboard
Overboard Outside, over the side of a ship into the water.
Overcarriage
Overcarriage The carriage of cargo beyond the port for which it was intended.
Overhang
Overhang Same as counter
Overhaul
Overhaul Get gear in condition for use; to separate the blocks of a tackle to lengthen the fall (ready for use again).
Overtaking
Overtaking Said of a vessel when she is passing or overtaking another vessel.
OVID
OVID Offshore Vessel Inspection Database
OVIQ
OVIQ Offshore Vessel Inspection Questionnaire
OVMSA
OVMSA Offshore Vessel Management and Self Assessment
OWS
OWS Oil Water Separator
OWS
OWS Owners
The combination of a substance or element like wood, iron, gasoline, etc, with oxygen. The process is
Oxidation
Oxidation fundamentally the same whether wood is consumed with fire or iron is turned into rust (iron oxide). In welding
the oxygen of the air forms an oxide with the molten metal, thus injuring the quality and strength of the weld.
The name of a plate that fits in the curve at the meeting of the shell plating with the top of the stern post and
Oxter
Oxter plate
plate
which is fastened there to.
Men who fit lamp wicking, tarred felt or other material between parts of the structure to insure water or oil
Packers
Packers
tightness.
A fitting having an eye integral with a plate or base in order to distribute the strain over a greater area and to
provide ample means of securing. The pad may have either a “worked” or a “shackle” eye, or more than one of
Pad
Pad eye
eye either or both. The principal use of such a fitting is that is affords means for attaching rigging, stoppers, mlocks,
and other movable or portable objects. Pas eyes are also known as lug pads.

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Painter
Painter A short piece of rope secured in the bow of a small boat used for making her fast.
Painting
Painting beams
beams The transverse beams that tie the painting frames together.
Painting
Painting frames
frames The frames in the fore peak, usually extra heavy to withstand the panting action of the shell plating.

Pair
Pair masts
masts A pair of cargo masts stepped on eith side of the center line, with their heads connected by spans.
Pale
Pale One of the interior shores for steadying the neams of a ship while building.
A flat wooden or plastic platform onto which cargo may be strapped or lashed which simplifies handling via
cranes and forklift vehicles.

Pallet
Pallet

Pallet

Cargo vessel specially designed or adapted for the transportation of pallet-borne cargoes.

Pallet carrier
Pallet
Pallet carrier
carrier

Pallet carrier

Palm
Palm and
and needle
needle A seaman’s sewing outfit for heavy work.
Panamax
Panamax Market
Market category of vessels notionally at the dimensional limits for transiting the Panama canal.

Panting
Panting The pulsation in and out of the bow and stern plating as the ship alternately rises and plunges deep into the
water.
Horizontal deep-web side structural member used for strengthening bow structure prone to panting loads.

Panting
Panting stringer
stringer

Panting stringer

Parallel
Parallel midbody
midbody Midship portion of a hull within which the longitudinal contour is unchanged.
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Parallel
Parallel midbody
midbody Midship portion of a hull within which the longitudinal contour is unchanged.
A water plane with a protecting wing placed on bottom forward end of the keel stem. Also a special type of
waterkite which, when towed wth wire rope from a fitting on the forefoot of a vessel, operates to ride out from
Paravane
Paravane
the ship’s side and deflect mines which are moored in the ppath of the vesse;, and to cut them adrift so that they
will rise to the surface where they may be seen and destroyed.
PARS
PARS Piracy Attack Risk Surface
Part
Part To break.
A term applied to a bulkhead that extends only a portion of the way across a compartment. They are generally
Partial
Partial bulkhead
bulkhead
erected as strength members of the structure.
Similar pieces of steel plate, angles or wood timbers used to strengthen and support the mast where it passes
Partners
Partners
through a deck, or placed between deck beams under machinery bed plates for added support.
Pass
Pass aa line
line To reeve and secure a line.
Pass
Pass aa stopper
stopper To reeve and secure a stopper (hold a strain on a line while transferring it).
Pass
Pass down
down the
the line
line Relay to all others in order (a signal repeated from one ship to the next astern in column).
Pass
Pass the
the word
word To repeat an order for information to the crew.
Passenger
Passenger vessel
vessel A vessel which carries more than 12 passengers.
PASTUS
PASTUS Past Us

Pay
Pay To fill the seams of a vessel with pitch.
Pay
Pay off
off To turn the bow away from the wind; to pay the crew.
Pay
Pay out
out To slack out a line made fast on board (let it out slowly).
Paying out, slackening away on a rope or chain. Also the operation of filling seams between planks after calking,
Paying
Paying
with melted pitch or marine glue, etc.
PC
PC Period of Charter
PCASP
PCASP Privately Contracted Armed Security Personnel
PCGO
PCGO Part Cargo
PCT
PCT Percent
PDCA
PDCA Plan Do Check Act

PDPR
PDPR Per Day Pro Rata
Peak
Peak See Fore Peak and after Peak.
Tank in the forward and after ends of a vessel. The principal use of peak tanks is in trimming The ship. Their
ballast is varied to meet required changes in trim. Should the after hold be empty, the vessel would ride so high
Peak
Peak tank
tank
that the propeller would lie half out of water and lose much of its efficiency. Filling the afer peak tank forces the
propeller deeper into the water.
To round off or shaoe an object, smoothing out burrs and rough edges. (Nown) The lesser head of a hammer. It is
Peen
Peen termed ball when it is spherical, cross when in the form of a rounded edge ridges at right angles to the axis of the
handle, and sraight when like a ridge in the plane of the handle.
A hinged hook held closed by a ring and used to provide the quick release of an object which it holds.

Pelican
Pelican hook
hook

Pelican hook

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Pendant
Pendant A length of rope, usually having a thimble or block spliced into the lower end for hooking on a tackle.
PER
PER Period

PERDIEM
PERDIEM Per Diem By the Day
Ballast material (usually solid material) which cannot be discharged or transferred by pump or by other means
Permanent
Permanent ballast
ballast
and which is used for attaining design draft and trim.
Strips of timber fixed to the frames of a ship to keep cargo away from the sides of the ship to avoid damage and
Permanent
Permanent dunnage
dunnage
condensation.
Perpendicular,
Perpendicular, after
after A line perpendicular to the keel line, drawn tangent to the after contour of the stern.
PFG
PFG Piracy Focus Group
PHPD
PHPD Per Hatch Per Day
Pier
Pier head
head jump
jump Making a ship just as it is about to sail.
A pointed spar driven into the bottom and projecting above the water; when driven at the corners of a dock, they
Pile
Pile

are termed fender piles.

Pilferage
Pilferage Stealing of cargo.
Pillar
Pillar Vertical column used to provide support to overhead deck structure.
Pillars
Pillars Vertical columns supporting the decks. Also called stanchions.
Pilot
Pilot boat
boat A power or sailing boat used by pilots (men who have local knowledge of navigation hazards of ports).
A house designed for navigational purpose. It is usually located forward of the midship section and so
Pilot
Pilot house
house constructed as to command an unobstructed view in all directions except directly aft along the center line of the
vessel, where the smokestack usually interferes.
A small rudder fastened to the after part of the regular rudder, which by a mechanical attachment pulls the main
Pilot
Pilot rudder
rudder
rudder to either side.
Pin
Pin The metal axle of a block upon which the sheave revolves.
A metal pin secured to the rubber, which is hooked downwardinto the qudgeons on the stern post, and affords an
axis of oscillation as the rubber is moved from side to side for steering.

Pintle
Pintle

Pintles

Vessel designed for the laying of pipelines on the sea bed.

Pipe
Pipe layer
layer

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Pipe layer

A steel deck fitting consisting of a vertical post with angled bracket(s) on one side, welded to a doubler plate,
Pipe
Pipe stanchion
stanchion
which is welded on the deck of a vessel to restrain the movement of cargo, such as pipe.
Pitch
Pitch A tar substance obtained from the pine tree and used in paying the seams of a vessel. Motion of vessel.
The oscillatory vertical motion of a vessel forward and aft in a seaway.

Pitching
Pitching

Pitching

Pitting
Pitting Areas of corrosion.
Plait
Plait To braid; used with small stuff.
Plan
Plan A drawing prepared for use in building a ship.
Planking
Planking Broad planks used to cover a wooden vessel’s sides, or covering the deck beams.
Plate,
Plate, furnaced
furnaced A plate that requires heating in order to shape it as required.
Platform
Platform A partial deck.

Platform
Platform deck
deck Deck which does not contribute to the overall longitudinal strength of a vessel.
Plating
Plating The steel plates which form the shell or skin of a vessel.
Play
Play Freedom of movement.
PLEM
PLEM Pipeline End Manifold

The primary loadline mark which is a circle intersected by a horizontal line accompanied by letters indicating the
authority under which the loadline is assigned.

Plimsoll
Plimsoll mark
mark

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Plimsoll mark

A wooden wedge fitting into a drainage hole in the bottom of a boat for the purpose of draining the boat when
Plug
Plug
she is out of water.
Supports for a shaft (such as the propeller shaft).

Plummer
Plummer blocks
blocks

Plummer blocks

Plummer blocks

A ship is said to plunge when it sinks bow or stern first through loss of longitudinal stability.

Plunging
Plunging

Plunging

PMSC
PMSC Private Maritime Security Contractor
POEA
POEA Philippine Overseas Employment Administration
Point
Point To taper the end of a rope; one of the 32 divisions of the compass card. To head close to the wind.
The property possessed by electrified bodies by which they exert opposite forces in opposite directions. The
Polarity
Polarity current in an electrical circuit passes from the positive to the negative pole. In welding, more heat is generated on
the positive pole than on the negative one, so that the welding rod is generally made the negative electrode.
Pontoon
Pontoon Flat-bottomed floating structure with a shallow draught.
Pooling
Pooling Sharing of cargo or the profit or loss from freight by member lines of a liner conference.
Poop
Poop The structure or raised deck at the after end of a vessel.
A partial deck at the stern above the main deck, derived from the Latin “puppio” for the sacred deck where the
Poop
Poop deck
deck
“pupi” or doll images of the deities were kept.
Pooped
Pooped An opening in a ship’s side, such as an air port, or cargo port.
Those pieces of timber which are fixed perpendicularly between the ship’s bottom and the bilgeways at the
Poppets
Poppets
foremost and aftermost parts of the ship, to support her in launching.
Port
Port (1) Pertaining to the left-hand side of a vessel. (2) Term used for small windows in the marine context.
An opening in the side plating, planking, or bulwark for the purpose of providing access through ehich people
Port
Port gangway
gangway
may board or leave the ship or through which cargo may be handled.
Port
Port hole
hole An opening in the ship’s shell plating.
Port
Port lid
lid A shutter for closing a port hole in stormy weather. It is hung by top hinges.
Port
Port of
of Registry
Registry Port in the country under whose flag a vessel is legally registered.
Port
Port side
side The left hand side of the ship looking forward.

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Port
Port State
State Control
Control The examination of vessels for compliance with IMO Conventions and resolutions by state authorities.

Pouring
Pouring oil
oil on
on troubled waters Heavy-weather practice of pouring oil on the sea so as to form a film on the surface, thus preventing the seas
troubled waters
from breaking. To smooth out some difficulty.

PPD
PPD Permanent Partial Disability
PPE
PPE Personal Protective Equipmeny
A permit by the port doctor for an incoming vessel, being clear of contagious disease, to have the liberty of the
Pratique
Pratique
port.
PRATIQUE
PRATIQUE License or permission to use a port

Preentry
Preentry Presentation to the customs authorities of export or import declarations prior to the clearance of goods.
Preventer
Preventer A rope used for additional support or for additional securing, e.g., preventer stay.
Prick
Prick punch
punch A small hand punch used to make a very small indentation or prick in a piece of metal.
Pricker
Pricker Small marlinespike.
Privileged
Privileged vessel
vessel One which has the right of way.
Tanker designed for the transportation of a variety of hydrocarbon and chemical liquids with elaborate pumping
Product
Product tanker
tanker
and safety systems.
Prolonged
Prolonged blast
blast A blast of from 4 to 6 seconds’ duration.
A propulsive device consisting of a boss or hub carrying radial blades, from two to four in number. The rear or
driving faces of the blades form portions of an approximately helical surface, the axis of which as the center line
of the propeller shaft.
Propeller
Propeller

Propeller

Propeller
Propeller arch
arch The arched section of the hull above the propeller.
Prow
Prow The part of the bow from the load water line to the top of he bow.
PSI
PSI Pounds Per Square Inch
PSIG
PSIG Pounds Per Square Inch Gauge
PSR
PSR Perils at Sea Revision
PTC
PTC Ports & Termincal Committee
PTD
PTD Permanent Total Disability
Pull-out
Pull-out manoeuvre
manoeuvre A manoeuvre used to demonstrate the directional stability of a ship.
Pump
Pump dale
dale A pipe to convey water from the pump discharge through the ship’s side.
Punch,
Punch, center
center A small punch used to indent a piece of metal for centering a drill.
A rectangular flat- bottomed boat used by vessels for painting the ship’s side and general use around the ship’s
Punt
Punt
water line, fitted with oar-locks on each side and usually propelled by sculling.
Purchase
Purchase A tackle (blocks and falls).
Tug designed for or engaged in pushing barges from behind.

Pusher tug

Pusher
Pusher tug
tug

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MARITIME DICTIONARY – Officer of the Watch 15/12/24, 15:41

Pusher tug

Put
Put to
to sea
sea To leave port.
Pressure vacuum relief valve; a valve which automatically regulates the pressure or vacuum in a tank.

PV valve

PV valve

PV
PV valve
valve

PV valve

PWSA
PWSA Ports and Waterways Safety Act
QHSE
QHSE Quality, Health, Safety & Environment
Quadrant
Quadrant A fitting on the rubber head to which the steering chains are attached.
Quadrant-shaped flat plate assembly mounted horizontally on top of a rudder stock for to which steering
Quadrant
Quadrant
cables/chains are attached in vintage vessels or small craft.
Quarantine
Quarantine Restricted or prohibited intercourse due to contagious disease.

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Quarantine
Quarantine Restricted or prohibited intercourse due to contagious disease.
Quarter
Quarter That portion of a vessel’s side near the stern.
A side of a ship aft, between the main midship frames and stern. Also a sidde of a ship forward, between the main
Quarter
Quarter
frames and the stem.
Quarter
Quarter deck
deck A term applied to the after portion of a weather deck. In a warship that portion allotted to the use of the officers.
Quarter
Quarter deck
deck Full-width raised hull section and deck extending from the aft shoulder to the stern.
Quartering
Quartering sea
sea A sea on the quarter (coming from a side of the stern).
Living spaces for passengers or personnel. It includes staterooms, dining salons, mess rooms, lounging places,
Quarters
Quarters
passages connected with the foregoing, etc., individual stations for personnel for fire or boat drill, etc.
Quarters
Quarters bill
bill A vessel’s station bill showing duties of crew.
An artificial wall or bank, usually of stone, made toward the sea at the side of a harbor or river for convenience in
Quay
Quay
loading and unloading vessels.
A depression or offset designed to take some other adjoining part, as for example the rabbet in the stem taking
Rabbet
Rabbet
the shell plating.
Rail
Rail The upper edge of the bulwarks.

Railing(s)
Railing(s) Horizontal parallel tubing forming a safety barrier at edges of decks.
Rail-mounted
Rail-mounted gantry
gantry (RMG)
(RMG) or
or
rail-mounted
rail-mounted container
container gantry
gantry Rail-mounted gantry crane used for container acceptance, delivery, and stacking operations in a container yard.

crane
crane
Rake
Rake The forward pitch of the stem. The backwark slope of the stern.
RAM
RAM Risk Assessment Matrix
Ram
Ram bow
bow A bow protruding undernearth the water line considerable forward of the fore-castle deck.
Hinged platform permitting the loading/discharge of vehicles or movement between decks of vehicles aboard Ro-
Ramp
Ramp
Ro vessels.
Range
Range The maximum distance a vessel is capable of attaining at its normal
The stove situated in the galley which is used to cook the food. The heat may be generated by coal, fuel oil, or
Range,
Range, galley
galley
electricity.
Ratline
Ratline A short length of small rope “ratline stuff” running horizontally across shrouds, for a ladder step.
RCDS
RCDS Raster Chart Display System
RCVR
RCVR Receivers
Reach
Reach The horizontal distance that a crane or lifting appliance can cover, measured from its axis of rotation.
Reachrod
Reachrod A steel rod which connects an above deck valve handle to a below deck valve.
Reachrod
Reachrod A steel rod which connects an above deck valve handle to a below deck valve.
Enlarging a hole by the means of revolving in it a cylindrical slightly tapered tool with cutting edges running along
Reaming
Reaming
its sides.
RECAAP
RECAAP Regional Cooperation Agreement of Combating Piracy & Armed Robbery Against Ships in Asia
Reef
Reef To reduce the area of a sail by making fast the reef points (used in rough weather).
Reefer
Reefer Refrigerated container or vessel designed to transport refrigaeated or frozen cargo.
Reeve
Reeve To pass the end of a rope through any lead such as a sheave or fair lead.
Refrigerated
Refrigerated vessel
vessel Vessel designed for the transportation of refrigerated perishable
The ship’s certificate determining the ownership and nationality of the vessel. Relieving tackle. A tackle of double
Registry
Registry and single blocks rove with an endless line and used to relieve the strain on the steering engine in heavy weather
or emergency.
Relay
Relay To transfer containers from one ship to another.
Relief
Relief Any clearance allowed back of the cutting edge to reduce friction whether on top, bottom or wall of the tread.
Vessel designed for oceanographic or fisheries research.

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Research
Research vessel
vessel

research-vessel

Watertight volume of a vessel above the waterline.

Reserve
Reserve buoyancy
buoyancy

Reserve buoyancy

An angle bar placed with its heel against another angle additional strength. The flanges of deck stiffeners always
Reverse
Reverse frame
frame
bace outboard.
REVERSIBLE
REVERSIBLE (Detention)
(Detention) If loading completed sooner than expected at load port, then days saved can be added to discharge operations.
Rigid inflatable boat.

RIB
RIB

Rigid inflatable boat

A longitudinal strtip of timber following the curvature of a vessel and bolted to its ribs to hold them in position
Ribband
Ribband
and give stability to the skeleton while building.
Ride
Ride To lie at anchor; to ride out; to safely weather a storm whether at anchor or underway.
System(s) employing active hydrodynamic foils or deflectors installed to vary the attitude and vertical motions of
Ride
Ride control
control the hull in high-speed vessels.

Rider
Rider frame
frame Any frame riveted or welded on another frame for the purpose of stiffening it.
Rider
Rider plates
plates Bed plates set on top of the center keelson, if fitted, for the pillars to rest on.

Rig
Rig A general description of a vessel’s upper works; to fit out.
A term used collectively for all the ropes and chains employed to support the masts, yards, and booms of a
Rigging
Rigging
vessel, and to operate the movable parts of same.
Right
Right To return to a normal position, as a vessel righting after heeling over.
Ringbolt
Ringbolt A bolt fitted with a ring through its eye, used for securing, running, rigging, etc.
RIO
RIO Radar Information Overlay
Rips
Rips A disturbance of surface water by conflicting current or by winds.
Rise
Rise and
and shine
shine A call to turn out of bunks.
Rise
Rise of
of bottom
bottom See Deadrise.
Rising
Rising floors
floors The floor frames which rise fore and aft above the level of themidship floors.
A metal pin used for connecting two or more pieces of material by inserting it into holes punched or drilled in the

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A metal pin used for connecting two or more pieces of material by inserting it into holes punched or drilled in the
pieces. The end that bears a finished shape is called the head and the end upon which some oretation is
Rivet
Rivet
performed after its insertion is called the point. Small rivets are “driven cold”, i.e. without heating, and large ones
are heated so that points may be formed by hammering.
A term applied to the distance between the centers in a row of rivets. This distance usually consists of a multiple
Rivet
Rivet spacing
spacing of the rivet diameter, and depends on whether oiltightness, watertightness or strenght is to be the governing
requirement.
A term applied to two or more rows of rivets that have their centers opposite each other. A line drawn
Riveting
Riveting chain
chain perpendicular to the edge of the plate through the center of a rivet in one row will also pass through the centers
of the corresponding rivets in the other rows.
RMRGC
RMRGC Recommendations for Manifolds of Refrigerated for Gas Carriers for Cargoes
RNC
RNC Raster Navigational Chart
RNLI
RNLI Royal National Lifeboat Institution
That geographical belt located approximately in 40 degrees south latitude in which are encountered the prevailing
Roaring
Roaring forties
forties
or stormy westerlies.
ROB
ROB Remaining On Board
Motion of the ship from side to side, alternately raising and lowering each side of the deck

Roll
Roll

Roll

A block, ring, or other fitting through which passes a line or the running rigging on a ship to prevent chafing.

Roller Fairleader

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Roller
Roller fairleader
fairleader Roller Fairleader

Roller Fairleader

Rolling
Rolling chocks
chocks Same as bilge keel.
Ro-Pax
Ro-Pax Vessel designed with combined Ro-Ro and passenger capacity.
Roll-on Roll-off. Method of cargo transfer between vessel and shore in which cargo is driven on/off using fork-lift,
Ro-Ro
Ro-Ro
primemover/ trailer combinations, etc.
RPS
RPS Recruitment Placement Services
RRS
RRS Release Retrieval System
Revenue Ton (i.e. 1.0 metric Ton or 1.0 cubic meter, whichever is greater). The overall RT is calculated on a line by
RT
RT line basis of the Packing List using the largest amount. The overall freight liability is calculated on the total RT
amount, multiplied by the freight rate.
Rubber-tired
Rubber-tired gantry
gantry (RTG)
(RTG) or
or
rubber-tired
rubber-tired container
container gantry
gantry
Gantry crane on rubber tires typically used for acceptance, delivery, and container stacking at a container yard.
crane
crane

Rubrail
Rubrail A protective railing on the hull of a vessel which is used for fendering.
A swinging flat frame hung to the stern post of a ship, by which the ship is steered.

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Rudder
Rudder

rudders

Rudder
Rudder bands
bands The bands that extend on each side of a rudder to help brace and tie ii into the pintles.
The chains whereby the rudder is fastened to the stern quarters. They are shackld to the rudder by bolts just
Rudder
Rudder chains
chains above the water line, and hang slack enough to permit free motion of the rudder. They are used as a precaution
against losing a rudder at sea.
Rudder
Rudder flange
flange The flange which ties the main part of the rudder to the rudder stem. It may be horizontal or vertical.
A frame within the inner shell, bolted through the letter into the main frame and shell, for the purpose of
Rudder
Rudder frame
frame
stiffening the rudder.
Rudder
Rudder pintle
pintle See Pintle
Rudder
Rudder post
post The vertical post in the stern of a vessel on which the rudder hangs.
Vertical shaft connecting the rudder to the steering actuating system.

Rudder
Rudder stock
stock

Rudder stock

Rudder
Rudder stop
stop Fitting to limit swing of the rudder.
Rudder
Rudder truck
truck or
or case
case The well in the stern which holds the rudder stock.
RUF
RUF Rules for the Use of Force
Run
Run The narrowing sides of a vessel aft where they meet at the hooding-ends.

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Run
Run The narrowing sides of a vessel aft where they meet at the hooding-ends.
Run
Run down
down To collide with a vessel head on.
Running
Running lights
lights Those lights required to be shown at night aboard a vessel or a tow while underway.
Running
Running lights
lights Those lights required to be shown at night aboard a vessel or a tow while underway.
Rustbucket
Rustbucket Sailors’ term for an old ship that needed a lot of paint and repairs.
Anode of zinc attached to the immersed parts of a hull to prevent deterioration of the hull steel through
electrochemical reaction.

Sacrificial
Sacrificial anode
anode
Sacrificial anode

Sacrificial anode

Safety
Safety of
of Life
Life at
at Sea
Sea (SOLAS)
(SOLAS) A statutory regulation of IMO dealing with the safety of life at sea.
Said of a ship which has been strained so that the bottom drops lower in the middle than it is at stem and stern.
Sagged
Sagged
Opposite of hogged.
A ship is said to sag if the forces acting on it make it bend longitudinally concave up. Sagging is the opposite of
Sagging
Sagging
hogging.
Sailing
Sailing free
free Sailing other than close; hauled or into the wind (wind astern).
SALM
SALM Single Anchor Leg Mooring
Salty
Salty character
character A nautical guy, often a negative connotation.
To save a vessel or cargo from total loss after an accident; recompense for having saved a ship or cargo from
Salvage
Salvage
danger.
Large powerful and manoeuvrable vessel designed to tow and assist vessels needing assistance due to grounding,
Salvage
Salvage tug
tug
sinking or fire.
SAMHSA
SAMHSA Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
Samson
Samson posts
posts Short heavy masts used as boom supports, and often used for ventilators as well.
Search and Rescue Transponder

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SART
SART

SART

Search And Rescue Transponder. A SART is a self contained, waterproof radar transponder intended for
emergency use at sea. The radar-SART is used to locate a survival craft or distressed vessel by creating a series of
SART
SART
dots on a rescuing ship’s radar display. A SART will only respond to a 9 GHz X-band (3 cm wavelength) radar. It will
not be seen on S-band (10 cm) or other radar.
SATPM
SATPM Saturday P.M.
SATV
SATV Safe Access to Vessels Working Group
SB
SB Safe Berth
Scale
Scale To climb up. A formation of rust over iron or steel plating.
A term applied to the dimensions of the frames, girders, plating, etc., that go into a ship’s structure. The various
Scantling
Scantling
classification societies publish rules from which these dimensions may be obtained.
Scantlings
Scantlings Set of dimensions of a vessel’s structure. (Structural dimensions.)
A method of cutting away two pieces so that they fit smoothly into each other to make one piece. They are
Scarfing
Scarfing
fastened together by welding, bolting, riveting, etc.
Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus. Such an apparatus consists of a suitable face mask, combined with a hose
and source of fresh air, generally in the form of a tank of compressed air. The SCBA may be incorporated into a
full-body protection suit. It is important to recognise that use of a SCBA is not trivial, and they are not designed to
be worn by those without training.

SCBA
SCBA

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SCBA

SCBA

SCBRA
SCBRA Speed Reduction and Bunker Consumption Algorithm
School
School A large body of fish.
Another term for a deck cargo barge having a hull design of a flat bottom, square ended rakes, and usually with a
Scow
Scow
deck cargo bin.
A light bulkhead fitted between engine and boiler rooms, designed to keep dust and heat out of the engine room.
Screen
Screen bulkhead
bulkhead
Often built around the after ends of boilers.
A large section of flooring in the mold loft in which the lines of the body are cut with a knife. Used in making
Scrieve
Scrieve board
board
molds of the frames, beams, floor plates, etc.
SCUBA
SCUBA Self-Containerd Underwater Breathing Apparatus
Any opening or tube leading from the waterway through the ship’s side, to carry away water from the deck.

Scupper
Scupper

Scupper

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Scupper

A temporary canvas hose attached to the outside of a scupper hole, and reaching to the water, to conduct the
Scupper
Scupper hose
hose
water clear of the ship’s side.
Scupper
Scupper lip
lip A projection on the outside of the vessel to allow the water to drop free of the ship’s side.
A hole longer than an ordinary scupper with vertical bars, placed on the side of the ship at the deck line to allow
Scupper
Scupper opening
opening
deck wash to flow over the side of the vessel. Also called freeing port.
A pipe connected to the scupper on the decks, with an outlet through the side plating just above the water. The
Scupper
Scupper pipe
pipe
water thus diverted from the deck does not discolor the ship’s side plating or damage the paint.
Scuppers
Scuppers Openings in the side of a ship to carry off water from the waterways or from the drains.
A small opening, usually circular in shape, and generally fitted in decks to provide access as a manhole or for
stowing fuel, water and stores. A cover or lid is fitted so that the scuttle may be closed when not in use. Also
Scuttle
Scuttle
applied to the operation of opening a sea valve or otherwise, allowing the sea to enter a ship for the purpose of
sinking her.

Scuttle
Scuttle butt
butt The designation for a container of the supply of drinking water for the use of the crew.
Scuttle
Scuttle butt
butt story
story An unauthoritative story (a tall story).
SD
SD (or
(or SID)
SID) Single Decker
SEA
SEA Seafarer Employment Agreement
Sea
Sea anchor
anchor A drag (drogue) thrown over to keep a vessel to the wind and sea.
Sea
Sea chest
chest A sailor’s trunk; the intake between the ship’s side and a sea valve.
Sea
Sea dog
dog An old sailor.
Sea
Sea going
going Capable of going to sea.
Sea
Sea lawyer
lawyer A seaman who is prone to argue, especially against recognized authority (big mouth).
A line leading from forward on the ship and secured to a forward inboard thwart of the boat in such a way as to
Sea
Sea painter
painter
permit quick release.
Costs charged for transporting goods over the sea. This does not cover any haulage or loading/discharging costs
SEAFREIGHT
SEAFREIGHT
but the sea transport only.
Seam
Seam Joint.
Seamstrap
Seamstrap Butt-strap of a seam.
Seaworthy
Seaworthy Capable of putting to sea and able to meet sea conditions.
SECA
SECA Sulphur (SOx) Emission Control Area
(1) General term for an extruded or fabricated structural member. [Alt profile.] (2) Transverse vertical plane
Section
Section
through the hull perpendicular to the centreline.
Secure
Secure To make fast; safe; the completion of a drill or exercise on board ship.
Secure
Secure for
for sea
sea Prepare for going to sea, extra lashing on all movable objects.
SEEMP
SEEMP Ships Energy Efficiency Management Plan
Seize
Seize To bind with small rope.
SELFD
SELFD Self Discharging
Semaphore
Semaphore Flag signaling with the arms.
SENC
SENC System Electronic Navigational Chart
Sometimes pieces of an angle iron are cut to allow for ventillation, reduce weight or as a shortcut that saves
Serrated
Serrated frame
frame material in the vessel costruction. These cutouts may be spaced regularly-every few inches or so and the frame is
called a serrated frame.
Set
Set bolt
bolt A bolt used as a drift to force another bolt out of its hole.
Set
Set iron
iron Bar of soft iron used on the bending slab to bend frames to the desired shapes.
Set
Set the
the course
course To give the steersman the desired course to be steered.
Set
Set up
up To tighten the nut on a bolt or stud.
Set
Set up
up rigging
rigging To take in the slack and secure the standing rigging.
Sett
Sett piling
piling Reinforcing pilling in the ground beneath the ways.

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Sett
Sett piling
piling Reinforcing pilling in the ground beneath the ways.
Settle
Settle To lower, sink deeper.
SF
SF Stowage factor. Cubic space occupied by one ton (2,240 lbs/1,000 kgs) of cargo.
SFG
SFG Special Forces Group

A link with a bolt fastened through its eyes, used for fastening chains and eye loops together.

Shackle

Shackle
Shackle

Shackle

Kenter shackle

Shaft
Shaft Long, round, heavy forging connecting engine and propeller.
Shaft
Shaft alley
alley Covered tunnels within a ship through which the tail shafts pass.
Shaft
Shaft coupling
coupling A flange on the end of a shaft section connecting two sections by bolts.
A pipe which pases through a hole in the stern post and through frames with a circular housing. In it are bearings
Shaft
Shaft pipe
pipe
on which the propeller shaft rotates.
A brachet supporting the after end of the propeller shaft and the propeller in twin or multiple screwed vessels
Shaft
Shaft strut
strut
having propeller shafts fitted off from the center line.
Shaft
Shaft tunnel
tunnel Same as shaft Alley.
Shake
Shake aa leg
leg An order to make haste.
A cruise of a new ship for the purpose of testing out all machinery, etc. Shank. The main piece of the anchor
Shakedown
Shakedown cruise
cruise
having the arms at the bottom and the Jew’s harp at the top.
The practice of obtaining a crew by means of force. Crews were hard to get for long voyages, and when the
Shanghaied
Shanghaied unwilling shipmate regained consciousness, he found himself bound for some remote port, such as Shanghai.
One who is forced to do something against his will.
Shape
Shape Long bar of constant cross section such as channel, T-bar, angle bar, etc.
To ascertain the proper course to be steered to make the desired point or port. Shark’s mouth. The opening in an
Shape
Shape aa course
course
awning around the mast.
Shaping
Shaping Consists of cutting, bending and forming astructural member.

Shear
Shear legs
legs Usually two or more timbers or spars erected in the shape of an A-frame with lower ends spread out and upper
ends fastenes together, from which lifting tackle is suspended. Used fro raising and moving heavy weights where
a crane or derrick is not available.
Shear
Shear line
line A line at which a shearing cut is to be made.
Shears
Shears Large machine for cutting plates and shapes.
Sheave
Sheave The wheel of the block over which the fall of the block is rove.
Covered area for the reception, delivery, consolidation, distribution and storage of cargo. Note: A warehouse
Shed
Shed (also
(also see
see warehouse)
warehouse)
usually points at longer term storage, whereas a shed usually is used for shorter term storage.
Sheer
Sheer Upward longitudinal curvature of the upper deck.
A vertical lngitudinal midship section of a vessel, showing plan, elevation and end view, on which are projected
Sheer
Sheer plan
plan various lines as follows: Water line, diagonal line, buttock and bow lines, mainbreadth lines, top-breadth lines, top

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Sheer
Sheer plan
plan various lines as follows: Water line, diagonal line, buttock and bow lines, mainbreadth lines, top-breadth lines, top
side sheer lines.
Sheer
Sheer rail
rail A rail surrounding a ship on the outside, under the gunwale, on small vessels called guard rail.
Sheer
Sheer strake
strake The uppermost strake (line) of side shell plating immediately adjacent to the strength deck.
Sheet
Sheet The rope used to spread the clew of head sails and to control the boom of boom sails.
Shell
Shell The casing of a block within which the sheave revolves.
Shell
Shell expansion
expansion A plan showing the shapes and sizes of all plates of the shell plating.
Shell
Shell landings
landings Point on the frames showing wher the edges of the shell plates come.
Shell
Shell plating
plating See plating.
Shelter
Shelter deck
deck A term applied to a deck fitted from stem to stern ona relatively light superstructure. The main deck.
SHEX
SHEX Sundays/Holidays Excluded
A term applied to the arrangement of the butt joints in plating. These joints in shell plating should be so shifted
Shift
Shift of
of butts
butts
that the adjacent strakes of plating have their butts at least two frame spaces apart.
A portable beam fitted in a hatchway for the purpose of supporting the hatch covers. The ends of the beams are
Shifting
Shifting beam
beam
fitted in slotted carriers attached to the inside of the hatchway coamings.
A piece of metal or wood placed under the bedplate or base of a machine or fitting for the purpose of truing it up.
Shim
Shim
Also applied to pieces placed in slack spaces behind or under frames, plates or planks to preserve a fair surface.
SHINC
SHINC Sundays/Holidays Included
Ship
Ship To enlist; to send on board cargo; to put in place; to take on board.
Ship
Ship chandler
chandler An individual or company selling equipment and supplies for ships.
Ship
Ship routing
routing An attempt to guide a ship into areas where it will experience less severe weather and so reduce passage times.
Ship’s
Ship’s log
log See Log Book
Ship’s
Ship’s tackle
tackle All rigging and so forth used on a ship to load or unload cargo.
Ships time was counted by the half hour, starting at midnight. A half hour after twelve was one bell; one o’clock,
Ships
Ships time
time two bells; and so on until four o’clock, which was eight bells. The counting then started over again, with 430 being
one bell.
Shole
Shole A piece of plank put under a shore where there is no groundway.

Shore
Shore One of the many wooden props by which the ribs or frames of a vessel are external supperted while building, or
by which the vessel is held upright on the ways.

Short
Short stay
stay When the scope of chain is slightly greater than the depth of water.
Short
Short ton
ton American ton (2000 lbs). 0.9072 tonnes.
Shorthanded
Shorthanded Without sufficient crew.
Shot
Shot A short length of chain, usually 15 fathoms (90 feet). (Method of measuring chain.)
Shove
Shove in
in your
your oar
oar To break into a conversation.
Shrouds
Shrouds Side stays from the masthead to the rail..
Moderate sized tanker designed for the regular short-haul transport of oil between FPSO vessels or single point
Shuttle
Shuttle tanker
tanker
mooring buoys and coastal refinery terminals.
A beam placed on the side of the hull about two-thirds the distance from the center line to the bilgeway. This ia
Side
Side keelson
keelson
uesd as a stiffener logitudinally for the flat bottom of a vessel.
Side
Side lights
lights The red and green running lights, carried on the port and starboard sides respectively, of vessels under-way.
Side
Side loader
loader A lift truck fitted with lifting attachments operating to one side for handling containers.
The edges of plating that are visible are called sight edges. The sight edge is on the outside of the shell, on the
Sight
Sight edges
edges tops of decks and inner bottom plating, and on the opposite side from the stiffeners on bulkheads. The edge that
is covered is called the landing edge.
SIGTTO
SIGTTO Society of International Gas Tanker & Terminal Operators
Sing
Sing out
out To call out.
SIRE
SIRE Ship Inspection Report
Sister
Sister hooks
hooks Two iron flatsided hooks reversed to one another.
The after part of the keel, upon which the stern post rests.

Skeg
Skeg

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Skeg

Skids
Skids Beams sometimes fitted over the decks for the stowage of heavy boats or cargo.
Are bearers (timber or steel) positioned under cargo to enable fork lift handling at port, and for ease of rigging
SKIDS
SKIDS
and lashing on board ship.
The plating of a ship. The inside skin is sometimes called the ceiling, the outside skin the case. It consists of steel
Skin
Skin
plates laid in alternate inside and outside strakes.
Skipper
Skipper The captain.
Sky
Sky pilot
pilot A chaplain.

Skylight
Skylight An erection built on a deck, having glass lights in its top and fitted over an opening in the deck for the purpose of
admitting light and air to a compartment below.

SL
SL Bale (capacity)

SLA
SLA Safety Level Approach
Slack
Slack The part of a rope hanging loose; the opposite of taut.
Slack
Slack water
water The condition of the tide when there is no horizontal motion.
Slamming
Slamming The impact of the hull, usually the bow area, with the sea surface when in waves.
SLF
SLF Stability and Load Lines and on Fishing Vessels’ Safety
One of the structures on each side of and parallel to the keel, supporting the crandle under the bilgeways on
Sliding
Sliding ways
ways which the vessel rests in launching. The sliding ways form the inclined plane down which the vessel slides, made
of planks laid on blocks of wood.
Slip
Slip To let go by unshackling, as a cable.
Slop
Slop chest
chest Stock of merchandise, such as clothing, tobacco, etc., maintained aboard merchant ships for sale to the crew
Slop
Slop chute
chute Chute for dumping garbage overboard.
An opening in the lower part of a bulkhead fitted with a sliding watertight gat or door having an operating rod
Sluice
Sluice extending to the upper deck or decks. These openings are useful in center line bulkheads, as in case of damage to
one side of the ship the water may be quickly admitted to the other side before the ship is dangerously listed.
Slush
Slush White-lead and tallow used on standing rigging.
Smart
Smart Snappy, seamanlike; a smart ship is an efficient one.
SMC
SMC Safety Management Certificate
Smokestack
Smokestack A metal chimney or passage through which the smoke and gases are led from the uptakes to the open air.
Smothering
Smothering lines
lines Pipe lines to a compartment for smothering a fire by steam or by a chemical.
SMT
SMT Ship Mean Time
Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers (USA).

SNAME
SNAME
SNAME

Snibs
Snibs Handle that can be operated from both sides of a watertight door.
Snipe
Snipe To cut a sharp bevel on the end of a stiffener or beam.
Snub
Snub To check suddenly.
Sny
Sny To twist a plate into an uneven warped shape on a mold.
SOA
SOA Speed of Advance
SOC
SOC Shipper Owned Container
SOF
SOF Statement Of Facts
A plate put on over a break or hole, and secured with tap bolts. It is made watertight with a gasket such as canvas
Soft
Soft plate
plate
saturated in red lead.
SOHSP
SOHSP Shipboard Occupational Health and Safety Program
SOLAS
SOLAS International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea
A plate fitted to the top of a foundation to which the base of a machine is bolted. Also a small plate fitted at the
Sole
Sole patch
patch end of a stanchion.

Sole
Sole plate
plate A plate fitted to the top of a foundation to which the base of a machine is bolted. Also a small plate fitted at the

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Sole
Sole plate
plate A plate fitted to the top of a foundation to which the base of a machine is bolted. Also a small plate fitted at the
end of a stanchion.
SOP
SOP Standard Operating Procedure
Sound
Sound To measure the depth of the water with a lead. Also said of a whale when it dives to the bottom.
Sound
Sound out
out aa person
person To obtain his reaction to something.
Sounding
Sounding Measuring the depth of water or other liquid.
Sounding
Sounding Measured depth of liquid contents in a tank.
Sounding
Sounding pipe
pipe Vertical pipe in oil or water tank, used to guide a sounding device when measuring the depth of liquid in tank.
Southwester
Southwester An oil-skin hat with broad rear brim.
SP
SP Safe Port
The distance between any two similar members, as the span of the frames. Also used to describe the length of a
Span
Span
member between its supports, as the span of a girder.
Spanner
Spanner A form of open-head wrench.
Spar
Spar A pole used for a hoist or in scaffolding.
Sparks
Sparks The radio operator.
SPC
SPC Self-polishing copolymer antifouling paint.
Speak
Speak To communicate with a vessel in sight.
The ratio of the weight of a given volume of any substance to the weight of an equal volume of distilled water,
and is found by dividing the first weight by the second. Since the distilled water weights approximately 62.4
Specific
Specific gravity
gravity pounds per cubic foot, any substance, a cubic foot of which weighs less than this, has a specific gravity of less
than one, and will float on water. Any substance of greater weight per cubic foot has a specific gravity of more
than one and will sink>
Specified details relating to the performance, operating conditions, construction and quality of an engineered
Specifications
Specifications
item.
A single casting containing the bearings for and supporting the ends of the propeller shafts in a twin-screw vessel.
It consists of arms of pear-shaped section extending outboard from each side of the center line of the ship to
Spectacle
Spectacle frame
frame
bosses, taking the bearings of the propeller shafts. Used in large metchant vessels in place of shaft struts or
brackets.
Spiling
Spiling The curve of a plate or strake as it narrows to a point.
Spill
Spill To empty the wind out of a sail.
A method of uniting the ends of two ropes by first unlaying the strands, then interweaving them so as to form a
Splice
Splice
continuous rope.
SPM
SPM Self Protection Measures
SPM
SPM Single Point Mooring
SPMOMG
SPMOMG SPM Operating & Maintenance Guidelines
An addition to the side of a vessel that is outside its normal hull and which provides added deck space and/or
greater flotation stability.

Sponson

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Sponson
Sponson

Sponson

Sponson

Spote-faced
Spote-faced Indicates that an annular bacing has been made about a bolt hole to allow a nut or head to seat evenly.
Spotting
Spotting Placing a container where required to be loaded or unloaded.
Spreader
Spreader Beam or beam structure temporarily attached to and spanning the extremes of an item being lifted.
Spring
Spring line
line Usually of the best wire hawsers; one of the first lines sent out in mooring. “Springs in and springs out” a vessel.
A steel or wooden post or pile that is placed vertically through a well in the hull of a vessel and which, when
Spud
Spud
lowered to the bottom of the waterway, anchors the vessel.
A steel or wooden post or pile that is placed vertically through a well in the hull of a vessel and which, when
Spud
Spud
lowered to the bottom of the waterway, anchors the vessel.
Spudwell
Spudwell A casing which is attached to or passes through the hull of a vessel through which a spud is raised or lowered.
Spudwell
Spudwell A casing which is attached to or passes through the hull of a vessel through which a spud is raised or lowered.
Squall
Squall A sudden and violent gust of wind.
Square
Square frame
frame A frame having no bevel on its flange. A midship frame
A deck dryer composed of a flat piece of wood shod with rubber, and a handle. Stanchions. Wooden or metal
Squeegee
Squeegee
uprights used as supports (posts).
SRBL
SRBL Signing and Releasing Bill of Lading
SRML
SRML Single Rope Maximum Loading
SSAS
SSAS Ship Security Alert System
SSBA
SSBA Surface Supplied Breathing Apparatus
SSHEX
SSHEX (or
(or SATSHEX)
SATSHEX) Saturdays, Sundays, Holidays Excluded
SSHINC
SSHINC Saturdays, Sundays, Holidays Included
SSRS
SSRS Ship Security Report System
Protruding hydraulically-activated fin(s) which reduces roll amplitude through oscillatory action creating
alternating lift vectors phased to counter roll.

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Stabiliser(s)
Stabiliser(s)

Stabiliser

Stabiliser

Stability
Stability Tendency of the ship to remain upright.
It is paramount that a vessel is stable in all respects at all times. When cargo is loaded / discharged, the stability is
STABILITY
STABILITY
monitored by a computer, which takes into account the weight and position of cargo within the vessel.
Stack
Stack The ship’s funnel or smokestack.
Stackcar
Stackcar An articulated multiple platform rail car that allows containers to be double stacked.
Stacktrain
Stacktrain A rail service whereby rail cars carry containers stacked two high on specially operated unit trains.
Stagger
Stagger To zigzag a line, or row of rivet holes, etc.
Upright supports fastened together with horizontal and diagonal braces forming supports for planks which form a
Staging
Staging
working platform.
An iron post or pillar for supporting the decks.

Stanchion
Stanchion

Stanchion

Stand
Stand by
by A preparatory order
Standard
Standard compass
compass The magnetic compass used by the navigator as a standard.
Standing
Standing part
part That part of a line or fall which is secured.
Standing
Standing rigging
rigging That part of the ship’s rigging which is permanently secured and not movable, such as stay, shrouds, etc.
Collars, forged of angle bars, to fit around continuous members passing through bulkheads or decks for
Stapling
Stapling
watertightness.
The right side of a vessel looking forward.

Starboard
Starboard
Starboard

Stateroom
Stateroom A private room or cabin for the accommodation of passengers or officers.
Static
Static load
load Structural loading of constant magnitude and application.
Station
Station bill
bill The posted bill showing stations of the crew at maneuvers and emergency drills.

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Station
Station bill
bill The posted bill showing stations of the crew at maneuvers and emergency drills.
Staunch
Staunch Still, seaworthy, able.
Stay
Stay A rope of hemp, wire or iron leading forward or aft for supporting a mast.
The rope, whether hemp or wire, that support the lower masts, topmasts, topgallant masts, etc., in a fore and aft
Stays
Stays
direction.
STCW
STCW Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping
Steady
Steady An order to hold a vessel on the course she is heading.
Stealer
Stealer or
or steeler
steeler The foremost or aftermost plate in a strake, which is dropped short of the stem or stern post of a vessel.
Steerage
Steerage way
way The slowest speed at which a vessel steers.
Compartment above the rudder(s) containing the vessel’s steering actuation system(s).

Steering
Steering flat
flat

Steering flat

Steering
Steering gear
gear A term applied to the steering wheels, leads, steering engine and fittings by which the rudder is turned.
Steering
Steering gear
gear flat
flat The deck above the stern overhang, on which the rudder steering mechanism is installed.

Steering
Steering wheel
wheel The wheel operating the steering gear and by which the vessel is steered.
The upright post or bar of the bow.

Stem
Stem
stem

Stem
Stem foot
foot The forward end of the keel, into which the stem is fitted.
Stemming the tide or sea means to head the vessel’s bow directly into the current or waves. Overcome adverse
Stem
Stem the
the tide
tide
circumstances.

Stepping-up
Stepping-up pieces
pieces Same as poppets.
The after part of the vessel.

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Stern
Stern

stern

stern

Stern
Stern anchor
anchor An anchor carried at the stern.
Stern
Stern board
board Progress backwards.
Stern
Stern door
door Watertight horizontally-hinged door integral to the transom on a stern-loading Ro-Ro vessel.
Large casting attached to after end of keel to form ship’s stern. Includes rudder post, propeller post, and aperture
Stern
Stern frame
frame
for the propeller.
A pipe leading to the opening at the side of poop deck for passing through of cables, chains, etc., for mooring
Stern
Stern pipe
pipe
purposes.
The after post to which the rudder is hinged and placed on the skeg, with sufficient clearance for the propeller to
Stern
Stern post
post
revolve.
Stern- (transom) mounted hinged platform located to permit the loading/discharge of vehicles aboard a Ro-Ro
Stern
Stern ramp
ramp
vessel.
A propulsor installed near the stern to provide transverse a thrust component enhancing manoeuvrability.

Stern
Stern thruster
thruster

Stern thruster

The bearing which supports the propeller shaft where it emerges from the ship. A cast iron or steel sylinder, fitted
with brass bushings which are lined with lignum vitae or white metal bearing surfaces, upon which the propeller
shaft, enclosed in a brass sleeve, rotates.

Stern
Stern tube
tube

Stern tube

Sternlog
Sternlog The reinforced, vertical shell plating which connects the stern rake bottom to the rake deck of a barge.

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Sternlog
Sternlog The reinforced, vertical shell plating which connects the stern rake bottom to the rake deck of a barge.
Sternlog
Sternlog The reinforced, vertical shell plating which connects the stern rake bottom to the rake deck of a barge.
Stevedore
Stevedore A professional cargo loader and unloader.
An angle bar or stringer fastened to a surface to strengthen it and make it rigid.

Stiffener
Stiffener
Stiffener

STOLGOE
STOLGOE The Safe Transfer of Liquefied Gas in an Offshore Environment
A wood plug driven through a scarf joint to stop water from leaking into the ship. The term is also applied to
Stop
Stop water
water pieces of canvas soaked in oil, red lead, etc., placed between the faying surfaces of plates and shapes where
water or oil is apt to work its way through.
A short length of rope secured at one end, and used in securing or checking a running rope, e.g., deck stopper,
Stopper
Stopper
boat fall stopper, etc.
Storeroom
Storeroom The space provided for stowage of provisions or other materials.
Storm
Storm warning
warning An announced warning of an approach of a storm.
Sto-ro
Sto-ro A vessel with capacity for breakbulk cargo as well as vehicles or trailer borne cargo.
Stove
Stove Broken in.
Stow
Stow To put in place.
Stowage
Stowage factor
factor The average cubic space occupied by one ton weight of cargo as stowed aboard a ship.
Stowaway
Stowaway A person illegally aboard and in hiding.
Type of equipment that picks up and transports containers between its legs for movement within a container
Straddle
Straddle carrier
carrier
terminal.
Strake
Strake A continuous line of plates on a vessel’s side, reaching from stem to stern.
A number of yarns, twisted together and which in turn may be twisted into rope; a rope is stranded when a strain
Strand
Strand is broken; rope may be designated by the number of strands composing. Rope is commonly three-stranded. A
vessel run ashore is said to be stranded.
A ring of rope made by splicing the ends, and used for slinging weights, holding the parts of a block together, etc.
Strap
Strap A rope, wire or iron binding, encircling a block and with a thimble seized into it for taking a hook. Small straps
used to attach a handybilly to the hauling part of a line.
Streamlined
Streamlined rudder
rudder A rudder with a bullnosed round forward edge which tapers regularly to a thin after edge.
A large beam or angle fitted in various parts of the vessel to give additional strength. Depending on their location,
Stringer
Stringer
stringers are known as bilge stringers, side stringers, hold stringers, etc.
A fore-and-aft member of deck plating which strengthens the connection between the beams and the frames, and
Stringer
Stringer plate
plate keeps the beams square to the shell.

Strip
Strip theory
theory A simplified theory for calculating ship motions.
Stripping
Stripping (unstuffing)
(unstuffing) Unloading of a container.
Strongback
Strongback A light spar set fore and aft on a boat, serving as a spread for the boat cover.
Support structure (with streamlined cross-section) for propeller shafting in a multi-screw vessel. [Alt shaft
Strut
Strut
bracket.]
STS
STS Ship to Ship
STW
STW Standards of Training and Watchkeeping
SUB
SUB Subject (to)

Suezmax
Suezmax A term applied to cargo ships which are just able to transit the Suez Canal.
Person employed by a ship owner, shipping company, charterer of a ship or shipper of goods to supervise cargo
SUPERCARGO
SUPERCARGO
handling operations. Often called a port captain.
(1) General term for sections of a vessel constructed on and above the upper or main decks of a vessel. (2) A more
restrictive term under the International Convention on Load Lines, (1966) detached enclosed structure on the
freeboard deck and extending transversely to within 4% of the breadth from the vessel’s sides.

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Superstructure
Superstructure

Superstructure

Surge
Surge To ease a line to prevent it from parting or pulling, meanwhile holding the strain.
Swab
Swab A mop.
SWAD
SWAD Salt Water Arrival Draft
To bear or force down. An instrument having a groove on its under side for the purpose of giving shape to any
Swage
Swage
piece subjected to it when receiving a blow from a hammer.
Swamp
Swamp Sink by filling with water.
Swash
Swash bulkhead
bulkhead A partial bulkhead used for the same purpose as a swash plate.
Longitudinal or transverse perforated bulkhead (baffle) fitted in a tank to reduce the surging of the contents.

Swash
Swash bulkhead
bulkhead (plate)
(plate)

Swash bulkhead (plate)

Swash
Swash plates
plates Plates fixed in tanks to prevent excessive movement of the contained liquid.

SWDD
SWDD Salt Water Departure Draft
Swell
Swell A large wave.
The evolution of swinging a ship’s head through several headings to obtain compass errors for the purpose of
Swing
Swing ship
ship
making a deviation table.
Swinging
Swinging over
over Swing of the boom from one side of the ship to the other when the tack is changed.
SWL
SWL Safe working load; certified load limit applied to lifting appliances and gear.
SWL
SWL Safe Working Load
A platform fitted with winches and anchor chain. The winches lower the platform into the water, the vessel is
Syncrolift
Syncrolift
floated an and the platform is raised. Sometimes the vessel can be rolled to a repair station on railroad track.
Any combination of ropes and blocks that multiplies power. A single whip, improperly called tackle, gives no
Tackle
Tackle
increase in power, but a change in direction of the power but a change in direction of the power applied.
The log mounted on the taffrail and consisting of a rotator, a log line and recording device (to measure distance
Taffrail
Taffrail log
log
run through the water).
Aftermost section of the propeller shafting, carrying propeller.

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Tailshaft

Tailshaft
Tailshaft

Tailshaft

Tailshaft

Take
Take aa turn
turn To pass a turn around a belaying pin or cleat.
Take
Take in
in To lower and furl the sails.
Taking
Taking on
on more
more than
than you
you can
can
Loaded with more cargo than a ship can safely navigate with. Drunk.
carry
carry
Tank
Tank top
top The plating laid on the bottom floors of a ship, which forms the top side of the tank sections or double bottom.
Tanker
Tanker A ship designed to carry various types of liquid cargo, from oil and gasoline to molasses, water, and vegetable oil.
Compertments for liquids or gases. They may be formed by the ship’s structure as double bottom tanks,
Tanks
Tanks
peaktanks, deep tanks, etc., or may be independent of ship’s structure and installed on special supports.
Tare
Tare weight
weight The weight of wrapping or packing; added to the net weight of cargo to determine.
Tarpaulin
Tarpaulin Heavy canvas used as a covering.
Taut
Taut With no slack; strict as to discipline.
TCPA
TCPA Time to Closest Point of Approach
A rolled shape, generally of mild steel, having a cross section shaped like the letter “T”. In ship work it is used for
Tee
Tee bar
bar bulkhead stiffeners, bracket and floor clips, etc. The size is denoted by dimensions of its cross section and weight
per running foot.
Telegraph
Telegraph Means of signalling from bridge to engine room, etc.
Template
Template A pattern made in themold loft from wood strips or heavy paper.
The end of a piece of wood cut into the form of a rectangular prism, designed to be set into a cavity of a like form
Tenon
Tenon
in another piece which is termed mortise.
The head of water corresponding to the pressure prescribed as a test for bulkheads, tanks, compartments, etc.
Test
Test head
head
Test heads are prescribed to insure satisfactory water or oil tightness, and also as tests of strength.
Twenty-foot equivalent unit. A standard of measurement used in container transport based on the dimensions of
TEU
TEU
a container 20 ft long ´ 8 ft wide ´ 8.5 ft high; (6050 ´ 2440 ´ 2590 mm).
That
That’s
’s high
high An order to stop hoisting.
Thimble
Thimble An iron ring with a groove on the outside for a rope grommet or splice.
Tholes
Tholes The pins in the unwale of a boat which are used for carlocs.
Thread
Thread The spiral part of a screw.

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Three
Three sheets
sheets to
to the
the wind
wind Sailing with three sheet ropes running free, thus making the ship barely able to keep headway and control. Drunk.
Throwing
Throwing aa Fish
Fish Saluting
A bearing arrangement, aft of the engine(s), by which the thrust of the propeller is transmitted to the ship.

Thrust
Thrust block
block

Thrust block

Thwart
Thwart The athwartships seats in a boat on which oars-men sit.
Thwarts
Thwarts Boards extending across a rowboat just below the gunwale to stiffen the boat and to provide seats.
Thwartships
Thwartships At right angles to the fore and aft line (across the ship).
Tie
Tie plates
plates A single fore-and-aft or diagonal course of plating attached to deck beans under wood deck to give extra strength.

Tiller
Tiller An are attached to rudder head for operating the rudder.
TLV
TLV Threshold Limit Value
TM
TM Tonnage Measurement
TMSA
TMSA Tanker Management Self Assessment
Toe
Toe The edge of the flange of an angle.
A small piece of wood or bar of iron inserted in a knot to render it more secure, or to make it more readily
Toggle
Toggle
unfastened or slipped.
A pin, usually having an eye worked on the head, and having a point so constructed, that a portion of it it may
Toggle
Toggle pin
pin
turm on a pivot pin, forming a tee shaped looking device to keep the pin in place.
The tongue of a stern post or propeller post is the raised middle section which is fastened to the vertical keel. A a
Tongue
Tongue
rule the tongue is raised twice as high as the sides of the dished keel.
A measure of the volume of a ship. In simple terms the gross tonnage (GRT)represents the total enclosed volume
of the ship and the net tonnage (NT) represents the volume of cargo and passenger spaces. Tonnage is defined by
Tonnage
Tonnage internationally agreed formulae, and is used for dues for drydocking and pilotage and port and harbour dues etc.
It should be noted that tonnage represents a function of volume and should not be confused with deadweight
mass (tonnes), Lightship mass (tonnes) or displacement mass (tonnes).
Tonnage
Tonnage openings
openings Openings in shelter deck bulkheads for purpose of economy in tonnage rating.
The entire internal cubic capacity of a vessel expressed in “tons” taken at 100 cubic feet each. The peculiarities of

Tonnage,
Tonnage, gross
gross design and construction of the various tyoes of vessels and their parts necessitate certain explanatory rulings in
connection with this term.
The internal cubic capacity of a vessel which remains after the capacities of certain specified spaces have been
Tonnage,
Tonnage, net
net
deducted from the gross tonnage.
Tonnes
Tonnes per
per centimetre
centimetre
The extra buoyancy experienced due to increasing the draught by 1 cm.
immersion
immersion (TPC)
(TPC)
Top
Top breadth
breadth lines
lines The width of a vessel measured across the shelter deck.
Top-heavy
Top-heavy Too heavy aloft.
A rope or chain extending from the head of a boom or gaff to a mast, or to the vessel’s structure for the purpose
Topping
Topping lift
lift
of supporting the weight of the boom or gaff and its loads, and permitting them to be totated at a certain level.
Topside
Topside That portion of the side of the hull which is above the desidgned water line.
Torsional
Torsional strength
strength The strength of the hull in resisting twisting about a longitudinal axis.
Tow
Tow To pull through water; vessels towed.
Towage
Towage Charges for the services of tugs assisting a ship or other vessels in ports.
TPA
TPA Third Party Auditor

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TPA
TPA Third Party Auditor
TPRG
TPRG Terminal Policy Review Group
TPSG
TPSG Terminal Policy Steering Group
Track
Track The path of the vessel.
A system of vertical blades used to propel a vessel in the water. Used on some harbour tugs and ferries. Made by

Tractor
Tractor propulsion
propulsion Volith. Sometimes called a cyclonic system in reference to the way the blades are mounted under the hull, and
the way they turn.

The practically steady winds blowing toward the equator, N.E. in the northern and SE. in the southern
Trades
Trades
hemisphere.
Tramp
Tramp line
line An ocean carrier company operating vessels on other than regular routes and schedules.
A distribution method whereby containers or cargo are transferred from one vessel to another to reach their final
destination, compared to a direct service from the load port of origin to the discharge port of destination. This
Transhipment
Transhipment
method is used to gain better vessel utilization and thereby economies of scale by consolidating cargo onto larger
vessels while transiting in the direction of main trade routes.
Square-ended stern.

Transom
Transom
Transom

Transom

A strong deck beam in the after end of a vessel directly over the stern post, and connected at each end to the
Transom
Transom beam
beam
transom frame. The cant beams supporting the deck plating in the overhang of the stern radiate from it.
Transom
Transom frame
frame or
or plate
plate A horizontal frame under a ship’s counter.
Transverse
Transverse (1) Alignment perpendicular to the centreplane of a vessel. (2) Deck beam.
Transverse
Transverse Placed at right angles to the eel, such as a transverse frame, transverse bulkhead, etc. See also Abeam Athwart.
A partition wall of planking or plating running in an athwartship direction across a portion or the whole breadht
Transverse
Transverse bulkhead
bulkhead of a ship. The principal function of transverse bulkheads is to divide the ship into a series of watertight
compartments so that any rupture of the shell will not cause the loss of the vessel.
Transverse
Transverse planes
planes Vertical planes normal to the centreline plane of the ship.
Transverse
Transverse sections
sections The intersections of transverse planes with the envelope of the ship’s hull.
Transverse
Transverse stability
stability A measure of a ship’s stability in relation to rotation about a longitudinal axis.
Fishing vessel designed for operation involving the towing of submerged nets.

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trawler

Trawler
Trawler

trawler

TRCF
TRCF Total Recorded Case Frequency
Tread
Tread The length of a vessel’s keel.
Treenails
Treenails Wooden pins employed instead of nails or spikes to secure the planking of a wooden vessel to the frames.
Trice
Trice To lash up.
Tricing
Tricing line
line A line used for suspending articles.
Trick
Trick The period of time during which the wheelsman remains at the wheel.
Trim
Trim The longitudinal attitude of a vessel, i.e., the difference between forward and aft drafts.
Trip
Trip To let go.
Tripping
Tripping brackets
brackets Flat bars placed at various points on a deck girder or beams as reinforcement.
Tripping
Tripping line
line A line used for capsizing the sea anchor and hauling it in.
Truck
Truck The flat circular piece secured on the top of the mast.
Vertical space or passage formed by bulkheads or casings extending 1 or more decks providing access or through
Trunk
Trunk
which piping or cabling may be conducted.

Trunk
Trunk bulkhead
bulkhead The casing or partition that forms an enclosures running from deck to deck and surrounding the hatch openings.
A small and handy instrument for trying the square of surfaces while planing or fairing up with any tool. They
Try
Try square
square come in various sezes and should be handled carefully to avoid knocking them out of true, and thus causing
material to be spoiled by inaccurate work.
TSGB
TSGB Training Ship Golden Bear (California Maritime Academy)
TSS
TSS Traffic Separation Scheme
TTL
TTL Total
Tuck
Tuck The after part of a ship where the sheel plating meets tn the run and is tucked together.
Small powerful and highly manoeuvrable vessel designed for towing, assisting and manoeuvring larger vessels in
port or restricted waterways.

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Tug
Tug

Tug

Tug

Tug
Tug boat
boat A small vessel fitted for towing.
Said of the sides of a vessel when thwy lean in at the top. When vertical they are called wallsided, when they lean
out, flaring.

Tumble
Tumble home
home

Tumblehome

Turn
Turn in
in all
all standing
standing Go to bed without undressing.

Turn
Turn to
to An order to commence ship’s work.
Turn
Turn turtle
turtle To capsize.
The time it takes between the arrival of a vessel and it’s departure from port; frequently used as a measure of
Turnaround
Turnaround time
time
port efficiency.
A connecting device usually used with cable or chain and which takes up slack by rotating on its screw threads.
back

Turnbuckle

Turnbuckle
Turnbuckle

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Turnbuckle

Used to pull objects together. A link threaded on both ends of a short bar, one left handed, the other right
Turnbuckles
Turnbuckles
handed.
Structures designed for the mounting and handling of the guns and accessories (usually main battery guns) of a
Turrets
Turrets war vessel. Turrents are constructed so as to revolve about a vertical axis usually by means of electrical or
hydraulic machinery.
TW
TW Tween Decker

Tween
Tween decks
decks The space between any continuous decks.
Intermediate deck within a cargo space above the lower hold and below the upper deck.

Tween-deck
Tween-deck
Tween-deck

Twenty-foot
Twenty-foot equivalent
equivalent unit
unit Container size standard of twenty feet. Two twenty-foot containers (TEUs) equal one FEU. Container vessel
(TEU)
(TEU) capacity and port throughput capacity are frequently referred to in TEUs.
Two
Two blocks
blocks When the two blocks of a tackle have been drawn as close together as possible.
UKHO
UKHO United Kingdom Hydrographic Office (provides AIO)
Ultra large crude carrier. Tanker of deadweight greater than 320,000 tonnes.

ULCC
ULCC

ULCC

ULCC

A small hinged opening on a tank for gauging or sampling cargo. The ullage is the distance from the top of this
Ullage
Ullage hatch
hatch
hatch to the top of the cargo. It is the “opposite” of innage.
A small, covered opening in the top of a cargo tank through which measurements are made to determine the
Ullage
Ullage opening
opening
level of the liquid in the tank.
A metal shield in the form of a trustrum of qa cone, fitted to the outer casing of the smokestack over the air
Umbrella
Umbrella

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Umbrella
Umbrella
casing to keep out the weather.
Unbend
Unbend To untie.
Under
Under below
below A warning from aloft (heads up).
Undermanned
Undermanned Insufficient number of crew; shorthanded.
Undertow
Undertow A subsurface current in a surf.

Underway
Underway Said of a vessel when not at anchor, nor made fast to the shore, or aground.
The consolidation of a quantity of individual items into one large shipping unit for easier and faster handling
Unitization
Unitization
through methods such as palletizing, stripping, slinging and containerization.
Unloader
Unloader Port equipment employed to unload ships carrying dry bulk cargo.
Unmoor
Unmoor To remove the ropes that attach a ship to the shore.
Unship
Unship To remove anything from its usual place. To take apart.
Unstuffing
Unstuffing (or
(or stripping)
stripping) Unloading of a container.
Unwatched
Unwatched Said of a lighthouse not tended.
Up
Up anchor
anchor Hoist or haul in the anchor.
Upper
Upper deck
deck A partial deck above the main deck amidships.
Superstructures, or deck erections located on or above the weather deck. Sometimes used with reference to a
Upper
Upper works
works
ship’s entire above-water structure.
A sheet metal conduit connecting the boiler furnace with thw base of the smokestack. It conveys the smoke and
hot gases from the boiler to the stack, and should be made double thickness with an air space between to prevent
Uptake
Uptake
radiation. Swinging dampers for controlling the fires are fitted in the uptake.

USC
USC Unless Sooner Commenced
USL
USL Uniform Shipping Laws (Australian federal code for the design, construction and stability of vessels.)
UU
UU Unless Used
UUIUATUTC
UUIUATUTC Unless Used If Used Actual Time Used To Count
A pipeline connected to the top of a cargo tank that channels the displaced tank vapors to a shoreside control
Vapor
Vapor Header
Header
system.
Vast
Vast An order to cease (stop).
Vertical center of gravity; an important computation used in the determination of the stability of a vessel with its
VCG
VCG
cargo. back
Vertical center of gravity; an important computation used in the determination of the stability of a vessel with its
VCG
VCG
cargo. back
Veer
Veer To slack off or move off; also said of a change of direction of wind, when the wind shifts to a different direction.
VEF
VEF Vessel Experience Factor
VEL
VEL Velocity
The process of providing fresh air to the various spaced, and removing foul or heated air, gases, etc., from them.
Ventilation
Ventilation
This may be accomplished by natural sraft or by mechanical means.

Ventilations,
Ventilations, bell-mouthed
bell-mouthed or
or Terminals on open decks in the form of a 90o elbow with enlarged or bell shaped openings, so formed as to
cowl
cowl obtain an increase of air supply when facing the wind and to increase the velocity of air down the ventilation pipe.
Ventilator
Ventilator Installation or nacelle for the intake or exhaust of ventilation air for enclosed spaces.
Ventilator
Ventilator cowl
cowl The swiveled opening at the top of a ventilator.
A plate running in a fore and aft direction connecting to the flat keel and keel rider plates, it is usually connected
Vertical
Vertical keel
keel
by two angles at the top and bottom for a riveted job or welded to the keel and keel rider.
Declarations made by international ocean carriers relating to the ship’s crew and contents at both the port of
Vessel
Vessel manifest
manifest departure and arrival. All bills af lading are registered on the manifest.

Vessel control and management system (VTMS) usually under the authority of the harbormaster, comprising
Vessel
Vessel traffic
traffic management
management equipment (such as radars, tracking software, and radio communications), personnel (traffic operators0, and
system
system regulations. Most larger maritime ports have relatively advanced vessel traffic management systems for maritime
safety, protection of the enviroment, and coordination of marine services.
VHF
VHF Very High Frequency
VIQ
VIQ Vessel Inspection Questionnaire
A small inclined awning running around the pilot house over the windows or air ports to exclude the glare of the
Visor
Visor sun or to prevent rain or spray from coming in the openings when the glazed frames are dropped or opened.
They may be of canvas or metal.
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They may be of canvas or metal.

VLCC
VLCC Very large crude carrier. Tanker of deadweight between 160,000 and 320,000 tonnes.
VLOC
VLOC Very Large Ore Carrier
VOC
VOC Volatile Organic Compound

A tube designed for the carriage of the human voice from one part of the ship to another. In its simplest form the
voice tube system includes a speaking connection between the pilot house and engine room only. In large war
Voice
Voice tube
tube
vessels the system becomes very complicated. Voice tubes are generally made up to about four inchesin diameter
and fitted with appropriate speaking and listening terminals.
Void
Void space
space Enclosed space (often watertight) intentionally left empty; (e.g., cofferdam).
Void
Void tank
tank A watertight space that does not carry ballast or cargo. For floatation.
VP
VP Voyage Plan
VPD
VPD Vessel Protection Detachment
VPD
VPD Vessel Pays Dues
VPQ
VPQ Vessel Particulars Questionnaire
VRM
VRM Variable Range Marker
VTS
VTS Vessel Tracking System
Waist
Waist The portion of the deck between the forecastle and quarterdeck of a sailing vessel.
Wake
Wake The disturbed water left behind by a moving ship.
Wales
Wales See Harpings.
A room or space on shipboard set aside for use of the officers for social purpose and also used as their mess or
Wardroom
Wardroom
dining room.
WASP
WASP Weather Analysis Service Provider
Waste
Waste Cotton yarn used for cleaning purposes.
A canvas cover secured over a funnel when not in use. Sailor’s headwear, woolen type, capable of covering the
Watch
Watch cap
cap
ears in cold weather.
Watch
Watch officer
officer An officer taking his turn as officer of the watch.
Water
Water breaker
breaker A small cask carried in ship’s boats for drinking purposes.
Lines drawn parallel with the surface of the water at varing heights on a ship’s outline. In the sheer plan they are
Water
Water lines
lines straight and horizontal, in the half-breadth plan they show the form of the ship at each of the successive heights

marked.
Waterline
Waterline The line painted on the side of the vessel at the water’s edge to indicate the proper trim.
Waterlogged
Waterlogged A ship full of water but still afloat.
Water-logged
Water-logged Filled with water but afloat.
Water
Water’s
’s edge
edge The surface of the water.
Capable of preventing the ingress of water under a head of water likely to occur in the intact or damaged
Watertight
Watertight
condition.
A partition of plating reinforced where necessary with stiffering bars and capable of preventing the flow of water
Watertight
Watertight bulkhead
bulkhead
under pressure from one compartment to another.
A space or compartment whithin a ship having its top, bottom, ans sides constructed in such a manner as to
Watertight
Watertight compartment
compartment
prevent the leakage of water into or from the space.
Watertight
Watertight door
door A door so constructed that, when closed, it will prevent water under pressure from passing throught.
Waterway
Waterway A gutter-like recess on the shelter deck at the midship section of a ship, which delivers excess water the sea.
An angle or flat bar attached to a deck stringer plate forming the in-board boundary of a waterway and serving as
Waterway
Waterway bar
bar
an abutment for the wood deck plating.

Document, issued by a shipping line to a shipper, which serves as a receipt for the goods and evidence of the
Waybill
Waybill
contract carrier.
Ways
Ways The timber sills upon which a ship is built.
WCCON
WCCON Whether Customs Cleared Or Not
WCDC
WCDC Wind and Current Drag Coefficient Task Group
Uppermost hull deck exposed to the weather at all times.

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Weather
Weather deck
deck

Weather deck

Weather
Weather eye
eye To keep a weather eye is to be on the alert (heads up).
Weather
Weather side
side The windward side (from where the wind is blowing).
Capable of preventing the ingress of water in any wind and wave conditions up to those specified as critical
Weathertight
Weathertight
design conditions.
Web
Web The vertical portion of a beam, the athwartship portion of a frame.
Transverse side frame with deeper web, spaced at multiples of main frame stations for the provision of extra
strength.

Web
Web frame
frame

Web frame

The very slow issuance of water through the seamsof a ship’s structure or from a containing vessel in insufficient
Weeping
Weeping
quantity to produce a stream.
Weigh
Weigh Lift anchor off the bottom.
Weigh
Weigh anchor
anchor To lift anchor off the sea bottom.
Welding
Welding The method of fastening steel objects together by fusing the metal with a gas flame or an electrical arc.
Welding
Welding bead
bead A seam made by closing a joint with molten metal applied with a welding stick.
Well
Well The space between the first bulkhead of a long poop deck or deck house and a fore-castle bulkhead.
A sunken deck on a marchant vessel, fitted between the forecastle and a long poop or continuous bridge house or
Well
Well deck
deck
raised quarter deck.
Well
Well enough
enough An order meaning sufficient (enough).
WGS84
WGS84 World Geodetic System 1984
Whaler
Whaler Any steel or wooden member used for temporarily bracing a bulkhead, deck section, etc.
Structure built alongside the water or perpendicular to the shore where ships berth for loading or discharging
Wharf
Wharf
goods.
Wharfage
Wharfage The charge that an owner of a facility charges for the movement of cargo through that facility.
Wheel
Wheel Nickname for propeller, steering gear control.
Where
Where away
away A call requesting direction in answer to the report of a lookout that an object has been sighted.
A method of preventing the ends of a line from unlaying or fraying by turns of small stuff, stout twine or seizing
Whipping
Whipping
wire with the ends tucked.
White
White cap
cap The white froth on the crests of waves.
WIBON
WIBON Whether In Berth Or Not
Wide
Wide berth
berth At a considerable distance.
WIFPON
WIFPON Whether In Free Pratique or not
Wildcat
Wildcat A sprocket wheel on the windlass for taking links of the chain cable.
A hoisting or pulling machine fitted with a horizontali single or double srum. A small drum is generally fitted on

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one or both ends of the shaft supporting the hoisting drum. These small drums are called gypsides, niggerheads,
or winch heads. The hoisting drums either are fitted with a friction brake or are directly keyed to the shaft. The
driving power is usually steam or electricity but hand power is also used. A winch is used principally for the
purpose of handling, hoisting, and lowering cargo from a dock or lighter to the hold of a ship and vice versa.

Winch
Winch

Winch

Wind
Wind scoop
scoop A device used to divert air into a compartment of a ship.
An apparatus in which horizontallor vertical drums or gypsides and wildcats are operated by means of a steam
engine or motor for the purpose of handling heavy anchor chair hawsers, etc.

Windlass
Windlass

Windlass

To overhanging part of a deck on a ferry boat, or fore and aft of paddle boxes in a side wheeler. Also used to
Wing
Wing
indicate outboard parts of the ship, such as in the wings of the hold.

Wing
Wing brackets
brackets The arge brackets which fasten the margin plates to the lower frame ends. (Also known as deep bracket knees
and bilge brackets).
Wing
Wing passage
passage A passage way below the water line on a man-of-war, used for repairs and inspections.
Ballast or cargo tank adjacent to the hull side.

Wing
Wing tank
tank

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Wing
Wing tank
tank

Wing tank

Tanks located autboard and usually just under the wether deck. They are sometimes formed by fitting a
Wing
Wing tanks
tanks longitudinal bulkhead between the two uppermost decks, ans sometimes by working a diagonal, longitudinal flat
between the ship’s side and the weather deck.
Wiper
Wiper A general handyman in the engine room.
WIPON
WIPON Whether In Port Or Not
Wire
Wire mesh
mesh bulkhead
bulkhead A partition built up of wire mesh panel.
WLTOHC
WLTOHC (distance) Water Line-To-Hatch Coaming
WOG
WOG Without Guarantee
WPD
WPD Weather Permitting Day
WRIC
WRIC Wire Rods In Coils
WTF
WTF Western Terminal Forum
WWD
WWD Weather Working Day
WWR
WWR When, Where Ready

WWWW
WWWW Wibon, Wccon, Wifpon, Wipon
Private or charter vessel designed for pleasure cruising, racing, etc. propelled by wind or power.

Yacht1
Yacht
Yacht

Yacht

YAR
YAR York Antwerp Rules
A term applied to a spar attached at its middle portion to a mast and running athwartship across a vessel as a
Yard
Yard
support for a square sail. Signal halyards, lights, etc.

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Yardarm
Yardarm A term applied to the outer end if a yard.
Yaw
Yaw To steer wildly or out of line of course.
Yield
Yield stress
stress Stress limit within a material at which plastic (permanent) strain commences under load.
Propulsion train configuration where the engine output and propeller shafts are horizontal and parallel and
linked via an intermediate vertical shaft.

Z-drive
Z-drive Z-drive

Z-drive

Z-Drive_side_view

Zee-bar
Zee-bar A structural shape with a cross section resembling the letter Z.

Zenith
Zenith When the sun is in the zenith and observed with a sextant, the arc will be 90o from the horizon.

Zinc
Zinc primer
primer Common corrosion inhibiting primer used to coat bare steel prior to subsequent paint coatings being applied.

Comments
Rob
Rob Sint
Sint Nicolaas
Nicolaas says:
says:

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MARITIME DICTIONARY – Officer of the Watch 15/12/24, 15:41

Rob
Rob Sint
Sint Nicolaas
Nicolaas says:
says:
December 6, 2012 at 05:35

Your dictionary looks better than anything available at present. Certainly, something that I will recommend to my colleagues and cadets at the Admiral
Makarov State Maritime Academy in Saint-Petersburg.

Reply
Reply

Officer
Officer of
of the
the Watch
Watch says:
says:
December 6, 2012 at 07:22

Thank you very much for your kind words. An update of the current Maritime Dictionary & Maritime Acronyms is being prepared and will be ready
most probably during January 2013.

Reply
Reply

bhavesh
bhavesh ss parmar,
parmar, OOW
OOW says:
says:
January 24, 2013 at 16:12

this is the first nautical dictionary so far i have seen giving such nice explanation with diagrams, it has solved my many problems which i was having
wrong meanings of things in my mind.

thank you

Reply
Reply

Devu
Devu P.C.
P.C. says:
says:
April 29, 2013 at 14:42

Really a good dictionary. However, the picture depicting the scupper needs rechecking. The first pic seems to be that of a anchor hawse pipe.

Reply
Reply

Officer
Officer of
of the
the Watch
Watch says:
says:
April 29, 2013 at 15:12

That’s correct. The picture has been removed. Thanks for the feedback.

Reply
Reply

Capt
Capt hs
hs satyanarayana
satyanarayana says:
says:
February 24, 2014 at 11:45

You could also include lugged and lugless joining shackles with their uses.

Reply
Reply

Jorge
Jorge says:
says:
May 1, 2014 at 09:35

You could also include “pawl bar”, “spurling pipe”

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David
David Kofi
Kofi Owusu
Owusu Boateng
Boateng says:
says:
August 2, 2015 at 19:47

Your Martine dictionary is great. I need to know what is screen? Is it not where ships berth on the waters to load and discharge? Thanks.

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MARITIME DICTIONARY – Officer of the Watch 15/12/24, 15:41

Hussain
Hussain says:
says:
October 22, 2015 at 22:36

What is the correct terminology for the openings in the bulkhead where the mooring ropes are inserted through?

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Eduardo
Eduardo G.
G. Ente
Ente says:
says:
October 28, 2015 at 07:31

Your dictionary is very educational. We will make them available in our library for use of our students. Thank you.

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