Maritime Dictionary

2H	Second Half
A/S	Alongside
AA	Always Afloat
AAAA	Always Accessible Always Afloat
AARA	Amsterdam-Antwerp-Rotterdam Area
Abaft	A relative term used to describe the location of one object in relation to another, in which the object described is farther aft than the other. Thus, the mainmast is abaft the foremast (in back of).
Abaft the beam	Said of the bearing of an object which bears between the beam and the stern (further back than the ship’s middle).
Abandon ship	Get away from the ship, as in an emergency.
Abeam	The bearing of an object 90 degrees from ahead (in a line with the middle of the ship).
Able bodied seaman	The next grade above the beginning grade of ordinary seaman in the deck crew.
Aboard	In the vessel (on the ship).
Aboveboard	Above decks; without concealment of deceit (out in the open).
Abreast	Abeam of (alongside of).
Abrid	A bushing plate around a hole in which a pintle works.
ABT	About
Access Holes	Holes cut in ship’s structure to permit entering or leaving various compartments.
Accommodation ladder	The portable steps from the gangway down to the waterline.
Aces	Hooks for the chains.
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	Address Commission
Added mass	The effective increase in mass of a hull, due to the entrained water, when in motion.
Added weight method	One method used in the calculation of a ship’s damaged stability when it is partially fl ooded. It regards the water which has entered as an added weight, the basic hull envelope remaining. The other approach uses the concept of lost buoyancy.
Admiral	Comes from the Arabic “Emir” or “Amir” which means “First commander” and “Al-bahr which means “the sea”. Emir-al-barh evolved into Admiral.
Adrift	Loose from the moorings (not tied or secured).
AFFF	Aqueous Film Forming Foam
AFFREIGHTMENT	The hiring of a ship in whole or part
Afloat	Floating.
Aframax	A term used for the largest dry bulkcarriers.
AFSPS	Arrival First Sea Pilot Station (Norway)
Aft	At, or towards the stern of a vessel. (Opposite to forward.)
Aft peak tank	A tank or compartment located abaft the aftmost watertight transverse bulkhead above propeller(s) and rudder (often used for fresh water or sea water ballast).
After body	The section aft of amidships.
After deck	A term applied to a deck aft to the midship portion of a vessel.
After frammes	Radiating cant frames fastened to transom plates.
After peak	A compartment just forward of the stern post. It is generally almost entirely below the load water line.
After peak bulkhead	A term applied to the first transverse bulkhead forward of the stern post. This bulkhead forms the forward boundary of the after-peak tank and should be made watertight.
After perpendicular	The vertical line through the intersection of the load water line and the after edge of the stern post. On 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 rake	That part of the stern which overhangs the keel.
Aftermost	Nearest the stern.
Aground	Resting on the bottom.
AGW	All Going Well
AHL	Australian Hold Ladders
Ahoy	A call used in hailing a vessel or boat (hey!).
AIO	Admiralty Information Overlay
Air casing	A ring-shaped plate coaming surrounding the stack and fitted at the upper deck, just below the umbrella. It protects the deck structure from heat and helps ventilate the fireroom.
Air draught	The vertical distance from the summer waterline to the highest point in the ship, usually the top of a mast.
Air Hammer	Hammer driven by compressed air for riveting, or chipping. Sometimes called an air gun or “gun”.
Air port	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 thick glass light is secured. The purpose of the air port is to provide light and ventilation to and vision from the interior.
Air tank	A metal air-tight tank built into a boat to insure flotation even when the boat is swamped.
Air-tight door	A door so constructed that, when closed, air cannot pass through. They are fitted in air locks.
ALARP	As Low As Reasonable Practicable
Alee	To the leeward side (away from the wind).
Alive	Alert (pep it up!).
All hands	The entire crew.
All standing	To bring to a sudden stop.
Alleyway	A vessel’s internal passageway or corridor.
Aloft	Above the upper deck (above).
Alongside	The position of a vessel when securely moored on a berth in port.
Altar	A step in a graving dock.
Amidship(s)	In the longitudinal, or fore-and-aft center of a ship. Halfway between stem and stern. The term is used to convey the idea of general locality but not that of definite extent.
Amidships	(1) Midway (midpoint) between port and starboard sides of a vessel. (2) The midway point between the forward and aft perpendiculars.
AMSA	Australian Maritime Safety Authority
AMVER	Automated Mutual-Assistance Vessel Rescue System
Anchor	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 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.
Anchor billboard	A structure on the deck of a vessel upon which the anchor is mounted when not in use. Anchor billboard
Anchor cable	Chain or wire connecting a vessel to its anchor(s).
Anchor chain	Heavy, linked chain secured to an anchor for mooring or anchoring.
Anchor lights	The riding lights required to be carried by vessels at anchor.
Anchor stopper	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 stopper
Anchor watch	The detail on deck at night, when at anchor, to safeguard the vessel (not necessarily at the anchor; a general watch).
Anchorage	A place suitable for anchoring.
Anchor’s aweigh	Said of the anchor when just clear of the bottom (leaving or moving).
Angle	Same as angle bar
Angle bar	A bar of angle-shaped section used as a stiffener and on riveted ships ties floors to the shell.
Angle clip	A short piece of angle bar.
Angle collar	Angle bent to fit a pipe, column, tank or stack, intersecting or projecting through a bulkhead or deck for the purposes of making a watertight or oiltight joint.
Anneal	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 to a cherry red and dipping suddenly into water while hot. Iron or steel is slowly cooled from the heated condition to anneal.
Anode	Zinc or aluminium or some such alloy that is fixed to the hull of a vessel. They are “eaten” up by electrical currents 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	Antwerp-Hamburg Range
Antifouling (paint)	A marine paint composition containing toxic ingredients preventing or retarding marine underwater growth on the hull of a vessel.
Aperture	The space provided between propeller and stern post for the propeller.
APHIS	Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service
API	American Petroeum Institute
Appendage(s)	Objects protruding from the underwater section of a hull; e.g., bilge keels, rudders, stabilising fins, shaft brackets, etc.
Appendages	Relatively small portions of a vessel projecting beyond its main outline, as shown by cross-sections and water-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	Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships
Apron plate	A plate fitted in the continuation of the shell plating above the forecastle sheer strake at the stem. These plates are sometimes fitted one in each side of the stem, and serve as foundation for the bow mooring pipes.
APS	Arrival Pilot Station
APTF	Asia Pacific Terminal Forum
ARAG	Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp-Ghent Range
Arbor	The principal axis member or spindle of a machine by which a motion of revolution is transmitted.
Arch piece	The curved portion of the stern frame over the screw aperture, joining the propeller post and stern post.
ARPA	Automatic Radar Plotting Aid
Ashore	On the shore (on land).
ASI	Annual Safety Inspection
Assemble	To fit together small parts, in making a large section, or part.
Astern	The backward direction in the line of a vessel’s centreline.
ATDNSHINC	Any Time Day or Night Sundays and Holidays Included
Athwart	Same as a beam
Athwartship	Transverse or across a vessel from side to side.
Athwartships	Across the ship, at right angles to the centreline.
ATUTC	Actual Times Used to Count
Auxiliaries	Various winches, pumps motors, engines, etc., required on a ship, as distinguished from main propulsive machinery (boilers and engines on a steam installation).
Auxiliary foundations	Foundations for condensers, distillers, evaporator pumps or any of the auxiliary machinery in the engine or boiler rooms.
Auxiliary machinery	Machinery other than the ship’s main engines.
Avast	An order to stop or cease hauling (stop action at once).
Awash	Level with the water (water ready to, or slightly covering decks).
Awning	A canvas canopy secured over the ship’s deck as a protection from the weather (covering).
Aye, aye, sir	The reply to an officer’s order signifying that he is understood and will be obeyed (I understand).

Back bar	Used on the opposite side of a bosom bar.
Backhaul	To haul a shipment back over part of a route that it has already traveled; return movement of cargo, usually opposite from the direction of its primary cargo destination.
BAF	Bunker Adjustment Factor. A Fuel Surcharge expressed as a percentage added or subtracted from the freight amount reflecting the movement in the market place price for bunkers.
Bail	To throw water out of a boat; a yoke, as a ladder bail (rung).
Balanced frames	The midship frames that are of equal shap and square flanged. There are thirty or more on a cargo vessel, equally divided between starboard and port sides.
Balanced rudder	A rudder with its axis halfway between the forward and after edge.
Bale capacity	Capacity in hold to edge of frames and stiffeners; refl ects the stowage of bales or boxes.
Balk	(In cerpentry) a piece of timber from 4″ to 10″ square.
Ballast	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. Ballast
Ballast keel	A heavy keel fitted to vessels to lower the center of gravity and improve stability.
Ballast tanks	Double bottoms for carrying water ballast and capable of being flooded or pumped out at will.
Barbette	Cylindrical structure built up to armor plates extending from the protected deck of a war vessel to the lower side 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 CHTR	Bareboat Charter Owners lease a specific ship and control its technical management and commercial operations only.
Barge	A craft of full body and heavy construction designed gor the carriage of cargo but having no machinery for self-propulsion.
Barnacle	Small marine growth which attaches itself to a vessel’s hull in large numbers, often greatly retarding her speed.
Base line	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. Baseline
Batten	A narrow strip of wood for fairing in lines. Also a stripof wood to fasten objects together. A strip of paulins in place. (Verb) To secure by means of battens, as to “batten down a hatch”.
Batten down	To make watertight. Said of hatches and cargo (tie up or secure).
Battens, cargo	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 shell plating, the strips of wood or steel used to prevent shifting of cargo.
BBB	Before Breaking Bulk
BDI	Both Dates Inclusive
BDN	Bunker Delivery Note
Beachcomber	A derelict seaman found unemployed on the waterfront, especially in a foreign country (seaman without a ship).
Beam	(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. Beam
Beam knees	Angular fittings which connect beams and frames together.
Beam line	The line showing the top of the frame line.
Beam plate angles	A beam made from a flat plate, with the flange bent at right angles by an angle-bending machine.
Beam wind	A wind at right angles to a vessel’s course (wind blowing at the ship’s side.)
Bear a hand	To assist or help.
Bear down	To approach (overtake or come up to).
Bearer	A term applied to foundations, particularly those having vertical web plates themselves are called bearers.
Bearing	The direction of an object (with reference to you, your ship, another object).
Becalmed	A sailing vessel dead in the water due to lack of wind (not moving).
Becket	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 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.
Bed plate	A structure fitted for support of the feet of the engine columns, as well as to provide support for crankshaft 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	Biological Exposure Indices
Belay	To make fast as to a pin or cleat. To rescind an order (tie up).
Belaying pin	A wooden or iron pin fitting into a rail upon which to secure ropes.
Bell suction	The flared open end of a cargo pipeline which is situated at close tolerances to the bottom of a liquid cargo tank.
Bells	see Ships Time
Belly strap	A rope passed around (center) a boat or other object for hanging.
Below	Undernearth the surface of the water. Undernearth a deck or decks
Bend	The twisting or turning of a rope so as to fasten it to some object, as a spar or ring.
Bending rolls	Large machine used to give curvature to plates by passage in contact with three rolls.
Bending slab	Heavy cast-iron blocks with square or round holes for “dogging down” arranged to form a large solid floor on which frames and structural members are bent and formed.
BENDS	Both Ends (Load & Discharge Ports)
BEP	Best Environmental Practice
Berth	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, 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 term	Shipped under a rate that does not include the cost of loading or unloading.
Between decks	The space between any two, not necessarily adjacent, decks. Frequently expressed as “Tween Decks”.
Bevel	Any angle other than 90^o which one surface makes with another. Also to bevel a beam, flange, or plate for vee welding, to tilt a girder to make the sheer bevel.
Bevel square	A device that can be used to make a close bevel, less than 90^o, or an open bevel, more than 90^o.
BI	Both Inclusive
Bight	Formed by bringing the end of a rope around, near to, or across its own part.
Bilge	(1) Intersection or curved transition of bottom and sides of a hull. (2) Lowest points within hull compartments where liquids may accumulate. Bilge
Bilge blocks	Supporting blocks used under bilge for support during construction or drydocking.
Bilge bracket	Vertical transverse plate located beneath side frames in the area of the bilge and between inner and outer bottoms.
Bilge keel	Non-retractable elongated longitudinal fin protruding from the bilge used to reduce rolling. bilge keels Bilge keel
Bilge plates	The curved shell plates that fit the bilge.
Bilge pump	Pump for removing bilge water.
Bilge strake	Line of shell plating at the bilge between bottom and side plating.
Bilge well	A bilge well is generally located in the lowest part of the compartment. It is used for drainage and is generally shaped like a box, and fitted to the underside of the inner bottom, with a strainer on top.
Bilges	The lowest portion of a ship inside the hull, considering the inner bottom where fitted as the bottom hull limit.
Bilgeway	Same a bilge
Bill of lading	A document that establishes the terms of contract between a shipper and a trasportation company. It serves as a document title, a contract of carriage, and a receipt for goods.
BIMCO	Baltic & International Maritime Council
Bin	A walled enclosure built on the deck of a barge for the purpose of retaining cargo; also called a pen or cargo box.
Binnacle	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 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 marks	Same as Plimsoll marks.
Bitter end	(Nautical). The inboard end of a vessel’s anchor chain which is made fast in the chain locker
Bitts	Twin stout posts welded to the deck to which mooring lines are fastened. bitts
Bitumastic	A black, tar-like composition largely of bitumen or asphalt and containing such other ingredients as rosin, Portland cement, slaked lime, petroleum, etc. It is used as a protective coating in ballast and trimming tanks, chain lockers, shaft alleys, etc.
BL (1)	Bale
BL (2)	(Bill of Lading) A document signed by the carrier which acts as a receipt and evidence of title to the cargo.
Black gang	Member of the engine-room force, which included the engineers, firemen, oilers, and wipers.
Blank flange	A flange which is not drilled but which is otherwise complete.
Bleeders	A term applied to plugs screwed into the bottom of a ship to provide for drainage of the compartments when the vessel is in dry dock.
BLG	Bulk Liquids and Gases
Block	The name given a pulley or sheave, or system of pulleys or sheaves mounted in a frame, and used to multiply 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 and block	Same as two blocks.
Block and tackle	(Block and Falls). The complete unit of two or more blocks rove up with an adequate amount of rope.
BM	Beam
BMP	Best Management Practices
BNWAS	Bridge Navigational Watch Alarm System
Boat-fall	A purchase (block and tackle) for hoisting a boat to its davits.
BOB	Bunker on Board
Body plan	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. Body plan
BOEMRE	Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement
BOFFER	Best Offer
Boiler	Any vessel, container or receptacle that is capable of generating steam by the internal or external application of heat. There are two general classes of boilers. I.E., fire-tube and water-tube.
Boiler casing	A wall protecting the different deck spaces from the heat of the boiler room.
Boiler chocks	Stay braces which prevent fore and aft movement of boilers.
Boiler foundation	The structure upon which the boiler is secured. It generally consists of girders built up from plates and shapes. In a cylindrical boiler the athwartship girders are often called saddles.
Boiler room	A compartment in the middle or after section of a vessel where the boilers are placed.
Bollard	The equivalent of a vessel’s mooring bitts used onshore. Bollard
Bollard pull	The static pulling force of a tugboat measured in pounds.
Bolster plate	A piece of plate adjoining the hawse hole, to prevent the chafing of the ship’s bow. A plate foe support like a pillow or cushion.
Bond port	Port of a vessel’s initial customs entry to any country; also known as first port of call.
Bonded warehouse	A warehouse authorized by customs authorities for storage of goods on which payment of duties is deferred until the goods are removed.
Booby 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	A term applied to a spar used in handling cargo, or as the lower piece of a fore-and-aft sail.
Boom cradle	A rest for a cargo-boom when lowered for securing for sea.
Boom rest	A support for a boom when the boom is not in use.
Boom step	A socket for end of boom.
Boom table	An outrigger attached to the mast, or a structure built up around a mast from the deck, to support the heel bearings for booms. Boom tables are necessary to provide working clearances when a number of booms are installd on one mast.
Boot-topping	Durable paint coating applied to a hull between the light and loaded waterlines.
Boot-topping	Special resistant paint or paints used to coat that portion of a vessel between light and load lines. Also the area to which this paint is applied.
Bort flange	A protruding flange above a port to keep drip from entering.
Bos’n	Shortening of the old term “boatswain,” an unlicensed member of the crew who supervises the work of the deck men under direction of the first mate.
Bos’n’s chair	The piece of board on which a man working aloft is swung.
Bos’n’s chestb	The deck chest in which the bos’n keeps his deck gear.
Bos’n’s lockerb	The locker in which the bos’n keeps his deck gear.
Bosom	The inside of an angle bar.
Bosom barb	One angle fitted inside another.
Bosom plate	A plate bar or angle fitted to an angle bar to connect the ends of two angles.
Boss	The part of the propeller to which blades are attached. Also the aparture in the stern frame where propeller shaft enters.
Boss frame	A frame bent around to fit the bose in way of the stern tube or shaft.
Boss plate	The plate fitted around the boss of a propeller post or around the curved frames in way of stern tubes.
Bossingb	Hydrodynamically faired outboard portion of hull plating surrounding and supporting propeller shafting. In a single-screw vessel the bossing is integral to a centreline skeg.
Bottom plating	That part of the shell plating which is below the water line.
Bottom, outer	A term applied to the bottom shell plating in a double bottom ship.
Bounding angle	A steel angle used for reinforcement at the junction of two steel plates.
Bounding bar	A bar connecting the edges of a bulkhead to tank top, shell, decks, or another bulkhead.
Bow	The fore end or a ship. bow
Bow door	Watertight hinged door in the fore end of a Ro-Ro vessel through which vehicles and cargo may be loaded or discharged Bow door
Bow linesb	Curves representing a vertical section of the bow end of a ship. Similar curves in aft part of hull are buttock lines.
Bow rudderb	A rudder placed at the bottom of the forward stem and maneuvered from the fore peak.
Bow thruster	A propulsor installed near the bow to provide a transverse thrust component enhancing manoeuvrability. Bow thruster
Bowsprit	A spar extending forward from the stem.
Boxed end	The end of a barge which is squared for the full depth and width of the hull.
Boxing the compass	Calling names of the points of the compass in order.
BPG	Bridge Procedures Guide
BPQ	Barge Particulars Questionnaire
Bracket	A steel plate, commonly with a reinforcing flange, used to stiffen or tie beam angles to bulkheads frames to longitudinals, etc.
Braze	To heat and join by means of hard solder (spelter). This may be brass, bronze, or other alloys.
Breadth	The side-to-side measurements of a vessel at any given place.
Breadth extreme	The maximum breadth measured over plating or planking, including heading or enders.
Breadth, molded	See Molded Breadth.
Breadth, registered	Measured amidships at its greatest breadth to outside of plating.
Break	Of poop or forecastle. The point at which the partial poop or forcastle deck are discontinued.
Break ground	Said of anchor when it lifts clear of the bottom.
Breakbulk	Loose, noncontainerized cargo stowed directly into a ship’s hold.
Breaker	A small cask for fresh water carried in ship’s boats. A sea (wave) with a curl on the crest.
Breakwater	A term applied to plates fitted on a forward weather deck to form a V-shaped shield against water that is shipped over the bow.
Breaming	Cleaning the barnacles, paint, etc., from a ship’s bottom with a blow torch.
Breast beam	The transverse beam nearest to midship on the poop and forecastle deck.
Breast hook	Ahorizontal plate secured across the fore peak of a vessel to tie the fore-peak frames together and unit the bow.
Breast rail	The upper rail of a balcony on the quarter deck.
Breasthook	Horizontal plate brackets of generally triangular form connecting port and starboard side stringers and bow plating at the stem.
Bridge	Elevated centre dedicated to the control and navigation of the vessel. [Alt. Navigating bridge or wheelhouse.]
Bridge house	The erection or superstructure fitted about amidship on the upper deck of a ship. The officer’s quarters, staterooms and accommodations are usually in the bridge house.
Bridge wing(s)	Lateral (open or enclosed) extension(s) to a vessel’s bridge to permit direct vision beyond the hull side.
Bridge, navigating or flying	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 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.
Bridges	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 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.
Bridle	A V-shaped chain, wire, or rope attached to a vessel being towed to which the towline is connected. Bridle
Bright work	Brass work, polished (also varnished wood work in yachts).
BROBb	Bunkers Remaining on Board
Broker	A person who arranges for transportation of loads for a percentage of the revenue from the load.
Brow	A small curved angle or flanged plate fitted on the outside of the shell of a ship over an air port to prevent water running down the ship’s side from entering the open port. Also called a watershed.
BSG	Barge Safety Guide
BSS	Basis
BSS 1/1	Basis 1 Port to 1 Port
BT	Berth Terms
Buck frame	A transverse truss.
Buckle plateb	A plate that has warped from its original shape also a plate that is wider at the center than at the end.
Budy	A term applied to a floating object that is moored or anchored so that it remains at one place. Budys are used for 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.
Budyancy	Ability to float, the supporting effort exerted by a liquid (usaually water) upon the surface of a boly wholly or partially immersed.
Building slip	An inclined launching berth where the ship is built.
Build-operate-transfer (BOT)	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 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 angle	Or bulb angle bar. An angle with one edge having a bulb or swell.
Bulb plate	A narrow plate generally of mild steel, rolled with a bulb or swell along one of its edges. Used for hatch coamings, built up beams, etc.
Bulb tee	A Tee bar with toe of web reinforced.
Bulge	Same as bilge.
Bulk cargo	Cargo shipped in loose condition and of a homogeneous nature.
Bulk carrier	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. Bulk carrier
Bulkhead	(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 bounding: bar	A bar used for the purpose of connecting the edges of a bulkhead to the tank top, shell, deck, or to another bulkhead. Angle bars are generally used for this purpose, as both flanges are easily calked.
Bulkhead deck	Uppermost deck at which transverse watertight bulkheads terminate Bulkhead deck
Bulkhead sluice	An opening cut in a bulkhead just above the tank top connecting angle, and fitted with a valve which may be operated from the deck above.
Bulkhead stiffeners	A term applied to the beams or girders attached to a bulkhead for the purpose of supporting it under pressure and holding it in shape. Vertical stiffenera are most commonly used, but horizontal stiffeners or a combination of both may be used.
Bull riveting	Driving rivets by squeezing them with a high powered air or hydraulic machine.
Bullnosed bow	Bow with large rounded bow point underneath water line.
Bulwark	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 barrier to wind and spray. Bulwark
Bulwark stay	A brace extending from the deck to a point near the top of the bulwark, to keep it rigid.
BUNDLING	This is the assembly of pieces of cargo, secured into one manageable unit. This is a very flexible description; a rule of thumb is to present cargo at a size easily handled by a large (20 ton) fork lift truck.
Bunk	Built-in bed aboard ship.
Bunker	Compartment for the storage of oil or other fuel.
Bunker stays	A brace extending from the deck to a point near the top of the bulwark, to keep it rigid.
BUNKERS	Name given for vessels Fuel and Diesel Oil supplies (Originates from coal bunkers)
Buoy	A stationary floating object used as an aid for navigation.
Buoyancy	Ability to float, lifting power when immersed.
Burr edge	The rough uneven edge of a punched or burnt hole or plate.
Butt joint	A joint made by fitting two pieces squarely together on their edges, which is then welded or butt strapped.
Butt strap	A bar or plate used to fasten two or more objects together with their edges butted.
Butterworth	A washing process used to gas free or clean a cargo tank, employing hot water or chemicals, sprayed through a patented rotating nozzle.
Butterworth opening	a deck access opening with bolted cover, designed for butterworth operations.
Buttock	Counter. The rounded-in overhanging part on each side of the stern in front of the rudder, merging undernearth into the run.
Buttock lines	The curves shown by taking a vertical longitudinal section of the after part of a ship’s hull, parallel to the keel.
Button	A cast or fabricated deck item, usually round, that is used to thread cables between vessels when they are made-up.
BWAD	Brackish Water Arrival Draft
By the board	Overboard (over the side).
By the head	Deeper forward (front end deepest in water).
By the Run	To let go altogether.

CAA	Clean Air Act
Cabin	The captain’s quarters. The enclosed space of decked-over small boat.
Cable	A chain or line (rope) bent to the anchor.
Cable layer	Vessel designed for the laying and repair of seabed telecommunication cables. Cable layer
Cable locker	Compartment located forward to store the anchor cable.
Cable-laid	The same as hawser-laid.
Cable-length	100 fathoms or 600 feet (6 feet to a fathom).
Cabotage	Shipments between ports of a single nation, frequently reserved to national flag vessels of that nation.
Calk	To tighten a lap or other seam with a chisel tool, either ny hand or meckanically.
Calm	A wind or force less than one knot (knot 1 nautical mile per hour).
CALM	Catenary Anchor Leg Mooring
Cam	A projecting part of a wheel or other simple moving piece in machinery, so shaped as to give predetermined variable motion to another piece against which it acts, in repeating cycles.
CAM	Court Appointed Monitor
Camber	Transverse convex curvature of exposed decks to accelerate runoff.
Camel	(In engineering) a decked vessel having great stability designed for use in the lifting of sunken vessel or structures. A submersible float used for the same purpose by submerging, attaching, and pumping out.
Cant	The inclination of an object from the perpendicular. As a verb, to turn anything so that it does not stand square to a given object.
Cant beam	Any of the beams supporting the deck plating or planking in the overhanging part of the stern of a vessel. They radiate in fan shape from the transom beam to cant frames.
Cant body	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 center line of the ship.
Cant frame	Hull side frame not aligned perpendicular to the vessel’s centreline.
Cant frames	The frame (generally bulb angles) at the end of a ship which are cented, that is, which rise obliquely from the keel.
Capesize	A term applied to large cargo vessels that cannot transit either the Panama or Suez Canals. They are usually of the order of 120 000-180 000 DWT.
Capsize	A ship is said to capsize when it loses transverse stability and rolls over and sinks. capsize capsize
Capstan	Steel warping drum rotating on a vertical axis for the handling of mooring lines and optionally anchor cable. Capstan
Capstan, steam	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 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.
Capstan-bar	A wooden bar which may be shipped in the capstan head for heaving around by hand (to heave up anchor or heavy objects by manpower).
Captain of the Head	A guy who gets Head (toilet) cleaning detail.
Car carrier	Vessel designed for the delivery transportation of road vehicles. Car carrier
CARB	California Air Resources Board
Cardinal pointsb	The four principal points of the compass North, East, South and West.
Cargo	Merchandise or goods accepted for transportation by ship.
Cargo battens	Strips of wood used to keep cargo away from the steel hull.
Cargo boom	A heavy boom used in handling cargo.
Cargo door	Watertight door in the hull side through which cargo may be loaded or discharged. Cargo door
Cargo hatch	Large opening in the dec to permit loading of cargo.
Cargo port	An opening, provided with a watertight cover or door, in the side of a vessels of two or more decks, through which the cargo is received and discharged.
Carlines (carlings)	A short beam running fore and aft between or under transverse deck beams. Also called headers when they support the ends of interrupted deck beams.
Carrier	Any person or entity who, in a contract of carriage, undertakes to perform or to procure the performance of carriage by sea, inland waterway, rail, road, air, or by a combination of such modes.
Cartage	Intraport or local hauling of cargo by drays or trucks (also refferd to as drayage).
Carvel built	A type of plating made flush be vee butt welding or butt strap riveting.
CAS	Condition Assessment Scheme
Case joint	A kind of plate joint by which an overlap can gradually be made flush. This is done with the aid of liners, and is used on the bow and stern to give the vessel a finer trim.
Casingb	The extra case or bulkhead built around the ship’s funnel to protect the decks from heat. See Air Casing.
Cast off	To let go.
Cathodic protection	Sacrificial or impressed current system of corrosion protection of hull, tanks and piping. Cathodic protection
Caulk	To fill in the seams with cotton or oakum.
Caulker	One who caulks.
Cavitation	The formation of bubbles on an aerofoil section in areas of reduced pressure. Can occur on heavily loaded ship propellers. Cavitation
CBA	Collective Bargaining Agreement
CBFT (or CFT)	Cubic Feet
CBM	Cubic Meter
CBP	Customs Border Protection
CCM	Corporate Compliance Manager
CCNR	Central Commission for Navigation on the Rhine
CCTV	Close Circuit Television
Ceilingb	The inside skin of a vessel between decks, or in a small vessel from the deck beams to bilge.
Cellular container ship	Container vessel having specially designed vertical cell guides for the accommodation of standard size containers thereby precluding movement and lashing. Cellular container ship
Cellular double bottomb	A term applied where the double bottom is divided into numerous rectangular compartments by the floors and longitudinals.
Center lineb	A horizontal fore- and -aft reference line for athwartship measurements, dividing the ship into two symmetrical halves. A vertical reference line in the center of the body plan, midship section or other sections.
Center line bulkhead	A fore-and-aft or longitudinal bulkhead erected on the center line or in the same plane as the keel. Also a reference line scrived on a transverse bulkhead to indicate the center of the ship.
Centre of buoyancy (CB)	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 of buoyancy (CB)
Centre of flotation (CF)	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 of flotation (CF)
Centre of gravity (CG)	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 of gravity (CG)
Centreline	The longitudinal vertical plane of a vessel.
CFG	China Focus Group
CFOb	Chief Financial Officer
CFR	Code of Federal Regulations
CFR (or C&F)	Cost and Freight
Chafe	To wear the surface of a rope by rubbing against a solid object.
Chafing gear	A guard of canvas or rope put around spars, mooring lines, or rigging to prevent them from wearing out by rubbing against something.
Chafing plate	A bent plate used in minimizing chafing of ropes, as at hatches.
Chain locker	The compartment for storing the anchor chains, located near the hawse pipes in the bow of the ship. Chain locker
Chain locker manger	See Manager
Chain locker pipe	The iron-bound opening or section of pipe loading from the chain locker to the deck, through which the chain cable passes.
Chain riveting	Two or more rows of rivets spaces so that the rivets in one row are opposite those in adjacent row.
Chains	Anchor chains
Chamfer	A bevel surgace formed by cutting away the angle of two faces of a piece of wood or metal.
Charley Noble	The galley smoke-pipe (cook’s stove pipe), named after The English sea captain who was noted for the scrupulous cleanliness and shine of the brass aboard his ship.
Chart house	Small room adjacent to the bridge for charts and navigating instruments.
Chart room	A small room adjacent to the Pilot House in which charts and navigating instruments are located.
Chassis	A frame with wheels and container locking devices to secure the container for movement.
Check	To ease off gradually (go slower and move carefully).
Check lines	Used in shaping plates, etc., to make sure that the template have not changed in size by shrinking or expending
Cheeks	The bilgeways, or curve of the bilges.
Chemical carrier (Tanker)	Vessel designed specifically for the transportation of volatile, poisonous or corrosive liquids in specially constructed tanks. Chemical carrier (Tanker)
Chief	The crew’s term for the chief engineer.
Chief mate	Another term for first mate.
Chock	(In naval architecture) a small piece of wood used to make good any deficiency in a piece of tember, frame etc. Chock
Chock boat	A cradle or support for a lifeboat.
Chock roller	A chock with a sheave to prevent chafing of ropes.
Chocks	Deck fittings for mooring line to pass through.
Choked	The falls foul in a block. The falls may be chocked or jammed intentionally for a temporary securing (holding).
CHOPT	Charterers Option
CHTRS	Charterers
CIC	Concentrated Inspection Campaign
CIF	Cost, Insurance & Freight. Seller pays all these costs to a nominated port or place of discharge.
Classification societies	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, 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
Cleaning in transit	The stopping of articles (such as farm products) for cleaning at a point between the point of origin and destination.
Clearance	The size beyond which vessels, cars, or loads cannot pass through, under, or over bridges, tunnels, highways, and so forth.
Cleat	A metal fitting having two projecting arms or horns to which a halyard or other rope is belayed. The deck, side plating, a stanchion, or other convenient structure serves as a support for securing the cleat.
Clinchimg pan	A flat plate for clinching nails. (used in the mold loft.)
Clip	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 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 bow	A bow with an exterme forward rake, once familiar on sailing vessels.
Close butt	A joint fitted clese by griding, pulled tight by clips, and welded.
Club foot	The flattened, broadened after end of the stern foot.
CMG	Course Made Good
CMID	Common Marine Inspection Document
COA	Contract of Affreightment Owners agree to accept a cost per revenue ton for cargo carried on a specific number of voyages.
COACP	Contract of Affreightment Charter Party
Coaming	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. Coamings prevent water from running below, as well as strengthen the deck about the hatches.
COB	Close of Business
Cockpit	The well of a sailing vessel, especially a small boat, for the wheel and steerman.
COD	Cash On Delivery
Coeffi cients of fineness	These relate to the underwater form and give a broad indication of the hull shape. They are the ratios of certain areas and volumes to their circumscribing rectangles or prisms.
Cofferdam	A small space left open between two bulkheads as an air space, to protect another bulkhead from heat, fidre hazard or collision. Cofferdam
Coffin plate	The plate used on an enclosed twin bossing, named for its shape. In reality it is inverted boss plate.
COG	Course Over Ground
COGSA	Carriage of Goods by Sea Act
Coil	To lay down rope in circular turns.
Coils	A system of small diameter pipes installed inside a liquid cargo tank for the purpose of heating the cargo by means of hot oil or steam.
Collar	A ring used around a pipe or mast, or a flat plate made to fit around a girder or beam passing through a bulkhead. They serve to make various spaces watertight.
Collision bulkhead	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 bulkhead
Collision mat	A large mat used to close an aperture in a aperture in a vessel’s side resulting from a collision.
Colors	The national ensign.
Comehome	A convex curvature of the rake sides of a barge that produces a narrower beam at the headlog than the beam of the hull.
Coming around	To bring a sailing vessel into the wind and change to another tack. One who is influenced to a change of opinion.
Companion	A covering over the top of a companionway.
Companionway	A set of steps or ladder leading up to a deck from below.
Compartment	A subvision of space or room in a ship.
Compass, magnetic	The compass is the most important instrument of navigation in use on board ship, the path of a ship through the water depending upon the efficient.
Composite vessel	A vessel with a steel frame and wooden hull and decks
COMSAR	Sub-Committee on Radiocommunciations and Search and Rescue
CONCAWE	The Oil Companies’ European Organisation for Environment, Health and Safety
Concession	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 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 tower	Protective structure built up of armor plates and having verious shapes and sizes.
CONS	Consumption
Conservancy	In some countries, this fee is levied to retain upkeep of the approaches to waterways and canals.
Consolidation	Cargo consisting of shipments of two or more shippers or suppliers. Container load shipments may be consolidated for one or more consignees.
Container vessel	Vessel designed specifically for the transportation of standard size containers within the hull and on deck.
Contraband	Cargo that is prohibited.
COP	Custom Of Port
Cork fenders	A fender made of granulated cork and covered with woven tarred stuff.
Corrugated	Having a series of wrinkles or grooves arranged so as to produce stiffness.
Corrugated bulkhead	A bulkhead made from plates of corrugated metal or by flat plates alternately attached to the opposite flanges of the bulkhead stiffeners. Corrugated metal bulkheads are used around staterooms and quarters. Corrugated cargo hold bulkheads are generally constructed of flat plate alternately attached to opposite flanges of the stiffeners.
COTP	Captain of the Port
Counter	The part of a ship’s stern which overhangs the stern post. Counter
Countersunk hole	A hole tapered or beveled around its edge to allow a rivet or bolt head to seat flush with or below the surface of the bolts object.
Countersunk rivet	A rivet driven flush on one or both sides.
Cowl	The hood shaped top of a ventilator pipe.
CP (or C/P)	Charter Party
CPA	Closest Point of Approach
CPD	Charterers Pay Dues
CPR	Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation
CPT	Carriage Paid To
CQD	Customary Quick Dispatch
Cradle	A framing built up on the ways and in which the ship rests while being launched.
Crater	A cup-shaped depression in a weld. The are tends to push the molten metal away from the center of the point being welded, thus forming the crater.
Crew’s gangway	Used on oil tankers. A elevated runway from poop to midship, and midship, and midship to forecastle deck. It affords means of safe passage for crew members when deck is awash in stormy weather.
Cribbing	Foundations of heavy blocks and timbers for supporting a vessel during construction.
CRN	Crane
CROB	Cargo Remaining on Board
Cross curves of stability	A series of curves showing how a ship’s transverse stability varies, with displacement, for a range of heel angles. 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	A pipeline that crosses over a tank providing a transit for cargo without tying into the vessel.
Crossing the line	Crossing the Equator.
Cross-spall	A temporary horizontal timber brace to hold a frame in position. Cross-spalls are replaced later by the deck beams.
Crown	Term sometimes used denoting the round-up or camber of a deck. The crown of an anchor is located where the arms are welded to the shank.
Crown’s nest	A lookout station attached to or near the head of a mast.
Crow’s nest	The platform or tub on the mast for the look-out.
Crutches	Same as breast hooks, but fitted at the after end.
CSC	Convention for Safe Containers
CSM	Cargo Securing Manual
CSR	Continuous Synopsis Record
CSSC	Code of Safe Practice for Stowage & Securing Cargo
CST	Centistoke
CTF	Carbon Task Force
CTR	Container Fitted
CTU	Cargo Transport Unit
Custom broker	A person or firm, licensed by the customs authority of their country when required, engaged in entering and clearing goods through customs for a client (importer).
Customhouse	A govenrment office where duties are paid, documents filed, and so forth, on foreign shipments.
Cutwater	The forward edge of the stem or prow of a vessel at the water level.
Cut-water	The foremost part of the stem, cutting the water as the vessel forges ahead.
CWA	Clean Water Act
Cyclodial propulsion system	A system of vertical blades that have taken the place of propellers for propulsion in some applications. Generically referred to as a “tractor system”.

D&A	Drug & Alcohol
Dagger	A piece of timber that is fastened to the poppets of the bilgeway and crosses them diagonally to keep them together. Dagger applies to anything that stands in a diagonal position.
Dagger plank	One of the planks whick unite the headsof the poppets or stepping-up pieces of the cradle on which the vessel rests in launching.
Dakum	A material made of tarred rope fibers obtained from scrap rope, used for calking seams in a wooden deck. It is also used for calking around pipes.
DAPS	Days all Purposes (Total days for loading & discharging)
Davit	A curved metal spar for handling a boat or other heavy objects. Davit(s)
Davits	A set of cranes or radial arms on the gunwale of a ship, from whick are suspended the lifeboats.
DDC	Deck Decompression Chamber
DDP	Delivered Duty Paid.
DDU	Delivered Duty unpaid.
DE	Design and Equipment
Dead ahead	Directly ahead on the extension of the ship’s fore and aft line.
Dead flat	The flat-surfaced midship section of a vessel on the sides above the bilge, or on the bottom below the bilge.
Dead light	Steel disc, that is dogged down over a porthole to secure against breakage of the glass and to prevent light from showing through. Deadlight
Dead rise	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 the center of the ship.
Deadlifht	A shutter placed over a cabin window in stormy weather to protect the glass against the waves.
Deadlight	Steel or alloy cover plate fitted internally to portholes for protection against water ingress in case of glass failure.
Deadman	An object, such as an anchor, piling, or concrete block, buried on shore.
Deadrise	Transverse inclination of the hull bottom from keel to bilge. [Alt rise of floor.]
Deadweight	The total weight of cargo, fuel, water, stores, passengers and crew and their effects that a ship can carry when at her designed full-load draft.
Deadweight tonnage	The cargo capacity of a vessel.
Deck	A platform or horizontal floor which extends from side to sede of a vessel.
Deck beam dimensions	The molding of a deck beam is its vertied dimension. Its siding is its horizontal dimension.
Deck button	A round, steel fitting affixed to a vessel’s deck, designed to secure or guide cables for making up barge tows. Deck button
Deck height	Vertical distance between moulded lines of 2 adjacent decks. [Alt deck interval.]
Deck house	A small house on the after or midship section of a vessel.
Deck lashing strap	A steel deck fitting normally used as an attachment for cargo tie down lines.
Deck stringer	The strip of deck plating that runs along the outer adge of a deck.
Declivity	Inclination of shipways to provide for launching.
Deconsolidation point	Place where cargo is ungrouped for delivery.
Deep floor	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 the bow and stern, the floors become much deeper than in the main body.
Deep frame	A web frame or a frame whose athwartship dimension is over the general amount.
Deep tank	Tank (usually for fuel) having significant depth (typically spanning more than 1 deck interval).
Deep tanks	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 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	Demurrage
Demurrage	A penalty charge against shippers or consignees for delaying the carrier’s equipment beyond the allowed free time. The free time and demurage charges are set forth in the charter party or freight tariff.
Derelict	A vessel obandoned and drifting aimlessly at sea.
Derrick	A device consisting of a kingpost, boom with variable topping lift, and necessary rigging for hoisting heavy weights, cargo, etc.
DESP	Dispatch
DET	Detention
Development	The method of drawing the same lines on a flat surface which have already been drawn on a curved surface. The 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	Dispatch Half Demurrage on Actual Time Saved Both Ends
DHDWTSBE	Dispatch Half Demurrage on Working Time Saved Both Ends
Diagonal line	A line cutting the body plan diagonally from the frames to the middle line in the loft layout.
Diesel generator	Alternator (generator) directly powered by a diesel prime mover producing AC electrical power. 9kw marine diesel generator Diesel generator
Dip	A position of a flag when lowered part way in salute (method of salute between vessels, like planes dipping wings).
DISCH	Discharge
Displacement	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 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 signal	A flag display or a sound, light, or radio signal calling for assistance.
Ditty-bag	A small bag used by seamen for stowing small articles.
DK	Deck
DLOSP	Dropping Last Outwards Sea Pilot (Norway)
DMLC	Decleration of Maritime Labour Convention
DNRSAOCLONL	Discountless and Non-Returnable Ship and/or Cargo Lost or Not Lost
DO	Diesel Oil
DOB	Date of Birth
Dock	A basin for the reception of vessels. “Wet” docks are utilized for the loading and unloading of ships.
Docking plan	Detailed structural plan and profile of the lower hull structure required for correct location of the vessel in dry docking. Docking plan Docking plan
Dog	A hold fast, a short metal rod or bar fashioned to form a clamp or clip and used for holding watertight doors, manholes, or pieces of work in place.
Dog shores	The last supports to be knocked away at the launching of a ship.
Doldrums	The belt on each side of the Equator in which little or no wind ordinarily blows.
Dolly bar	A heavy bar to hold against a rivet, to give backing when riveting.
Dolphin	A cluster of piles driven into the bottom of a waterway and bound firmly together for the mooring of vessels.
DOLSP	Dropping Off Last Sea Pilot (Norway)
Donkey engine	A small gass, stem or electric auxiliary engine, set on the deck and used for lifting, etc.
DOP	Dropping Outward Pilot
DOT	Department of Transport
Double bottom	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. Double bottom
Double skin	Double watertight hull construction, usually referring to hull sides but may include double bottom structure.
Double up	To double a vessel’s mooring lines.
Doubler	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
Doubling plates	Extra plates (bars or stiffeners, added to strengthen sections where holes have been cut for hawse pipes, machinery, etc. Also placed where strain or wear is expected.
Dowel	A pin of wood inserted in the edge or face of two boards or pieces to secure them together.
Dowse	To take in, or lower a sail. To put out a light. To cover with water.
DR	Dead Reckoning
Draft	The distance from the surface of the water to the ship’s keel (how deep the ship is into the water).
DRAFT	Depth to which a ship is immersed in water. The depth varies according to the design of the ship and will 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.
DRAFT (DRAUGHT) (of a vessel)	The depth of a vessel below the waterline measured vertically to the lowest part of the hull, propellers or other reference points.
Draft , extreme	Draft measured to the lowest projecting portion of the vessel
Draft marks	Numbers marked on the hull side forward, aft (and amidships on large vessels) indicating the draft. Draft marks
Draft(or draught)	Depth to which a hull is immersed.
Draft, aft	Draft measured at the stern.
Draft, forward	Draft measured at the bow.
Draft, load	Draft at load displacement.
Draft, marks	The numbers which are placed in a vertical scale at the bow and the stern of a vessel to indicate the draft at each point.
Draft, mean	The average between draft measured at bow and at stern, or for a vessel with a straight keel, the darft measured at the middle length af waterline.
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.
Drain well	The chamber into which seepage water is collected and pumped by drainage pumps into sea through pump dales.
Dredger	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
Dressing ship	A display of national colors at all mastheads and the array of signal flags from bow to stern over the masthead (for special occasions and holidays).
Drift angle	The angle between a ship’s head and the direction in which it is moving.
Drift pin	A conical-shaped pin gradually tapered from blunt point to a diameter a little larger than the rivet holes in which 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.
Drill ship	Vessel designed for sea bed drilling operations. Drill ship Drill ship
Drip pan	An open container, located on deck under the ends of a pipeline header to retain cargo drippage.
DRK	Derrick
Drop strake	A strake discontinued near the bow or stern.
Dry bulk	Cargo shipped in a dry state and in bulk; e.g., grain, cement. Dry bulk Dry bulk
Dry dock	(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 dock
Dry docks	A dock into which a vessel is flated, the water than being removed to allow for the construction or repair of ships.
DSC	Dangerous Goods, Solid Cargoes and Containers
Duct	Vertical or horizontal large cross-section conduit through which piping, cabling, or fluids may be conducted.
Duct keel	Longitudinal passage within the double bottom, usually on the centreline, extending from the collision bulkhead to the engine room, through which ballast, bilge, fuel and hydraulic piping may be conducted and providing access to double-bottom spaces.
Ductility	That property of a metal which permits its being drawn out into a thread or wire.
Dumb vessel	A vessel without means of self-propulsion.
Dungarees	Blue working overalls.
Dunnage	Any materials used to block or brace cargo to prevent its motion, chafing, or damage and to facilitate its handling.
DUNNAGE	Materials of various types, often timber or matting, placed among the cargo for separation, and hence protection 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.
Duplicating pipe	A piece of tubing, generally brass, used with paint to transfer rivet hole layout from template to plate. The end pf the pipe is dipped in paint, and while still wet is pushed through each template hole, leaving an impression on the plate.
Dutchman	A piece of steel fitted into an opening to cover up poor joints, or the crevices caused by poor workmanship.
DWAT (or DWT)	Deadweight. Weight of cargo, stores and water, i.e. the difference between lightship and loaded displacement.

Eagle Flies	Pay day
Easy	Carefully (watch what you’re doing).
EBL	Electronic Range Line
EC	East Coast
ECDIS	Electronic Chart Display & Information System
ECSA	European Community Shipowners Association
EDI – Electronic data interchange	Transmission of transactional data between computer systems.
EDIFACT	Electronic Data Interchange for Administration, Commerce, and Trade. International data interchange standards sponsored by United Nations.
EEDI	Energy Efficient Design Index
EETF	Eastern European Terminal Forum
EEZ	Exclusive Economic Zone
EHQ	Emergency Head Quarters
EIU	Even if Used
Electrode	A pole or terminal in an electrical circuit. See Polarity.
Electro-hydraulic	Term given to hydraulic actuation systems where the hydraulic pressure is produced by electrically driven pumps and controlled via solenoids.
ELVENT	Electric Ventilation
EMR	Effective Mooring Revision
EMS	Environmental Management System
EMSA	European Maritime Safety Authority
ENC	Electronic Navigational Chart
End seizing	A round seizing at the end of a rope.
End-for-end	Reversing the position of an object or line.
Endurance	Maximum time period (indicated in hours or days) that a vessel can operate unreplenished while performing its intended role.
Engine control room	Space adjacent to engine room from where engine room systems may be controlled and monitored. Engine control room
Engine room	Space where the main engines of a ship are located. Engine room
ENOA	Electronic Notice of Arrival
Ensign	(1) The national flag. (2) A junior officer.
Entrance	The forward under-water portion of a vessel at and near the bow.
EOS	Engine Operating Station
EPA	Environmental Protection Agency
EPA	Estimated Position
EPIRB	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. 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	Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons
Erection	The process of hoisting into place and joining the various parts of a ship’s hull, machinery, etc.
ESPH	Evaluation of Safety and Pollution Hazards
ETA	Estimated Time of Arrival
ETC	Estimated Time of Completion
ETD	Estimated Time of Departure
ETOPS	Emergency Towing-off Pennant System
ETS	Environmental Tags System
ETS	Estimated Time of Sailing
Even keel	When a boat redes on an even keel, its plane of flotation is either coincident or parallel to the designed water line.
EVTMS	Enhanced Vessel Traffic Management System
EXCOM	Executive Committee
Expansion joint	A term applied to a joint which permits linear movement to take up the expansion and contraction due to changes in temperature.
Expansion trunk	A raised enclosure around an opening in the top of a liquid cargo tank which allows for heat expansion of the cargo.
Expansion trunks	Trunkways extending a short way into oil tanker compartments from the hatches. When the compartment is 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	Ex Works
Eye	The forward end of the spacs below the upper decks of a ship which lies next abaft the stem, where the sides approach very near to each other. The hawse pipes are usually run down through the eyes of a ship.
Eye bolt	A bolt having either a head looped to form a worked eye, or a solid head with a hole drilled through it forming a shackle eye. Its use is similar to that of a pad eye.
Eye plate	Fitting used for mooring arrangements. Eye plate

Fabricate	To shape, assemble and secure in place the component parts in order to form a complete job.
Face plate	A narrow stiffening plate welded alone the edge of any web frame or stiffener.
Factory ship	High endurance vessels designed for processing and packing whale or fish resources off-loaded by smaller whaling or fishing vessels.
Fair	To fair a line means to even out curves, sheer lines, deck lines etc., in drawing and mold loft work.
Fairing or Fairing up	Correcting or fairing up a ship’s lines or structural members; assembling the parts of ship so that they will be fair, that is, without kinks, bumps, or waves.
Fairlead	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
Fairwater	Plating fitted, in the shape of a frustrum of a cone, around the ends of shaft tubes and struts to prevent an abrupt 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	A single turn of rope when a rope is coiled down.
Fake down	To fake line back and forth on deck.
FAL	Facilitation Committee
Fall	Commonly the antire length of rope used in a tackle, though strictly it means only the end to which the power is applied.
Fantail	The overhanging stern section of a vessel, from the stern post aft.
FAS	Free Alongside Ship. Seller delivers goods to appropriate dock or terminal at port of embarkation and buyer covers costs and risks of loading.
Fathom	Six feet. A sea-going measure of length.
Fay	To unite closely two planks or plates, so as to bring the surfaces into nitimate contact.
Faying surface	The contact surface between two adjoining parts.
FD	Free of Dispatch
FDD	Freight Demurrage Deadfreight
FDIS	Free Discharge
Feeder service	Transport service whereby loaded or empty containers in a regional are transferred to a “mother ship” for a long-haul ocean voyage.
Felloes	Pieces of wood which from the rim of a wheel.
Fend off	To push off when making a landing.
Fender	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
Ferry	Vessel used to convey passengers and/or vehicles on a regular schedule between 2 or more points.
FEU	Forty foot container equivalency unit Standard 40′ Container
FHEX	Fridays/Holidays Excluded
FHINC	Fridays/Holidays Included
Fid	A tapered wooden pin used to separate the strands when splicing heavy rope.
Fidley	Framework built around a deck hatch ladder, leading below.
Fidley deck	A partially raised deck over the engine and boiler rooms, usually around the smokestack.
Field day	A day for general ship cleaning.
Figurehead	The bust, often of a woman, on the bow of a vessel, just under the bowscript.
Fillet	The rounded edge of a rolled steel angle or bar.
FILO	Free In/Liner Out. Seafreight with which the shipper pays load costs and the carrier pays for discharge costs.
Fin	A projecting keel.
FIO	Free In/Out. Freight booked FIO includes the sea freight, but no loading/discharging costs, i.e. the charterer pays for cost of loading and discharging cargo.
FIOS	Free In/Out Stowed. As per FIO, but includes stowage costs.
FIOSLSD	Free In/Out Stowed, Lashed, Secured and Dunnaged. As per FIO, but includes cost of lashing securing and dunnaging cargo to Masters satisfaction.
FIOST	Free In/Out and Trimmed. Charterer pays for cost of loading/discharging cargo, including stowage and trimming.
FIOT	Free In/Out and Trimmed. As per FIOS but includes trimming the leveling of bulk cargoes
Fish plate	A triangular-shaped steel plate used to strengthen the connection between the towing bridle and the towing hawser. Fish plate
FIT	Free In Trimmed
FIW	Free In Wagon
Fixed costs	Costs that do not vary with the level of activity. Some fixed costs continue even if no cargo is carried; for example, terminal bases, rent, and property taxes.
FIXING	Chartering a Vessel
Flag State	The nation in which a vessel is registered and which holds legal jurisdiction as regards operation of the vessel, at home or abroad.
Flagstaff	Flag pole, usually at the stern of a ship, carries the ensign.
Flame screen	A corrosion-resistant fine wire mesh screen used to cover certain openings on tank vessels to prevent the passage of flame into the tank.
Flange	The turned edge of a shape or girder, which acts to resist bending strain.
Flare	Outward curvature or widening of the hull above the waterline present in the bow section (of a conventional bow) to avoid shipping water.
Flare	The spreading out from the central vertical plane of the body of a ship with increasing rapidity as the section rises from the waterline to the rail.
Flared bow	A bow with an extreme flare at the upper and forcastle deck.
Flat	A small partial deck, built level, without curvature.
Flemish down	To coil flat down on deck, each fake outside the other, beginning in the middle and all close together.
Floating drydock	A U-shaped dock with double skins which is filled by opening up the sillcocks, and allowed to settle sothe middle section will be lower than the keel of the ship so that repairs can be made on her hull.
Floodable length	The length of the hull, at any point, that can fl ood without immersing the margin line. Important in studying the safety of ships.
Floor	Vertical transverse full-breadth plating between inner bottom and bottom shell plating.
Floor plan	A horizontal section, showing the ship as divided at a water or deck line.
Floors	Vertical flat plates running transverse of the vessel, connecting the vertical keel with the margin plates or the frames to which the tank top and bottom shell is fast-ened.
Flotsam	The parts of a wrecked ship and goods lost in shipwreck, both found floating.
FLT	Full Liner Terms Shipowner pays to load and discharge the cargo
Fluke	The palm of an anchor. The broad holding portion which penetrates the ground.
Flush deck	A deck running from stem without being broken by forecastle or poop.
Flush deck hatch	Hatch in a deck with no coaming.
Flush deck ship	Vessel having an upper deck extend continuously from bow to stern.
Flux	A substance such us as borax, used in welding to help in the melting of the metal. Flux also serves to stabilize the electric arc, steady the flow of the filler metal into the weld and protect the weld from oxidation.
FMC	Federal Maritime Commission US government agency
FMS	Fathoms 6 feet
FO (IFO)	Fuel Oil/Intermediate FO
FOB	Free on Board. Seller sees the goods “over the ship’s rail” on to the ship which is arranged and paid for by the buyer
Fo’c’sle	A modem version of the old term “forecastle,” or bow section of the ship, where the crew lived.
Fodley hatch	Hatch around smokestack and uptake.
FOFFER	Firm Offer
FOG	For Our Guidance
Fog horn	A sound signal device (not necessarily mechanically operated).
Fog-bound	Said of a vessel when forced to heave to or lie at anchor due to fog.
FOQ	Free On Quay
FOR	Free On Rail
Force majeure	The tittle of a common clause in contracts, exempting the parties from nonfulfillment of their obligations as a result of conditions beyond their control, such as earthquakes, floods, or war.
FORCE MAJEURE	Clause limiting responsibilities of the charterers, shippers and receivers due to events beyond their control.
Fore and aft	Parallel to the ship’s centerline.
Fore peak	The narrow extremity of a vessel’s bow. Also the hold space within it.
Fore peak tank	Tank (often for ballast/trimming) forward of the collision bulkhead. Fore peak tank Fore peak tank
Fore rake	The forward part of the bow which overhangs the keel.
Fore, forward	Toward the stem. Between the stem and amidships.
Forebody	That part of a hull forward of amidships.
Forecastle	Raised and enclosed forward superstructure section of the hull. 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 the level of her uppermost complete deck and fitting a deck over the length of this structure.
Forecastle deck	A deck over the main deck at the bow.
Foredeck	Foremost section of exposed main deck.
Forefoot	The forward end of a vessel’s stem which is stepped on the keel.
Forehook	Or breast hook.
Forepeak bulkhead	The bulkhead nearest the stem, which forms the after boundary of the forepeak tank. When this bulkhead is extended from the bottom of the ship to the weather deck, it is also called the collision bulkhead.
Forest product carrier	Vessel designed for the transportation of processed timber with large hatchways simplifying stowage and transfer of cargo. Forest product carrier
Forging	A mass of metal worked to a special shape by hammering, bending, or pressing while hot.
Fork beam	A half beam to support a deck where hatchways occur.
Formal safety assessment (FSA)	A process for assessing the safety of a ship by studying the risks, their likelihood and consequences.
Forty-foot equivalent unit (FEU)	Unit of measurement equivalent to one forty-foot container. Two twenty foot containers (TEUs) equal on FEU.
Forward	Towards or at the fore end of a vessel. (Abbr. Fwd or For’d.)
Forward perpendicular	A line perpendicular to the keel line, and intersecting the forward side of the stem at the designed load water line.
FOT	Free On Truck
Foul	Jammed, not clear.
Fouled hawse	Said of the anchor chain when moored and the chain does not lead clear of another chain.
Found	To fit and bed firmly. Also, equipped.
Founder	To sink (out of control).
FOW (1)	First Open Water
FOW (2)	Free On Wharf
FPD	Fall Preventing Device
FPSO	Floating production, storage and offloading vessel. FPSO
Frame	Vertical structural component supporting and/or stiffening hull side plating and maintaining the transverse form. Frame
Frame head	The section of a frame that rises above the deck line.
Frame lines	Lines of a vessel as laid out on the mold loft floor, showing the form and popsition of the grames. Also the line of intersection of shell with heel of frame.
Frame spacing	The fore-and-aft distances between frames, heel to heel.
Frame station(s)	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 numbered negatively.
Frames	The ribs of a ship.
FRC	Fast Rescue Craft
FREE OUT	Free of discharge costs to Owners
Freeboard	Vertical measurement from the vessel’s side amidships from the load waterline to the upperside of the freeboard deck. Freeboard Freeboard
Freeboard deck	The uppermost complete deck exposed to weather and sea, which has permanent means of weathertight closing 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.
Freefall lifeboat	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 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.
Freeing port	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 port
Freeing ports	Heles in the bulwark or rail, which allow deck wash to drain off into the sea. Some freeing ports have swing gates which allow water to drain off but which aytomatically close from sea water pressure.
Freight, demurrage, and defence	Class of insurance provided by a protection and indemnity (P&I) club that covers legal costs incurred by a shipowner in connection with claims arising from the operation of the ship.
Freighter	A ship designed to carry all types of general cargo, or “dry cargo.”
FSE	Free Surface Effect
FSG	Floating Systems Group
FSI	Flag State Implementation
FSS	Fire Safety Systems
FSU	Floating Storage Unit
Funnel	External fairing through which exhaust ducting is conducted. Funnel
Furrings	Strips of timber or boards fastened to frames, joists, etc., in order to bring their faces to the required shape or level, for attachment of sheating, ceiling, flooring etc.
FWAD	Fresh Water Arrival Draft
FWDD	Fresh Water Departure Draft
FYG	For Your Guidance
FYI	For Your Information

G.I.	Anything of Government Issue.
GA	General Average
Gadget	A slang term applied to various fittings.
Gage	A standard of measure.
Galley	Kitchen compartment aboard a vessel.
Galvanizing	The process of coating one metal with another, ordinarily applied to the coating or iron or steel with zinc. The chief purpose of galvanizing is to prevent corrosion.
Gang board	Same as gang plank.
Gang plank	A board with cleats forming a bridge reaching from a gengway of a vessel to the wharf.
Gangway	The opening in the bulkwarks of a vessel through which persons come on board of disembark. Also a gang plank.
Gantline	A line rove through a single block secured aloft.
Gantry	High level structure supporting a traversing lifting appliance. Gantry
Garboard strake	Strake (line) of shell plating immediately adjacent to the keel (centreline) plating.
Garboard strake	A strake which ends before reaching the stem or stern post. Such strakes are laid at or near the middle of the ship’s sides to lessen the spiling of the plating.
Gas carrier	Tanker designed for the transportation of liquefied gases. Gas carrier
Gas free	The process of removing all hazardous gases and residues from the compartments of a vessel
Gasket	An elastic packing material used for making joints watertight.
Gaskets	Packing materials, by which air, water, oil, or steam tightness is secured in such places as on doors, hatches, 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	A point at which freight moving from one territory to another is interchanged between trasportation lines.
Gather way	To attain headway (to get going or pick up speed).
Gauge	A waterway marker which measures the level of the water in foot increments; also refers to the specific measure on the gauge.
GBS	Goal Based Standard
Gear	The general name for ropes, blocks and tackles, tools, etc. (things).
General arrangement	Highly detailed plan drawings of the general layout of a vessel. General arrangement
GHG	Green House Gas
Gib	A metal fitting that holds a member in place, or presses two members together.
Gilguy (or gadget)	A term used to designate an object for which the correct name has been forgotten.
Gipsey (gypsey)	A drum of a windlass for heaving in line.
Girder	(1) Longitudinal continuous member with a vertical web providing support of deck beams. (2) Longitudinal continuous vertical plating on the bottom of single- or double-bottomed vessels.
Girth	The distance measured on any frame line, from the intersection of the upper deck with the side, around the body 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	Global Integrated Shipping Information System
Glass	Term used by mariners for a barometer.
Glory hole	Steward’s quarters.
GLS	Gearless
GMDSS	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. GMDSS
GMPHOM	Guide to Manufacturing & Purchasing Hoses for Offshore Moorings
GN (or GR)	Grain (capacity)
GNCN	Gencon a standard BIMCO charter party form
GNSS	Global Navigation Satellite Systems
GO	Gas Oil
Go adrift	Break loose.
Golden Slippers	Tan work shoes issued to U.S. Maritime Service trainees
Gooseneck	A return, or 180^o bend, having one leg shorterthan the other. An iron swivel making up the fastening between a boom and a mast. It consists of a pintle and an eyebolt, or clamp.
Gouge	Atool with an half round cutting edge used to cut grooves.
GPC	General Purposes Committee
Grapnel	A small anchor with several arms used for dragging purposes.
Grating	A wooden lattice-work covering a hatch or the bottom boards of a boat; similarly designed gratings of metal are frequently found on shipboard.
Grating	An open iron lattice work used for covering hatchways and platforms.
Graveyard watch	The middle watch.
Graving docks	A dry dock. The vessel is floated in, and gates at the entrance closed when the tide is at ebb. The remaining water isthen pumped out, and the vessel’s bottom is graved, or cleaned.
GRD	Geared
Green sea	A large body of water taken aboard (ship a sea).
Grids	Metal protective bars of sea chests and propeller thrusters.
Gripe	The sharp forward end of the dished keel on which the stem is fixed.
Grommet	A reing of fiber usually soaked in red lead or some other packing material, and used under the heads of bolts and nuts to preserve tightness.
Gross registered tonnage	A formula-derived measure of the internal (enclosed) volume of a vessel less certain excluded spaces. (Stated in volumetric tons where 1 ton = 100 ft3 , 2.8317 m3.) (Abbr. grt.)
Gross tons	The volume measurement of the internal voids of a vessel wherein 100 cu. ft. equals one ton.
Ground tackle	A term used to cover all of the anchor gear.
Grounding	Running ashore (hitting the bottom).
Groundways	Large pieces of timber laid across the ways on which the keel blocks are placed. Also the large blocks and plans which support the cradle on which a ship is launched.
Groupage	The grouping together of several compatible consignments into a full container load. Also referred to as consolidation.
GRP	Glass Reinforced Plastic
GRT	Gross Registered Tonnage
GSB	Good Safe Berth
GSP	Good Safe Port
GTEE	Guarantee
Gudgeon	A metallic eye bolted to the stern post, on which the rubber is hung.
Gunwale	The upper edge of a vessel or boat’s side.
Gunwale (gunnel)	That part of a barge or boat where the main deck and the side meet.
Gunwale bar	A term applied to the bar connecting a stringer plate on a weather deck to the sheer strake.
Gusset	A steel plate used for reinforcing or bracing the junction of other steel members. Gusset
Gusset plate	A tie plate, used for fastening posts, frames, beams, etc., to other objects.
Gutter ledge	A bar laid across a hatchway to support the hatches.
Gutterway	The sunken trough on the shelter deck outer edge which disposes of the water from the deck wash.
Guys	Wire or hemp rope or chains to support nooms, davits, ets., laterally. Guys are employed in pairs. Where a span is fitted between two booms, for example, one pair only is required for the two.
GZ	The distance from the centre of gravity to the line of action of the buoyancy force. It is a measure of a ship’s ability to resist heeling moments.

HA	Hatch
HAEMHF	Hose Ancillary Equipment & Managing Hoses in the Field
Hail	To address a vessel, to come from, as to hail from some port (call).
Half deck	A short deck below the main deck.
Half model	A modle of one side of a ship, on which the plate lines are drawn in.
Half-breadth plan	A plan or top view of half of a ship divided longitudinally. It shows the water lines, bow and buttock lines, and diagonal lines of construction.
Half-mast	The position of a flag when lowered halfway down.
Halliards or halyards	Ropes used for hoisting gaffs and sails, and signal flags.
Hand	A member of the ship’s company.
Hand lead	A lead of from 7 to 14 pounds used with the hand lead line for ascertaining the depth of water in entering or leaving a harbor. (Line marked to 20 fathoms.)
Hand rail	A steadying rail of a ladder (banister).
Hand rope	Same as “grab rope” (rope).
Hand taut	As tight as can be pulled by hand.
Hand-over	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, 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.
Handybilly	A watch tackle (small, handy block and tackle for general use).
Handymax	Dry bulk carrier of 35 – 50,000 tonnes deadweight, popular for full efficiency, flexibility and low draft (<12 m).
Handysize	A term applied to bulk carriers of 40 000-65 000 DWT.
Hang from the yards	Dangle a man from one of the yard arms, sometimes by the neck, if the man was to be killed, and sometimes by the toes, if he was merely to be tortured. A severe punishment used aboard sailing ships long ago. Today, a reprimand.
Hard patch	A plate riveted over another plate to cover a hole or break.
Harpings	The fore parts of the wales of a vessel which compass her bows and are fastened to the stem, thickened to withstand plunging.
Hatch	Opening in a deck providing access for cargo, personnel, stores, etc. Hatch
Hatch bars	The bars by which the hatches are fastened down.
Hatch coaming	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 coaming
Hatchway	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 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	The part of a ship’s bow in which are the hawse holes for the anchor chains.
Hawse buckler	An iron plate covering a hawse hole.
Hawse hole	A hole in the boow through which a cable or chain passes. It is a cast steel tube, having rounded projecting lipe both inside and out.
Hawse pipe	Steel pipe duct through which the anchor cable is led overboard. Hawse pipe
Hawse plug or block	A stopper used to prevent water from entering the hawse hole in heavy weather.
Hawse-pipes	A pipe lead-in for anchor chain through ship’s bow.
Hawser	A large circumference rope used for towing or mooring a vessel or for securing it at a dock. Hawser Hawser
Hawser-laid	Left-handed rope of nine strands, in the form of three three-stranded, right-handed ropes.
HCFC	Hydro Chloro Fluoro Carbons
HDWTS	Half Dispatch Working Time Saved
Head	(1) The bow of a vessel. (2) Term given to toilet facilities usually in the smaller craft context.
Head ledges	See Hatchway
Head of navigation	The uppermost limit of navigation from the mouth of a waterway.
Head room	The height of the decks, below decks.
Headlog	The reinforced, vertical plate which connects the bow rake bottom to the rake deck of a barge or square-stemmed boat.
Heart	The inside center strand of rope.
Heave	The vertical movement of a ship, as a rigid body, in a seaway. Heave
Heave around	To revolve the drum of a capstan, winch or windlass. (Pulling with mechanical deck heaving gear).
Heave away	An order to haul away or to heave around a capstan (pull).
Heave in	To haul in.
Heave short	To heave in until the vessel is riding nearly over her anchor.
Heave taut	To haul in until the line has a strain upon it.
Heave the lead	The operation of taking a sounding with the hand lead (to find bottom).
Heave to	To bring vessel on a course on which she rides easily and hold her there by the use of the ship’s engines (holding a position).
Heaving line	A small line thrown to an approaching vessel, or a dock as a messenger.
Heavy-lift vessel	Vessel designed specifically for the loading/discharge and transportation of very heavy cargoes. Heavy-lift vessel Heavy-lift vessel
Heel	Inclination of a vessel to one side. [Alt list.] Heel Heel
Height	Vertical distance between any two decks, or vertical distance measured from the base line to any water line.
Helm	A term applied to the tiller, wheel, or steering gear, and also the rubber.
Helm port	The hole in the counter of a vessel through which the rubber stock passes.
Hemp	Rope made of the fibers of the hemp plant and used for small stuff or less than 24 thread (1.75 inch circumference). (Rope is measured by circumference, wire by diameter.)
HGWG	Mercury Working Group
High, wide and handsome	Sailing ship with a favorable wind, sailing dry and easily. A person riding the crest of good fortune
Hip towing (hipping)	A method of towing whereby the vessel being towed is secured along-side the towboat hip-towing-hipping
HMS	Heavy Metal Scrap
HNS	Hazardous and Noxious Substances
HO	Hold
Hog	A scrub-broom for scraping a ship’s bottom under water.
Hog frame	A fore-and-aft frame, forming a truss for the main frames of a vessel, to prevent bending.
Hog sheer	The curve of the deck on a vessel constructed so that the middle is higher than the ends.
Hogged	A ship that is damaged or strained so that the bottom curves upward in the middle opposite of sagged.
Hogging	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
Hoist away	An order to haul up.
Hold	That part of a ship where cargo or supplies are carried.
Hold beams	The beams that support the lower deck in a cargo vessel.
Hold fast	A dog or brace to hold objects rigidly in place.
Holiday	An imperfection, spots left unfinished in cleaning or painting.
Holy stone	The soft sandstone block sailors use to scrub the deck, so-called, because seamen were on their knees to use it.
Hood	A covering for a companion hatch, scuttle or skylight.
Hooding-end	The endmost plate of a complete strake. The hooding-ends fit into the stem or stern post.
Hopper barge	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 tank	Lower side ballast tank in a bulk carrier, shaped and positioned to create a hopper form to the cargo hold. Hopper tank
Horn cleat	A fitting, usually with two horn-shaped ends, to which lines are made fast. The classic cleat is almost anvil-shaped. Horn cleat Horn cleat
Horning	Setting the frames of a vessel square to the keel after the proper inclination to the vertical due to the declivity of the keel has been given.
Horse latitudes	The latitudes on the outer margins of the trades where the prevailing winds are light and variable.
Horsepower	A standard unit of power which is often classified in connection with engines as brake, continuous input, intermittent, output, or shaft horsepower.
Horseshoe plate	A small, light plate fitted on the counter around the rubber stock for the purpose of preventing water from backing up into the rudder trunk. Frequently it is made in two pieces.
Hounding	That portion of a mast between the deck and the hounds.
Hounds	The mast head projections which support the trestle trees and top. Also applied in vessels without trestle trees to that portion at which the hound band for attaching the shrouds is fitted.
House	To stow or secure in a safe place. A top-mast is housed by lowering it and securing it to a lowermast.
House flag	Distinguishing flag of a merchant marine company flown from the mainmast of merchant ships.
Housing	That portion of a mast below the surface of the upper deck.
Hovercraft	Vessel designed to ride on a cushion of air formed by downthrusting fans. Hovercraft
HP	Horse Power
HRU	Hydrostatic Release Unit
HSSC	Harmonised System of Survey and Certification
Hug	To keep close.
Hulk	A worn out vessel.
Hull	The main body or primary part providing global strength, buoyancy and hydrodynamic qualities of a vessel. Hull
Hull down	Said of a vessel when, due to its distance on the horizon, only the masts are visible.
Hull girder	Combined hull structure contributing to the longitudinal global strength of a hull treated as analogous to a girder.
Hurricane	Force of wind over 65 knots.
Hurricane deck	Same as bridge.
HW	High Water
HWP	Hot Work Permit
Hydrofoil	High-speed craft with immersed foils for developing hydrodynamic lift at speed and a consequential reduction in resistance. hydrofoil Hydrofoil
Hydrographic vessel	Vessel designed for the survey of seabed topography, currents, etc., relevant to marine navigation.
Hydroplane	Rotatable lateral fin providing vertical directional control for submersible craft.
Hydrostatic test	A pressure test employing a static head of water applied to various compartments or components of a vessel.

IAAP	International Air Pollution Prevention
IACS	International Association of Clasification Societies
IADC	International Association of Drilling Contractors
IAMSAR	International Aeronautical and Maritime Search and Rescue Manual
IAPH	International Association of Ports and Harbors
IATA	International Air Transport Association
IBC	Intermediate Bulk Container
I-Beam	A structural shape with cross section resembling the letter I.
IBTS	Integrated Bilge Treatment System
Ice breaker	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 breaker
Ice-bound	Caught in the ice.
ICS	International Chamber of Shipping
ICSW	International Committee on Seafarers’ Welfare
Idolphin	A term applied to several piles that are bound together situated either at the corner of a pier or out in the stream and used for docking and warping vessels.
IEA	International Energy Agency
IFO	Intermediate Fuel Oil
IFSMA	International Federation of Shipmaster’s Association
IHO	International Hydro graphic Organization
IIP	International Ice Patrol
ILG	Industry Lifeboat Group
IMB	International Maritime Bureau
IMDG	International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code
IMHA	International Maritime Health Association
IMO	International Maritime Organisation
IMOSAR	IMO Search & Rescue manual
IMPA	International Marine Purchasing Association
IMSBC	International Maritime Solid Bulk Cargo Code
Inboard	Towards the center line of a ship (towards the center).
Inboard profile	A plan representing a longitudinal section through the center of the vessel, showing heights of decks, location of 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	Indication
Inducement	Placing a port on a vessel’s itinerary because the volume of cargo offered by that port justifies the cost of routing the vessel.
Inert Gas	A gas such as carbon dioxide or nitrogen that is used to make an oxygen deficient atmosphere. Inerted tanks are useful for preserving cargo integrity and reducing the explosive potential of cargo tanks.
Inerted	Implies that a tank is filled with an inert gas.
INF	Irradiated Nuclear Fuel
Innage	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 is the opposite of ullage.
Inner bottom	The tank top.
Inner Shell	A plated surface or “shell” inside the outer shell plating, used as additional protection in case of collision or other accidents. The space between the inner and outer shells is often used as a storage space for liquid ballast or cargo.
Inserted packing red lead	Soaked canvas strip placed between connections that cannot be caulked successfully; stop waters.
Integrated tow	A tow of box-ended barges which, as a complete unit, is raked at the bow, boxed at the intermediate connections, and boxed or raked at the stern.
Intercostals	Plates which fit between floors to stiffen the double bottom of a ship. Intercostal comes from the Latin words inter, meaning between, and costa, meaning rib.
Intermodal	Movement of cargo containers interchangeably between trasport modes where the equipment is compatible within the multiple systems.
INTERMODAL	Carriage of a commodity by different modes of transport, i.e. sea, road, rail and air within a single journey.
IOPC	International Oil Pollution Compensation
IPIECA	International Petroleum Industry Environmental Conservation Association
Irish pennant	An untidy loose end of a rope (or rags).
IRTC	International Recommended Transit Corridor
ISAN	Indigenous Shipowners Association of Nigeria
ISCC	International Ship Security Certificate
ISGOTT	International Oil Tanker & Terminal Safety Code
Isherwood system	A method of framing a vessel which employs closely spaced longitudinals, with extra heavy floors spaced further apart.
ISOA	International Stability Operations Association
ISPPC	International Sewage Pollution Prevention Certificate
ISTEC	Intertanko Technical Committee
ISWG	Intersessional Working Group on Maritime Security
ITC	International Tonnage Certificate
ITF	International Transport Federation
ITOPF	International Tanker Owners Pollution Federation
IU	If Used
IUATUTC	If Used, Actual Time Used To Count
IUHATUTC	If Used, Half Actual Time Used To Count
IWL	Institute Warranty Limits

Jack	The flag similar to the union of the national flag.
Jack ladder	A ladder with wooden steps and side rops
Jack Tar	Sailors were once called by their first names only, and Jack was their generic name. Tar came from seamen’s custom of waterproofing clothing using tar.
Jackstaff	Flagpole at the bow of a ship.
Jacob’s ladder	A ladder of rope with rungs, used over the side.
Jam	To wedge tight.
Jetsam	Items that are thrown overboard from a vessel in distress. Discarded cargo that washes ashore.
Jettison	To throw goods overboard.
Jetty	A landing wharf or pier; a dike at a river s mouth.
Jews harp	The ring bolted to the upper end of the shank of an anchor and to which the bending shackle secures.
Jib	The arm or boom of a crane providing the reach (working radius). Jib
Joggle	The lap a joint by keeping one edge straight and bending the other, in order to leave both surface even on one side.
Jolly Roger	A pirate’s flag carrying the skull and cross-bones.
Journal	That portion of a shaft or other revolving member shich transmits weight directly to end is in immediate contact with the bearing in which it turns.
Jumbo derrick	A derrick designed with a very high lifting capacity, often installed on heavy-lift vessels.
Jumboising	The conversion of a vessel to increase displacement by means of a mid-length transverse cut and the installation of a new section.
Jump ship	To leave a ship without authority (deserting).
Jury	A term applied to temporary structures, such as masts, rubbers, etc., used in an emergency.
Jury rig	Makeshift rig (emergency rig).

Keel	The lowest structural member of a ship or boat which runs the length of the vessel at the centerline and to which the frames are attached.
Keel (plate)	Lowest longitudinal strake of plating along the bottom centreline of the hull. Keel (plate)
Keel block(s)	Support block(s) located beneath the keel strake which are employed during dry-docking of a vessel.
Keel blocks	Blocks on which the keel of a vessel rests when being built, or when she is in a drydock.
Keel bracket	A bracket, usually a triangular plate, connecting the vertical keel and flat keel plates, between the frames or floors of a ship.
Keel docking	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 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 line	An imaginary line describing the lowest portion of a vessel’s hull.
Keel rider	A plate running along the top of the floors and connecting to the vertical keel.
Keel-haul	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 covered with sharp barnacles, this was a severe punishment used aboard sailing ships long ago. Today, a reprimand.
Keelson	Longitudinal vertical member above the keel to which frames are attached. (Wooden construction.)
Keep a sharp look-out	A look-out is stationed in a position to watch for danger ahead. To be on guard against sudden opposition or danger.
Kenter shackle	A detachable shackle which is used to join two forged anchor chain links together. Kenter shackle
Kentledge	Pig iron used either as temporary weight for inclining a vessel or as permanent ballast.
Kerf	In joiner work, a slit or cut made by a saw. Kerfs are made where timber joints require adjusting. Also applied to the channel burned out by a cutting torch.
Kevel (caval)	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
King posts	The main center pillar posts of the ship. May be used as synonym for samson post.
King-spoke	The upper spoke of a steering wheel when the rudder is amidships, usually marked in some fashion (top spoke of neutral steering wheel).
Kink	A twist in a rope.
Knee	Outdated term for a bracket connecting a deck beam and side frame.
Knock off	To stop, especially to stop work.
Knocked down	The situation of a vessel when listed over by the wind to such an extent that she does not recover.
Knot	One nautical mile per hour (1.852 km/h, 0.5144 m/s).
Knot (rope)	A twisting, turning, tying, knitting, or entangling of ropes or parts of a rope so as to join two ropes together or make a finished end on a rope, for certain purpose.
Knuckle	Abrupt change in direction of hull surface or structure.
Knuckle line	A line on the stern of a ship, on the cant frames, which divides the upper and lower parts of the stern.!
Knuckle plate	A plate bent to form a knuckle.
Kort nozzles	A steel tube that surrounds a propeller, directing the water and improving efficiency.Kort nozzles are engineered to improve the flow around the propellers. They are similar in some ways to an airplane propeller.
KPI	Key Performance Indicator

Labor	A vessel is said to labor when she works heavily in a seaway (pounding, panting, hogging and sagging).
Ladder	A metal, wooden or rope stairway.
Lame duck	Term for disabled vessel that had to fall out of a convoy and thus became easy prey for submarines.
Landing	The spaced distance from the edge of a bar or plate to the center of the rivet holes.
Landing craft	Flat-bottomed shallow-draft vessel designed to beach, with a bow and/or stern ramp for the transfer of cargo/payload.
Landing edge	Opposite of sight edge, which see.
Landing ship dock	Large naval vessel capable of carrying small landing craft and amphibious vehicles, despatched via a floodable stern dock within the hull.
Landing strake	The second strake from the gunwale.
Landlubber	The seaman’s term for one who does not go to sea.
LANE METER	A method of measuring the space capacity of Ro/Ro ships whereby each unit of space (Linear Meter) is represented by an area of deck 1.0 meter in length x 2.0 meters in width.
Lanyard	A rope made fast to an article for securing it (knife lanyard, bucket lanyard, etc.), or for setting up rigging.
Lap	A term applied to the distance that one pieces is laid over the other in making a lap joint.
Lapstrake	Applied to boats built on the clinker system, in which the starkes overlap each other. The top strake always laps on the outside of the strake underneath.
LASH	Abbreviaton for “lighter aboard ship”. A specially constructed vessel equipped with an overhead traveling gantry crane for lifting specially designed barges out of water and stowing them into the cellular holds of the vessel as well.
LASH (1)	To hold goods in position by use of Ropes, Wires, Chains or Straps etc.
LASH (2)	Lighter Aboard Ship a vessel that loads small barges direct from the water
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.
LAT	Latitude
Launch	To place in the water.
Lay aloft	The order to go aloft (go up above).
Laying out	Placing the necessary instructions on plates, shapes, etc., for planing, shearing, punching, bending, flanging, beveling, rolling, etc., from the templates made in the mold loft or taken from the ship.
Lazaretto	A low headroom space below decks used for provisions or spare parts, or miscellaneous storage.
Lazy guy	A light rope or trackle by which a boom is prevented from swinging around.
LDL	Limiting Danger Line
Lee shore	The land to the leeward of the vessel (wind blows from the ship to the land).
Leeward	The direction away from the wind.
LEG	Legal Committee
Length between perpendiculars	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 designed water line.
Length over all	The length of a ship measured from the foremost point of the stem to the aftermost part of the stern.
Liberty	Permission to be absent from the ship for a short period (authorized absence).
Lifeboat	Rigid-hulled survival craft deployed from a parent vessel. Lifeboat
Life-line	A line secured along the deck to lay hold of in heavy weather; a line thrown on board a wreck by life-saving crew; a knotted line secured to the span between life-boat davits for the use of the crew when hoisting and lowering.
Lift a template	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 transfer the size and shape into the material and work it into the fabricated object.
Lifting	Transferring marks and measurements from a drwing, model, etc., to a plate or other object, by templates or other means.
Lifting gear	The lifting equipment (i.e., cranes) for loading and discharging operations.
Light load line	The water line when the ship rides empty.
Light, fixed	A thick glass, usually circular in shape, fitted in a frame fixed in an opening in a ship’s side, deck house, or bulkhead to provide access for light. The fixed light is not hinged.
Lightening hole	Large hole cut in a structural member to reduce its weight. Lightening hole
Lighter	A full-bodied, heavily built craft, usually not self-propelled, used in bringingmarchandise or cargo alongside or in transferring same from a vessel.
Lightship	The vessel condition without any form of deadweight aboard (incl.fuel and ballast).
Limber chains	Chains passing through the limber holes of a vessel, by which they may be cleared of dirt.
Limber hole	Small hole or slot cut in a structural member to permit the drainage of liquid.
Limber holes	Holes in the bottoms of floors throught which bilge water runs through tank sections to a seepage basin, where it is then pumped out. The row of holes constitutes the limber passage.
Limber strake	The strake on the inner skin of a vessel which is nearest to the keel.
Line	A general term for light rope.
Line haul	The movement of freight over the tracks of a transportation line from one location (port or city) to another.
Liner	Vessel (over 1000 grt) operating on a regular route between ports according to a particular schedule.
Lines	The ropes or cables used on a vessel for towing, mooring, or lashing.
Lines plan	Plans indicating the hull form via the inclusion of waterlines, buttock lines and section lines shown on profile, plan and end views. Lines plan
List	To learn to one side.
LL	Load Line
LMAA	London Maritime Arbitrators Association
LNG	Liquefied Natural Gas
LNG carrier	Vessel designed to transport natural gas in liquefied form. LNG carrier
LOA	Length Overall of the vessel
Load eater line	The water line when the ship is loaded.
Load line markings	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 line markings
Locker	A storage compartment in a ship.
Loftsman	A man who lays out the ship’s lines in the mold loft and makes the molds or templates therefrom.
Log book	A continuous operating record of a ship kept by one of its officers. In it are recorded daily all important events occurring on board, also the condition of the weather, the ship’s position and other data.
Loll	A ship which is slightly unstable in the vertical position will heel until the GZ curve becomes zero. It is said to loll and the angle it takes up is the angle of loll.
Lo-lo (lift on-lift-off)	Cargo handling method by which vessels are loaded or unloaded by either ship or shore cranes.
Longitudinal	A line in the fore and aft direction parallel to the centreline. Also refers to a longitudinal stiffener running parallel (or nearly parallel) to the centreline.
Longitudinal bulkhead	A partition wall of planking or plating running in a fore-and-aft direction. Oil tankers are required to have at least one fore-and-aft bulkhead in the cargo oil space. Fore-and-aft bulkheads are very common on warships.
Longitudinal centre of buoyancy (LCB)	The fore and aft location of the centre of buoyancy. Longitudinal centre of buoyancy (LCB)
Longitudinal centre of gravity (LCG)	The fore and aft location of the centre of gravity.
Longitudinal stability	The stability of a ship for rotation (trim) about a transverse axis.
Longshoreman	A laborer who works at loading and discharging cargo.
Lookout	The man stationed aloft or in the bows for observing and reporting objects seen.
Loom	The part of an oar between the blade and handle. The reflection of a light below the horizon due to certain atmospheric conditions.
Loose	To unfurl.
LOP	Lines of Position
Louver	A small opening to permit the passage of air for the purpose or ventilation, which may by partially or completely closedby the operation of overlapping shutters.
LOW	Last Open Water
LPG	Liquefied Petroleum Gas LPG carrier
LPG carrier	Vessel designed to transport petroleum gas in a form of butane or propane.
LRIT	Long Range Identification & Tracking of Ships
LS (or LUMPS)	Lumpsum
LSA	Life Saving Appliances
LSD	Lashed Secured Dunnaged
LT	Liner Terms
LTI	Lost Time Injury
LTIF	Loss Time Injury Frequency
Lubber line	The black line parallel with ship’s keel marked on the inner surface of the bowl of a compass, indicating the compass direction of the ship’s head.
Lug pad	A projection on deck with hole for fastening a block for a lead.
Lurch	The sudden heave of the ship.
LW	Low Water
LWC	Lost Workday Case
LYCN	Laycan (Layday Canceling Date)
Lyle gun	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 a boat cannot be launched.

M/V	Motor Vessel
Machinery	Term covering main engines, auxiliary engine room machinery(e.g.,pumps, compressors, etc.,) in addition to other installed plant (e.g., hydraulics, air-conditioning plant, lift machinery, etc.,) and deck machinery (e.g., mooring winches, windlasses, etc.).
Madeye	A steel fitting formed by a flat doubler plate and vertical steel member containing a circular opening.
Magazine	Internal space dedicated to the storage of munitions (shells, surface-to-air missiles, etc.) in a naval vessel.
MAIB	Marine Accident Investigation Branch
Main beam	The main longitudinal beam on a ship, running down the center line and supports as a rule by king posts. Sometimes there are two main beams, on each side of the center line.
Main body	The hull exclusive of all deck erections spars, streaks, etc., the naked hull.
Main breadth line	The greatest width of a ship amidships. If a ship’s sides tumble home, the main breesth line will be considerably below the bulwarks.
Main deck	The main continuous deck or principal deck of a vessel
Main mast	The principal mast of a vessel. Main mast
Make colors	Hoisting the ensign at 8 a.m. and down at sunset.
Make the course good	Steering; keeping the ship on the course given (no lazy steering).
Make the land	Landfall. To reach shore.
Make water	To leak; take in water.
Malacca-max	Maximum size of container and bulk vessels (in terms of draught) that can cross the Malacca Straits. The Malacca-max reference is believed to be today the absolute maximum possible size for future container vessels (approximately 18,000 TEU).
Man ropes	Ropes hung and used for assistance in ascending and descending.
Manger	The perforated. Elevated bottom of the chain locker which prevents the chains from touching the main locker bottom, and allows see page water to flow to the drains.
Manhole	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	A framed opening in the deck of a vessel which primarily provides access for a man.
Manhole cover	A cover which seals a manhole and is usually designed to lock in place by twisting or using a centerbolt, studbolts, or dogs. Manhole cover
Manifold	A casting or chest containing several valves. Suction or discharge pipes from or to the various compartments, tanks, and pumps are led to it, making it possible for several pumps to draw from or deliver to a given place through one pipe line.
Manila	Rope made from the fibers of the abaca plant.
Margin plate	A longitudinal plate whick closes off the ends of the floors along the widship section
Marlinspike	Pointed iron implement used in separating the strands of rope in splicing, marling, etc.
Maroon	To put a person ashore with no means of returning.
Marry	To join two ropes ends so that the joint will run through a block, also to place two ropes alongside each other so that both may be hauled on at the same time.
Mast	A spar or hollow steel pipe tapering smaller at the top, placed on the center line of the ship with a slight after rake. Masts support the yards and gaffs. On cargo vessels they support cargo booms.
Mast hole	A hole in the deck ti receive a mast. The diameter of the hole is larger than the mast for the purpose of receiving two rows of founded wedges to hole the mast in place.
Mast step	The frame on the keelson of boat (does not apply on ships) to which the heel of a mast is fitted.
Mast table	A structure built up around a mast as a support for the cargo boom pivots.
Master	A term for the captain, a holdover from the days when the captain was literally, and legally, the “master” of the ship and crew. His word was law.
Masthead	The top part of the mast.
Masthead light	The white running light carried by steam vessel underway on the foremast or in the forepart of the vessel.
Mats	Slabs, usually constructed of timbers, which are placed on the deck of a vessel for the purpose of supporting and distributing the weight of heavy loads. back
Mats	Slabs, usually constructed of timbers, which are placed on the deck of a vessel for the purpose of supporting and distributing the weight of heavy loads.
MB	Merchant Broker
MBL	Minimum Breaking Load
MBM	Multi-Buoy Moorings
MCA	Maritime Coastguard Agency (United Kingdom)
MDO (DO)	Marine Diesel Oil
MEPC	Maritime Environment Pollution Comittee
MERSAR	Merchant Ship Search & Rescue Manual
Mess gear	Equipment used for serving meals.
Messenger	A light line used for hauling over a heavier rope or cable.
Messman	A member of the steward’s department who served meals to officers and crew.
Messroom	A space or compartment where members of the crew eat their meals, a dining room in which officers eat their neals is called a wardroom messroom.
Metacentre	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
Metacentric diagram	A plot showing how the metacentre and centre of buoyancy change as draught increases. Metacentric diagram
Metacentric height (GM)	The vertical separation of the metacentre and the centre of gravity as projected on to a transverse plane. Metacentric height (GM)
Mezzamine financing	A mix of financing instruments, including equity, subordinated debt, completion guarantees, and bridge 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	Medical First Aid Guide
Middle body	That part of a ship adjacent to the midship section. When it has a uniform cross section throughout its length, with its water lines parellel to the center line, it is called the parellel middle body.
Midship	The middle of the vessel.
Midship area coefficient (CM)	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 area coefficient (CM)
Midship beam	The longest beam transverse or longitudinal of the midship of a vessel.
Midship frame	The frame at midship, which is the largest on the vessel.
Midship section	Fully dimensioned sectional drawing of both hull and superstructure principal structural members at the midships station.
MIN/MAX	Minimum/Maximum (cargo quantity)
MIO	Marine Information Object
MMSI	Maritime Mobile Service Identity
MNLO	Merchant Navy Liaison Officer
MOB	Man Overboard
MOC	Management Of Change
MODU	Mobile Offshore Drilling Unit
MOLCHOPT	More or Less Charterers Option
Mold	A pattern or template. Also a shape of metal or wood over or in which an object may be hammered or pressed to fit.
Mold loft	The large enclosed floor wher the lines of a vessel are laid out and the molds or templates made.
Molded breadth	The greatest breadth of a vessel, measured from the heel of frame onone side to heel of frame on the other side.
Molded depth	The extreme height of a vessel amidships, from the top of the keel to the top of the upper deck beam. Molded depth
Molded depth	The distance from the top of the keel to the top of the upper deck beams amidships at the gunwale.
Molded line	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 determined in the design of a vessel and adhered to throughtout the construction. Molded lines are those laid down in the mold loft.
Molding edge	The edge of a ship’s frame which comes in contact with the skin , and is represented in the drawings.
Mole	A breakwater used as a landing pier.
MOLOO	More or Less Owners Option
Monkey fist	A knot worked into the end of a heaving line (for weight).
Monkey island	A flying bridge on top of a pilothouse or chart house.
Monkey tail	A curved bar fitted ti the upper, after end of a rubber, and used as an attachment for the rubber pendants.
Mooring	Securing to a dock or to a buoy, or anchoring with two anchors.
Mooring line	Cable or hawse lines used to tie up a ship.
Mooring pipe	An opening through which hawse lines pass.
Mortise	A hole cut in any material to receive the end or return of anoter piece.
Mother Carey’s chickens	Small birds that foretell bad weather and bad luck.
Moulded breadth	Greatest breadth of a hull measured between inner surfaces of the side shell plating. Moulded breadth
Mousing	Small stuff seized across a hook to prevent it from unshipping (once hooked, mousing keeps the hook on).
MSC	Maritime Safety Committee
MSDS	Material Safety Data Sheet
MSI	Maritime Safety Information
MSL	Maximum Securing Load
MSL	Mean Sea Level
MT	Metric Ton (i.e. 1,000 kilos / 2204.6lbs)
MTC	Medical Treatment Case
MTOTS	Marine Terminal Operators Training System
MTSC	Marine Technical Sub-Committee
Mud scow	A large, flat bottomed boat used to carry the mud from a dredge.
Mullion	The vertical bar dividing the lights in a window.
Mushroom anchor	An anchor without stock and shaped like a mushroom.

NAABSA	Not Always Afloat But Safely Aground
Nantucket sleigh ride	A term for what frequently happened to Nantucket whalers when they left the whaling ship in a small boat to go after a whale. If they harpooned the whale without mortally wounding it, the animal took off with the whaleboat in tow.
NARSUC	Navigation and Routeing Sub-Committee
Nautical mile	Unit of distance used in marine navigation. (International nautical mile = 1.852 km. 6076.12 ft, 1.1508 land miles.) The international nautical mile is equivalent to the average linear distance over 1 minute of latitude arc at 45° latitude at sea level.
NCB	National Cargo Bureau
NCEC	National Chemical Emergency Centre
NCMM	Norwegian Centre for Maritime Medicine
NDA	Non Discharge Area
Neobulk cargo	Non-, or economically not feasible, containerizable cargo such as timber, steel, and vehicles.
Neptune	The mythical god of the sea.
NESTING	Implies that cargo is presented stacked in the contour of similarly shaped cargo, it may be likened to a stack of plates.
Net registered tonnage	A formula-derived measure of the internal (enclosed) volume in a vessel except spaces for machinery, navigation and accommodation. Net tonnage is always less than the gross tonnage.
Net tonnage	The cubical space available for carrying cargo and passengers.
Netting	A rope network.
NIS	Non Indigenous Species
NLS	Noxious Liquid Substances
NON-REVERSIBLE	(Detention). If loading completed sooner than expected, then saved days will not be added to discharge time allowed.
Nonvessel operating common carrier (NVOCC)	A cargo consolidator in ocean trades who buys space from a carrier and resells it to smaller shippers. The NVOCC issues bills of lading, publishes tariffs, and otherwise conducts itself as an ocean common carrier, except that it does not provide the actual ocean or intermodal service.
Non-watertight door	A term applied to a door that is not constructed to prevent water under pressure from passing through.
NOR	Notice of Readiness
Not under command	Said of a vessel when unable to maneuver.
Not under control	Same as not under command.
NPDES	National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
NPRM	Notice of Proposed Rule Making
NRT	Net Registered Tonnage
NTVRP	Non Tank Vessel Response Plan
NUC	Not Under Command
NYPE	New York Produce Exchange

Oakum	Material used for caulking the seams of vessels and made from the loose fibers of old hemp rope.
OBO (Oil-bulk ore (carrier))	Vessel designed for the transportation of oil and/or bulk ores.
OBQ	On Board Quantity
OBS	Observation
OCIMF	Oil Company International Marine Forum
OCM	Oil Content Monitor
ODMCS	Oil Discharge Monitoring & Control Systems
ODME	Oil Discharge Monitoring Equipment
ODS	Ozone Depleting Substances
OEL	Occupational Exposure Limit
OFAC	Office of Foreign Assets Control
Off and on	Standing toward the land and off again alternately.
Officer of the watch	The officer in charge of the watch.
Offsets	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	Dimensional co-ordinates of a hull form, (referenced to the moulded baseline, centreline and transom or AP) usually presented in tabular format.
OFG	Offshore Floating Group
Ogee	A molding with a concave and convex outline like an S.
OHG	Offshore Hose Guidelines
OIC	Officer in Charge
Oil bag	A bag filled with oil and triced over the side for making a slick in a rough sea (to keep seas from breaking).
Oil tanker	Vessel designed for the transportation of liquid hydrocarbons in bulk. Oil tanker
Oilskin	Waterproof clothing.
Oiltight	Having the property of resisting the passage of oil.
Oiltight bulkhead	A partition of plating reinforced where necessary with stiffering bars and capable of preventing the flow of oil 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.
Old man	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, and the drill top placed under the other leg and adjusted so the “old man” holds the drill against the material.
OMC	Offshore Marine Committee
OMOG	Offshore Maritime Operations Group
On board	On or in a ship.
On deck	On the upper deck, in the open air.
On report	In trouble.
On soundings	Said of a vessel when the depth of water can be measured by the lead (within the 100 fathom curve).
ONI	Office of Naval Initiative
OO	Owners Option
OPA	Oil Pollution Act
OPRC	Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response and Cooperation
Ordinary seaman	The beginning grade for members of the deck department. The next step is able bodied seaman.
Orlop deck	The lowest deck in a ship.
ORS	Open Reporting System
OSH	Open Shelter Deck
OTF	Offshore Terminal Forum
Out of trim	Not properly trimmed or ballasted (not on even keel; listing).
Outboard	In a direction towards the side of the ship.
Outboard	Away from the keel or center of a vessel on either side.
Outboard profile	A plan representing the longitudinal exterior of a vessel, showing the starboard side of the shell, all deck erections, masts, yards, rigging, rails, etc.
Over-all	The extreme deck fore and aft measurement of a vessel.
Overboard	Outside, over the side of a ship into the water.
Overcarriage	The carriage of cargo beyond the port for which it was intended.
Overhang	Same as counter
Overhaul	Get gear in condition for use; to separate the blocks of a tackle to lengthen the fall (ready for use again).
Overtaking	Said of a vessel when she is passing or overtaking another vessel.
OVID	Offshore Vessel Inspection Database
OVIQ	Offshore Vessel Inspection Questionnaire
OVMSA	Offshore Vessel Management and Self Assessment
OWS	Oil Water Separator
OWS	Owners
Oxidation	The combination of a substance or element like wood, iron, gasoline, etc, with oxygen. The process is 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.
Oxter plate	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 which is fastened there to.

Packers	Men who fit lamp wicking, tarred felt or other material between parts of the structure to insure water or oil tightness.
Pad eye	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 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.
Painter	A short piece of rope secured in the bow of a small boat used for making her fast.
Painting beams	The transverse beams that tie the painting frames together.
Painting frames	The frames in the fore peak, usually extra heavy to withstand the panting action of the shell plating.
Pair masts	A pair of cargo masts stepped on eith side of the center line, with their heads connected by spans.
Pale	One of the interior shores for steadying the neams of a ship while building.
Pallet	A flat wooden or plastic platform onto which cargo may be strapped or lashed which simplifies handling via cranes and forklift vehicles. Pallet
Pallet carrier	Cargo vessel specially designed or adapted for the transportation of pallet-borne cargoes. Pallet carrier Pallet carrier
Palm and needle	A seaman’s sewing outfit for heavy work.
Panamax Market	category of vessels notionally at the dimensional limits for transiting the Panama canal.
Panting	The pulsation in and out of the bow and stern plating as the ship alternately rises and plunges deep into the water.
Panting stringer	Horizontal deep-web side structural member used for strengthening bow structure prone to panting loads. Panting stringer
Parallel midbody	Midship portion of a hull within which the longitudinal contour is unchanged.
Paravane	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 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	Piracy Attack Risk Surface
Part	To break.
Partial bulkhead	A term applied to a bulkhead that extends only a portion of the way across a compartment. They are generally erected as strength members of the structure.
Partners	Similar pieces of steel plate, angles or wood timbers used to strengthen and support the mast where it passes through a deck, or placed between deck beams under machinery bed plates for added support.
Pass a line	To reeve and secure a line.
Pass a stopper	To reeve and secure a stopper (hold a strain on a line while transferring it).
Pass down the line	Relay to all others in order (a signal repeated from one ship to the next astern in column).
Pass the word	To repeat an order for information to the crew.
Passenger vessel	A vessel which carries more than 12 passengers.
PASTUS	Past Us
Pay	To fill the seams of a vessel with pitch.
Pay off	To turn the bow away from the wind; to pay the crew.
Pay out	To slack out a line made fast on board (let it out slowly).
Paying	Paying out, slackening away on a rope or chain. Also the operation of filling seams between planks after calking, with melted pitch or marine glue, etc.
PC	Period of Charter
PCASP	Privately Contracted Armed Security Personnel
PCGO	Part Cargo
PCT	Percent
PDCA	Plan Do Check Act
PDPR	Per Day Pro Rata
Peak	See Fore Peak and after Peak.
Peak tank	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 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.
Peen	To round off or shaoe an object, smoothing out burrs and rough edges. (Nown) The lesser head of a hammer. It is 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.
Pelican hook	A hinged hook held closed by a ring and used to provide the quick release of an object which it holds. Pelican hook
Pendant	A length of rope, usually having a thimble or block spliced into the lower end for hooking on a tackle.
PER	Period
PERDIEM	Per Diem By the Day
Permanent ballast	Ballast material (usually solid material) which cannot be discharged or transferred by pump or by other means and which is used for attaining design draft and trim.
Permanent dunnage	Strips of timber fixed to the frames of a ship to keep cargo away from the sides of the ship to avoid damage and condensation.
Perpendicular, after	A line perpendicular to the keel line, drawn tangent to the after contour of the stern.
PFG	Piracy Focus Group
PHPD	Per Hatch Per Day
Pier head jump	Making a ship just as it is about to sail.
Pile	A pointed spar driven into the bottom and projecting above the water; when driven at the corners of a dock, they are termed fender piles.
Pilferage	Stealing of cargo.
Pillar	Vertical column used to provide support to overhead deck structure.
Pillars	Vertical columns supporting the decks. Also called stanchions.
Pilot boat	A power or sailing boat used by pilots (men who have local knowledge of navigation hazards of ports).
Pilot house	A house designed for navigational purpose. It is usually located forward of the midship section and so 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.
Pilot rudder	A small rudder fastened to the after part of the regular rudder, which by a mechanical attachment pulls the main rudder to either side.
Pin	The metal axle of a block upon which the sheave revolves.
Pintle	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. Pintles
Pipe layer	Vessel designed for the laying of pipelines on the sea bed. Pipe layer
Pipe stanchion	A steel deck fitting consisting of a vertical post with angled bracket(s) on one side, welded to a doubler plate, which is welded on the deck of a vessel to restrain the movement of cargo, such as pipe.
Pitch	A tar substance obtained from the pine tree and used in paying the seams of a vessel. Motion of vessel.
Pitching	The oscillatory vertical motion of a vessel forward and aft in a seaway. Pitching
Pitting	Areas of corrosion.
Plait	To braid; used with small stuff.
Plan	A drawing prepared for use in building a ship.
Planking	Broad planks used to cover a wooden vessel’s sides, or covering the deck beams.
Plate, furnaced	A plate that requires heating in order to shape it as required.
Platform	A partial deck.
Platform deck	Deck which does not contribute to the overall longitudinal strength of a vessel.
Plating	The steel plates which form the shell or skin of a vessel.
Play	Freedom of movement.
PLEM	Pipeline End Manifold
Plimsoll mark	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 mark
Plug	A wooden wedge fitting into a drainage hole in the bottom of a boat for the purpose of draining the boat when she is out of water.
Plummer blocks	Supports for a shaft (such as the propeller shaft). Plummer blocks Plummer blocks
Plunging	A ship is said to plunge when it sinks bow or stern first through loss of longitudinal stability. Plunging
PMSC	Private Maritime Security Contractor
POEA	Philippine Overseas Employment Administration
Point	To taper the end of a rope; one of the 32 divisions of the compass card. To head close to the wind.
Polarity	The property possessed by electrified bodies by which they exert opposite forces in opposite directions. The 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	Flat-bottomed floating structure with a shallow draught.
Pooling	Sharing of cargo or the profit or loss from freight by member lines of a liner conference.
Poop	The structure or raised deck at the after end of a vessel.
Poop deck	A partial deck at the stern above the main deck, derived from the Latin “puppio” for the sacred deck where the “pupi” or doll images of the deities were kept.
Pooped	An opening in a ship’s side, such as an air port, or cargo port.
Poppets	Those pieces of timber which are fixed perpendicularly between the ship’s bottom and the bilgeways at the foremost and aftermost parts of the ship, to support her in launching.
Port	(1) Pertaining to the left-hand side of a vessel. (2) Term used for small windows in the marine context.
Port gangway	An opening in the side plating, planking, or bulwark for the purpose of providing access through ehich people may board or leave the ship or through which cargo may be handled.
Port hole	An opening in the ship’s shell plating.
Port lid	A shutter for closing a port hole in stormy weather. It is hung by top hinges.
Port of Registry	Port in the country under whose flag a vessel is legally registered.
Port side	The left hand side of the ship looking forward.
Port State Control	The examination of vessels for compliance with IMO Conventions and resolutions by state authorities.
Pouring oil 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 from breaking. To smooth out some difficulty.
PPD	Permanent Partial Disability
PPE	Personal Protective Equipmeny
Pratique	A permit by the port doctor for an incoming vessel, being clear of contagious disease, to have the liberty of the port.
PRATIQUE	License or permission to use a port
Preentry	Presentation to the customs authorities of export or import declarations prior to the clearance of goods.
Preventer	A rope used for additional support or for additional securing, e.g., preventer stay.
Prick punch	A small hand punch used to make a very small indentation or prick in a piece of metal.
Pricker	Small marlinespike.
Privileged vessel	One which has the right of way.
Product tanker	Tanker designed for the transportation of a variety of hydrocarbon and chemical liquids with elaborate pumping and safety systems.
Prolonged blast	A blast of from 4 to 6 seconds’ duration.
Propeller	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 arch	The arched section of the hull above the propeller.
Prow	The part of the bow from the load water line to the top of he bow.
PSI	Pounds Per Square Inch
PSIG	Pounds Per Square Inch Gauge
PSR	Perils at Sea Revision
PTC	Ports & Termincal Committee
PTD	Permanent Total Disability
Pull-out manoeuvre	A manoeuvre used to demonstrate the directional stability of a ship.
Pump dale	A pipe to convey water from the pump discharge through the ship’s side.
Punch, center	A small punch used to indent a piece of metal for centering a drill.
Punt	A rectangular flat- bottomed boat used by vessels for painting the ship’s side and general use around the ship’s water line, fitted with oar-locks on each side and usually propelled by sculling.
Purchase	A tackle (blocks and falls).
Pusher tug	Tug designed for or engaged in pushing barges from behind. Pusher tug Pusher tug
Put to sea	To leave port.
PV valve	Pressure vacuum relief valve; a valve which automatically regulates the pressure or vacuum in a tank. PV valve PV valve PV valve
PWSA	Ports and Waterways Safety Act

QHSE	Quality, Health, Safety & Environment
Quadrant	A fitting on the rubber head to which the steering chains are attached.
Quadrant	Quadrant-shaped flat plate assembly mounted horizontally on top of a rudder stock for to which steering cables/chains are attached in vintage vessels or small craft.
Quarantine	Restricted or prohibited intercourse due to contagious disease.
Quarter	That portion of a vessel’s side near the stern.
Quarter	A side of a ship aft, between the main midship frames and stern. Also a sidde of a ship forward, between the main frames and the stem.
Quarter 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 deck	Full-width raised hull section and deck extending from the aft shoulder to the stern.
Quartering sea	A sea on the quarter (coming from a side of the stern).
Quarters	Living spaces for passengers or personnel. It includes staterooms, dining salons, mess rooms, lounging places, passages connected with the foregoing, etc., individual stations for personnel for fire or boat drill, etc.
Quarters bill	A vessel’s station bill showing duties of crew.
Quay	An artificial wall or bank, usually of stone, made toward the sea at the side of a harbor or river for convenience in loading and unloading vessels.

Rabbet	A depression or offset designed to take some other adjoining part, as for example the rabbet in the stem taking the shell plating.
Rail	The upper edge of the bulwarks.
Railing(s)	Horizontal parallel tubing forming a safety barrier at edges of decks.
Rail-mounted gantry (RMG) or rail-mounted container gantry crane	Rail-mounted gantry crane used for container acceptance, delivery, and stacking operations in a container yard.
Rake	The forward pitch of the stem. The backwark slope of the stern.
RAM	Risk Assessment Matrix
Ram bow	A bow protruding undernearth the water line considerable forward of the fore-castle deck.
Ramp	Hinged platform permitting the loading/discharge of vehicles or movement between decks of vehicles aboard Ro-Ro vessels.
Range	The maximum distance a vessel is capable of attaining at its normal
Range, galley	The stove situated in the galley which is used to cook the food. The heat may be generated by coal, fuel oil, or electricity.
Ratline	A short length of small rope “ratline stuff” running horizontally across shrouds, for a ladder step.
RCDS	Raster Chart Display System
RCVR	Receivers
Reach	The horizontal distance that a crane or lifting appliance can cover, measured from its axis of rotation.
Reachrod	A steel rod which connects an above deck valve handle to a below deck valve.
Reachrod	A steel rod which connects an above deck valve handle to a below deck valve.
Reaming	Enlarging a hole by the means of revolving in it a cylindrical slightly tapered tool with cutting edges running along its sides.
RECAAP	Regional Cooperation Agreement of Combating Piracy & Armed Robbery Against Ships in Asia
Reef	To reduce the area of a sail by making fast the reef points (used in rough weather).
Reefer	Refrigerated container or vessel designed to transport refrigaeated or frozen cargo.
Reeve	To pass the end of a rope through any lead such as a sheave or fair lead.
Refrigerated vessel	Vessel designed for the transportation of refrigerated perishable
Registry	The ship’s certificate determining the ownership and nationality of the vessel. Relieving tackle. A tackle of double and single blocks rove with an endless line and used to relieve the strain on the steering engine in heavy weather or emergency.
Relay	To transfer containers from one ship to another.
Relief	Any clearance allowed back of the cutting edge to reduce friction whether on top, bottom or wall of the tread.
Research vessel	Vessel designed for oceanographic or fisheries research. research-vessel
Reserve buoyancy	Watertight volume of a vessel above the waterline.
Reverse frame	An angle bar placed with its heel against another angle additional strength. The flanges of deck stiffeners always bace outboard.
REVERSIBLE (Detention)	If loading completed sooner than expected at load port, then days saved can be added to discharge operations.
RIB	Rigid inflatable boat. Rigid inflatable boat
Ribband	A longitudinal strtip of timber following the curvature of a vessel and bolted to its ribs to hold them in position and give stability to the skeleton while building.
Ride	To lie at anchor; to ride out; to safely weather a storm whether at anchor or underway.
Ride control	System(s) employing active hydrodynamic foils or deflectors installed to vary the attitude and vertical motions of the hull in high-speed vessels.
Rider frame	Any frame riveted or welded on another frame for the purpose of stiffening it.
Rider plates	Bed plates set on top of the center keelson, if fitted, for the pillars to rest on.
Rig	A general description of a vessel’s upper works; to fit out.
Rigging	A term used collectively for all the ropes and chains employed to support the masts, yards, and booms of a vessel, and to operate the movable parts of same.
Right	To return to a normal position, as a vessel righting after heeling over.
Ringbolt	A bolt fitted with a ring through its eye, used for securing, running, rigging, etc.
RIO	Radar Information Overlay
Rips	A disturbance of surface water by conflicting current or by winds.
Rise and shine	A call to turn out of bunks.
Rise of bottom	See Deadrise.
Rising floors	The floor frames which rise fore and aft above the level of themidship floors.
Rivet	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 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.
Rivet spacing	A term applied to the distance between the centers in a row of rivets. This distance usually consists of a multiple of the rivet diameter, and depends on whether oiltightness, watertightness or strenght is to be the governing requirement.
Riveting chain	A term applied to two or more rows of rivets that have their centers opposite each other. A line drawn 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	Recommendations for Manifolds of Refrigerated for Gas Carriers for Cargoes
RNC	Raster Navigational Chart
RNLI	Royal National Lifeboat Institution
Roaring forties	That geographical belt located approximately in 40 degrees south latitude in which are encountered the prevailing or stormy westerlies.
ROB	Remaining On Board
Roll	Motion of the ship from side to side, alternately raising and lowering each side of the deck Roll
Roller fairleader	A block, ring, or other fitting through which passes a line or the running rigging on a ship to prevent chafing. Roller Fairleader Roller Fairleader Roller Fairleader
Rolling chocks	Same as bilge keel.
Ro-Pax	Vessel designed with combined Ro-Ro and passenger capacity.
Ro-Ro	Roll-on Roll-off. Method of cargo transfer between vessel and shore in which cargo is driven on/off using fork-lift, primemover/ trailer combinations, etc.
RPS	Recruitment Placement Services
RRS	Release Retrieval System
RT	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 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 gantry (RTG) or rubber-tired container gantry crane	Gantry crane on rubber tires typically used for acceptance, delivery, and container stacking at a container yard.
Rubrail	A protective railing on the hull of a vessel which is used for fendering.
Rudder	A swinging flat frame hung to the stern post of a ship, by which the ship is steered. rudders
Rudder bands	The bands that extend on each side of a rudder to help brace and tie ii into the pintles.
Rudder chains	The chains whereby the rudder is fastened to the stern quarters. They are shackld to the rudder by bolts just 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 flange	The flange which ties the main part of the rudder to the rudder stem. It may be horizontal or vertical.
Rudder frame	A frame within the inner shell, bolted through the letter into the main frame and shell, for the purpose of stiffening the rudder.
Rudder pintle	See Pintle
Rudder post	The vertical post in the stern of a vessel on which the rudder hangs.
Rudder stock	Vertical shaft connecting the rudder to the steering actuating system. Rudder stock
Rudder stop	Fitting to limit swing of the rudder.
Rudder truck or case	The well in the stern which holds the rudder stock.
RUF	Rules for the Use of Force
Run	The narrowing sides of a vessel aft where they meet at the hooding-ends.
Run down	To collide with a vessel head on.
Running lights	Those lights required to be shown at night aboard a vessel or a tow while underway.
Running lights	Those lights required to be shown at night aboard a vessel or a tow while underway.
Rustbucket	Sailors’ term for an old ship that needed a lot of paint and repairs.

Sacrificial anode	Anode of zinc attached to the immersed parts of a hull to prevent deterioration of the hull steel through electrochemical reaction. Sacrificial anode Sacrificial anode
Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS)	A statutory regulation of IMO dealing with the safety of life at sea.
Sagged	Said of a ship which has been strained so that the bottom drops lower in the middle than it is at stem and stern. Opposite of hogged.
Sagging	A ship is said to sag if the forces acting on it make it bend longitudinally concave up. Sagging is the opposite of hogging.
Sailing free	Sailing other than close; hauled or into the wind (wind astern).
SALM	Single Anchor Leg Mooring
Salty character	A nautical guy, often a negative connotation.
Salvage	To save a vessel or cargo from total loss after an accident; recompense for having saved a ship or cargo from danger.
Salvage tug	Large powerful and manoeuvrable vessel designed to tow and assist vessels needing assistance due to grounding, sinking or fire.
SAMHSA	Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
Samson posts	Short heavy masts used as boom supports, and often used for ventilators as well.
SART	Search and Rescue Transponder 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 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	Saturday P.M.
SATV	Safe Access to Vessels Working Group
SB	Safe Berth
Scale	To climb up. A formation of rust over iron or steel plating.
Scantling	A term applied to the dimensions of the frames, girders, plating, etc., that go into a ship’s structure. The various classification societies publish rules from which these dimensions may be obtained.
Scantlings	Set of dimensions of a vessel’s structure. (Structural dimensions.)
Scarfing	A method of cutting away two pieces so that they fit smoothly into each other to make one piece. They are fastened together by welding, bolting, riveting, etc.
SCBA	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
SCBRA	Speed Reduction and Bunker Consumption Algorithm
School	A large body of fish.
Scow	Another term for a deck cargo barge having a hull design of a flat bottom, square ended rakes, and usually with a deck cargo bin.
Screen bulkhead	A light bulkhead fitted between engine and boiler rooms, designed to keep dust and heat out of the engine room. Often built around the after ends of boilers.
Scrieve board	A large section of flooring in the mold loft in which the lines of the body are cut with a knife. Used in making molds of the frames, beams, floor plates, etc.
SCUBA	Self-Containerd Underwater Breathing Apparatus
Scupper	Any opening or tube leading from the waterway through the ship’s side, to carry away water from the deck. Scupper Scupper
Scupper hose	A temporary canvas hose attached to the outside of a scupper hole, and reaching to the water, to conduct the water clear of the ship’s side.
Scupper lip	A projection on the outside of the vessel to allow the water to drop free of the ship’s side.
Scupper opening	A hole longer than an ordinary scupper with vertical bars, placed on the side of the ship at the deck line to allow deck wash to flow over the side of the vessel. Also called freeing port.
Scupper pipe	A pipe connected to the scupper on the decks, with an outlet through the side plating just above the water. The water thus diverted from the deck does not discolor the ship’s side plating or damage the paint.
Scuppers	Openings in the side of a ship to carry off water from the waterways or from the drains.
Scuttle	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 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 butt	The designation for a container of the supply of drinking water for the use of the crew.
Scuttle butt story	An unauthoritative story (a tall story).
SD (or SID)	Single Decker
SEA	Seafarer Employment Agreement
Sea anchor	A drag (drogue) thrown over to keep a vessel to the wind and sea.
Sea chest	A sailor’s trunk; the intake between the ship’s side and a sea valve.
Sea dog	An old sailor.
Sea going	Capable of going to sea.
Sea lawyer	A seaman who is prone to argue, especially against recognized authority (big mouth).
Sea painter	A line leading from forward on the ship and secured to a forward inboard thwart of the boat in such a way as to permit quick release.
SEAFREIGHT	Costs charged for transporting goods over the sea. This does not cover any haulage or loading/discharging costs but the sea transport only.
Seam	Joint.
Seamstrap	Butt-strap of a seam.
Seaworthy	Capable of putting to sea and able to meet sea conditions.
SECA	Sulphur (SOx) Emission Control Area
Section	(1) General term for an extruded or fabricated structural member. [Alt profile.] (2) Transverse vertical plane through the hull perpendicular to the centreline.
Secure	To make fast; safe; the completion of a drill or exercise on board ship.
Secure for sea	Prepare for going to sea, extra lashing on all movable objects.
SEEMP	Ships Energy Efficiency Management Plan
Seize	To bind with small rope.
SELFD	Self Discharging
Semaphore	Flag signaling with the arms.
SENC	System Electronic Navigational Chart
Serrated frame	Sometimes pieces of an angle iron are cut to allow for ventillation, reduce weight or as a shortcut that saves 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 bolt	A bolt used as a drift to force another bolt out of its hole.
Set iron	Bar of soft iron used on the bending slab to bend frames to the desired shapes.
Set the course	To give the steersman the desired course to be steered.
Set up	To tighten the nut on a bolt or stud.
Set up rigging	To take in the slack and secure the standing rigging.
Sett piling	Reinforcing pilling in the ground beneath the ways.
Settle	To lower, sink deeper.
SF	Stowage factor. Cubic space occupied by one ton (2,240 lbs/1,000 kgs) of cargo.
SFG	Special Forces Group
Shackle	A link with a bolt fastened through its eyes, used for fastening chains and eye loops together. Shackle Shackle Kenter shackle
Shaft	Long, round, heavy forging connecting engine and propeller.
Shaft alley	Covered tunnels within a ship through which the tail shafts pass.
Shaft coupling	A flange on the end of a shaft section connecting two sections by bolts.
Shaft pipe	A pipe which pases through a hole in the stern post and through frames with a circular housing. In it are bearings on which the propeller shaft rotates.
Shaft strut	A brachet supporting the after end of the propeller shaft and the propeller in twin or multiple screwed vessels having propeller shafts fitted off from the center line.
Shaft tunnel	Same as shaft Alley.
Shake a leg	An order to make haste.
Shakedown cruise	A cruise of a new ship for the purpose of testing out all machinery, etc. Shank. The main piece of the anchor having the arms at the bottom and the Jew’s harp at the top.
Shanghaied	The practice of obtaining a crew by means of force. Crews were hard to get for long voyages, and when the 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	Long bar of constant cross section such as channel, T-bar, angle bar, etc.
Shape a course	To ascertain the proper course to be steered to make the desired point or port. Shark’s mouth. The opening in an awning around the mast.
Shaping	Consists of cutting, bending and forming astructural member.
Shear 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 line	A line at which a shearing cut is to be made.
Shears	Large machine for cutting plates and shapes.
Sheave	The wheel of the block over which the fall of the block is rove.
Shed (also see warehouse)	Covered area for the reception, delivery, consolidation, distribution and storage of cargo. Note: A warehouse usually points at longer term storage, whereas a shed usually is used for shorter term storage.
Sheer	Upward longitudinal curvature of the upper deck.
Sheer plan	A vertical lngitudinal midship section of a vessel, showing plan, elevation and end view, on which are projected various lines as follows: Water line, diagonal line, buttock and bow lines, mainbreadth lines, top-breadth lines, top side sheer lines.
Sheer rail	A rail surrounding a ship on the outside, under the gunwale, on small vessels called guard rail.
Sheer strake	The uppermost strake (line) of side shell plating immediately adjacent to the strength deck.
Sheet	The rope used to spread the clew of head sails and to control the boom of boom sails.
Shell	The casing of a block within which the sheave revolves.
Shell expansion	A plan showing the shapes and sizes of all plates of the shell plating.
Shell landings	Point on the frames showing wher the edges of the shell plates come.
Shell plating	See plating.
Shelter deck	A term applied to a deck fitted from stem to stern ona relatively light superstructure. The main deck.
SHEX	Sundays/Holidays Excluded
Shift of butts	A term applied to the arrangement of the butt joints in plating. These joints in shell plating should be so shifted that the adjacent strakes of plating have their butts at least two frame spaces apart.
Shifting beam	A portable beam fitted in a hatchway for the purpose of supporting the hatch covers. The ends of the beams are fitted in slotted carriers attached to the inside of the hatchway coamings.
Shim	A piece of metal or wood placed under the bedplate or base of a machine or fitting for the purpose of truing it up. Also applied to pieces placed in slack spaces behind or under frames, plates or planks to preserve a fair surface.
SHINC	Sundays/Holidays Included
Ship	To enlist; to send on board cargo; to put in place; to take on board.
Ship chandler	An individual or company selling equipment and supplies for ships.
Ship routing	An attempt to guide a ship into areas where it will experience less severe weather and so reduce passage times.
Ship’s log	See Log Book
Ship’s tackle	All rigging and so forth used on a ship to load or unload cargo.
Ships time	Ships time was counted by the half hour, starting at midnight. A half hour after twelve was one bell; one o’clock, 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	A piece of plank put under a shore where there is no groundway.
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 stay	When the scope of chain is slightly greater than the depth of water.
Short ton	American ton (2000 lbs). 0.9072 tonnes.
Shorthanded	Without sufficient crew.
Shot	A short length of chain, usually 15 fathoms (90 feet). (Method of measuring chain.)
Shove in your oar	To break into a conversation.
Shrouds	Side stays from the masthead to the rail..
Shuttle tanker	Moderate sized tanker designed for the regular short-haul transport of oil between FPSO vessels or single point mooring buoys and coastal refinery terminals.
Side keelson	A beam placed on the side of the hull about two-thirds the distance from the center line to the bilgeway. This ia uesd as a stiffener logitudinally for the flat bottom of a vessel.
Side lights	The red and green running lights, carried on the port and starboard sides respectively, of vessels under-way.
Side loader	A lift truck fitted with lifting attachments operating to one side for handling containers.
Sight edges	The edges of plating that are visible are called sight edges. The sight edge is on the outside of the shell, on the 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	Society of International Gas Tanker & Terminal Operators
Sing out	To call out.
SIRE	Ship Inspection Report
Sister hooks	Two iron flatsided hooks reversed to one another.
Skeg	The after part of the keel, upon which the stern post rests. Skeg
Skids	Beams sometimes fitted over the decks for the stowage of heavy boats or cargo.
SKIDS	Are bearers (timber or steel) positioned under cargo to enable fork lift handling at port, and for ease of rigging and lashing on board ship.
Skin	The plating of a ship. The inside skin is sometimes called the ceiling, the outside skin the case. It consists of steel plates laid in alternate inside and outside strakes.
Skipper	The captain.
Sky pilot	A chaplain.
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	Bale (capacity)
SLA	Safety Level Approach
Slack	The part of a rope hanging loose; the opposite of taut.
Slack water	The condition of the tide when there is no horizontal motion.
Slamming	The impact of the hull, usually the bow area, with the sea surface when in waves.
SLF	Stability and Load Lines and on Fishing Vessels’ Safety
Sliding ways	One of the structures on each side of and parallel to the keel, supporting the crandle under the bilgeways on 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	To let go by unshackling, as a cable.
Slop chest	Stock of merchandise, such as clothing, tobacco, etc., maintained aboard merchant ships for sale to the crew
Slop chute	Chute for dumping garbage overboard.
Sluice	An opening in the lower part of a bulkhead fitted with a sliding watertight gat or door having an operating rod 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	White-lead and tallow used on standing rigging.
Smart	Snappy, seamanlike; a smart ship is an efficient one.
SMC	Safety Management Certificate
Smokestack	A metal chimney or passage through which the smoke and gases are led from the uptakes to the open air.
Smothering lines	Pipe lines to a compartment for smothering a fire by steam or by a chemical.
SMT	Ship Mean Time
SNAME	Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers (USA). SNAME
Snibs	Handle that can be operated from both sides of a watertight door.
Snipe	To cut a sharp bevel on the end of a stiffener or beam.
Snub	To check suddenly.
Sny	To twist a plate into an uneven warped shape on a mold.
SOA	Speed of Advance
SOC	Shipper Owned Container
SOF	Statement Of Facts
Soft plate	A plate put on over a break or hole, and secured with tap bolts. It is made watertight with a gasket such as canvas saturated in red lead.
SOHSP	Shipboard Occupational Health and Safety Program
SOLAS	International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea
Sole patch	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.
Sole 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	Standard Operating Procedure
Sound	To measure the depth of the water with a lead. Also said of a whale when it dives to the bottom.
Sound out a person	To obtain his reaction to something.
Sounding	Measuring the depth of water or other liquid.
Sounding	Measured depth of liquid contents in a tank.
Sounding pipe	Vertical pipe in oil or water tank, used to guide a sounding device when measuring the depth of liquid in tank.
Southwester	An oil-skin hat with broad rear brim.
SP	Safe Port
Span	The distance between any two similar members, as the span of the frames. Also used to describe the length of a member between its supports, as the span of a girder.
Spanner	A form of open-head wrench.
Spar	A pole used for a hoist or in scaffolding.
Sparks	The radio operator.
SPC	Self-polishing copolymer antifouling paint.
Speak	To communicate with a vessel in sight.
Specific gravity	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 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>
Specifications	Specified details relating to the performance, operating conditions, construction and quality of an engineered item.
Spectacle frame	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 bosses, taking the bearings of the propeller shafts. Used in large metchant vessels in place of shaft struts or brackets.
Spiling	The curve of a plate or strake as it narrows to a point.
Spill	To empty the wind out of a sail.
Splice	A method of uniting the ends of two ropes by first unlaying the strands, then interweaving them so as to form a continuous rope.
SPM	Self Protection Measures
SPM	Single Point Mooring
SPMOMG	SPM Operating & Maintenance Guidelines
Sponson	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 Sponson Sponson
Spote-faced	Indicates that an annular bacing has been made about a bolt hole to allow a nut or head to seat evenly.
Spotting	Placing a container where required to be loaded or unloaded.
Spreader	Beam or beam structure temporarily attached to and spanning the extremes of an item being lifted.
Spring line	Usually of the best wire hawsers; one of the first lines sent out in mooring. “Springs in and springs out” a vessel.
Spud	A steel or wooden post or pile that is placed vertically through a well in the hull of a vessel and which, when lowered to the bottom of the waterway, anchors the vessel.
Spud	A steel or wooden post or pile that is placed vertically through a well in the hull of a vessel and which, when lowered to the bottom of the waterway, anchors the vessel.
Spudwell	A casing which is attached to or passes through the hull of a vessel through which a spud is raised or lowered.
Spudwell	A casing which is attached to or passes through the hull of a vessel through which a spud is raised or lowered.
Squall	A sudden and violent gust of wind.
Square frame	A frame having no bevel on its flange. A midship frame
Squeegee	A deck dryer composed of a flat piece of wood shod with rubber, and a handle. Stanchions. Wooden or metal uprights used as supports (posts).
SRBL	Signing and Releasing Bill of Lading
SRML	Single Rope Maximum Loading
SSAS	Ship Security Alert System
SSBA	Surface Supplied Breathing Apparatus
SSHEX (or SATSHEX)	Saturdays, Sundays, Holidays Excluded
SSHINC	Saturdays, Sundays, Holidays Included
SSRS	Ship Security Report System
Stabiliser(s)	Protruding hydraulically-activated fin(s) which reduces roll amplitude through oscillatory action creating alternating lift vectors phased to counter roll. Stabiliser Stabiliser
Stability	Tendency of the ship to remain upright.
STABILITY	It is paramount that a vessel is stable in all respects at all times. When cargo is loaded / discharged, the stability is monitored by a computer, which takes into account the weight and position of cargo within the vessel.
Stack	The ship’s funnel or smokestack.
Stackcar	An articulated multiple platform rail car that allows containers to be double stacked.
Stacktrain	A rail service whereby rail cars carry containers stacked two high on specially operated unit trains.
Stagger	To zigzag a line, or row of rivet holes, etc.
Staging	Upright supports fastened together with horizontal and diagonal braces forming supports for planks which form a working platform.
Stanchion	An iron post or pillar for supporting the decks. Stanchion
Stand by	A preparatory order
Standard compass	The magnetic compass used by the navigator as a standard.
Standing part	That part of a line or fall which is secured.
Standing rigging	That part of the ship’s rigging which is permanently secured and not movable, such as stay, shrouds, etc.
Stapling	Collars, forged of angle bars, to fit around continuous members passing through bulkheads or decks for watertightness.
Starboard	The right side of a vessel looking forward. Starboard
Stateroom	A private room or cabin for the accommodation of passengers or officers.
Static load	Structural loading of constant magnitude and application.
Station bill	The posted bill showing stations of the crew at maneuvers and emergency drills.
Staunch	Still, seaworthy, able.
Stay	A rope of hemp, wire or iron leading forward or aft for supporting a mast.
Stays	The rope, whether hemp or wire, that support the lower masts, topmasts, topgallant masts, etc., in a fore and aft direction.
STCW	Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping
Steady	An order to hold a vessel on the course she is heading.
Stealer or steeler	The foremost or aftermost plate in a strake, which is dropped short of the stem or stern post of a vessel.
Steerage way	The slowest speed at which a vessel steers.
Steering flat	Compartment above the rudder(s) containing the vessel’s steering actuation system(s). Steering flat
Steering gear	A term applied to the steering wheels, leads, steering engine and fittings by which the rudder is turned.
Steering gear flat	The deck above the stern overhang, on which the rudder steering mechanism is installed.
Steering wheel	The wheel operating the steering gear and by which the vessel is steered.
Stem	The upright post or bar of the bow. stem
Stem foot	The forward end of the keel, into which the stem is fitted.
Stem the tide	Stemming the tide or sea means to head the vessel’s bow directly into the current or waves. Overcome adverse circumstances.
Stepping-up pieces	Same as poppets.
Stern	The after part of the vessel. stern stern
Stern anchor	An anchor carried at the stern.
Stern board	Progress backwards.
Stern door	Watertight horizontally-hinged door integral to the transom on a stern-loading Ro-Ro vessel.
Stern frame	Large casting attached to after end of keel to form ship’s stern. Includes rudder post, propeller post, and aperture for the propeller.
Stern pipe	A pipe leading to the opening at the side of poop deck for passing through of cables, chains, etc., for mooring purposes.
Stern post	The after post to which the rudder is hinged and placed on the skeg, with sufficient clearance for the propeller to revolve.
Stern ramp	Stern- (transom) mounted hinged platform located to permit the loading/discharge of vehicles aboard a Ro-Ro vessel.
Stern thruster	A propulsor installed near the stern to provide transverse a thrust component enhancing manoeuvrability. Stern thruster
Stern tube	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 tube
Sternlog	The reinforced, vertical shell plating which connects the stern rake bottom to the rake deck of a barge.
Sternlog	The reinforced, vertical shell plating which connects the stern rake bottom to the rake deck of a barge.
Stevedore	A professional cargo loader and unloader.
Stiffener	An angle bar or stringer fastened to a surface to strengthen it and make it rigid. Stiffener
STOLGOE	The Safe Transfer of Liquefied Gas in an Offshore Environment
Stop water	A wood plug driven through a scarf joint to stop water from leaking into the ship. The term is also applied to 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.
Stopper	A short length of rope secured at one end, and used in securing or checking a running rope, e.g., deck stopper, boat fall stopper, etc.
Storeroom	The space provided for stowage of provisions or other materials.
Storm warning	An announced warning of an approach of a storm.
Sto-ro	A vessel with capacity for breakbulk cargo as well as vehicles or trailer borne cargo.
Stove	Broken in.
Stow	To put in place.
Stowage factor	The average cubic space occupied by one ton weight of cargo as stowed aboard a ship.
Stowaway	A person illegally aboard and in hiding.
Straddle carrier	Type of equipment that picks up and transports containers between its legs for movement within a container terminal.
Strake	A continuous line of plates on a vessel’s side, reaching from stem to stern.
Strand	A number of yarns, twisted together and which in turn may be twisted into rope; a rope is stranded when a strain 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.
Strap	A ring of rope made by splicing the ends, and used for slinging weights, holding the parts of a block together, etc. 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 rudder	A rudder with a bullnosed round forward edge which tapers regularly to a thin after edge.
Stringer	A large beam or angle fitted in various parts of the vessel to give additional strength. Depending on their location, stringers are known as bilge stringers, side stringers, hold stringers, etc.
Stringer plate	A fore-and-aft member of deck plating which strengthens the connection between the beams and the frames, and keeps the beams square to the shell.
Strip theory	A simplified theory for calculating ship motions.
Stripping (unstuffing)	Unloading of a container.
Strongback	A light spar set fore and aft on a boat, serving as a spread for the boat cover.
Strut	Support structure (with streamlined cross-section) for propeller shafting in a multi-screw vessel. [Alt shaft bracket.]
STS	Ship to Ship
STW	Standards of Training and Watchkeeping
SUB	Subject (to)
Suezmax	A term applied to cargo ships which are just able to transit the Suez Canal.
SUPERCARGO	Person employed by a ship owner, shipping company, charterer of a ship or shipper of goods to supervise cargo handling operations. Often called a port captain.
Superstructure	(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. Superstructure
Surge	To ease a line to prevent it from parting or pulling, meanwhile holding the strain.
Swab	A mop.
SWAD	Salt Water Arrival Draft
Swage	To bear or force down. An instrument having a groove on its under side for the purpose of giving shape to any piece subjected to it when receiving a blow from a hammer.
Swamp	Sink by filling with water.
Swash bulkhead	A partial bulkhead used for the same purpose as a swash plate.
Swash bulkhead (plate)	Longitudinal or transverse perforated bulkhead (baffle) fitted in a tank to reduce the surging of the contents. Swash bulkhead (plate)
Swash plates	Plates fixed in tanks to prevent excessive movement of the contained liquid.
SWDD	Salt Water Departure Draft
Swell	A large wave.
Swing ship	The evolution of swinging a ship’s head through several headings to obtain compass errors for the purpose of making a deviation table.
Swinging over	Swing of the boom from one side of the ship to the other when the tack is changed.
SWL	Safe working load; certified load limit applied to lifting appliances and gear.
SWL	Safe Working Load
Syncrolift	A platform fitted with winches and anchor chain. The winches lower the platform into the water, the vessel is floated an and the platform is raised. Sometimes the vessel can be rolled to a repair station on railroad track.

Tackle	Any combination of ropes and blocks that multiplies power. A single whip, improperly called tackle, gives no increase in power, but a change in direction of the power but a change in direction of the power applied.
Taffrail log	The log mounted on the taffrail and consisting of a rotator, a log line and recording device (to measure distance run through the water).
Tailshaft	Aftermost section of the propeller shafting, carrying propeller. Tailshaft Tailshaft Tailshaft
Take a turn	To pass a turn around a belaying pin or cleat.
Take in	To lower and furl the sails.
Taking on more than you can carry	Loaded with more cargo than a ship can safely navigate with. Drunk.
Tank top	The plating laid on the bottom floors of a ship, which forms the top side of the tank sections or double bottom.
Tanker	A ship designed to carry various types of liquid cargo, from oil and gasoline to molasses, water, and vegetable oil.
Tanks	Compertments for liquids or gases. They may be formed by the ship’s structure as double bottom tanks, peaktanks, deep tanks, etc., or may be independent of ship’s structure and installed on special supports.
Tare weight	The weight of wrapping or packing; added to the net weight of cargo to determine.
Tarpaulin	Heavy canvas used as a covering.
Taut	With no slack; strict as to discipline.
TCPA	Time to Closest Point of Approach
Tee bar	A rolled shape, generally of mild steel, having a cross section shaped like the letter “T”. In ship work it is used for bulkhead stiffeners, bracket and floor clips, etc. The size is denoted by dimensions of its cross section and weight per running foot.
Telegraph	Means of signalling from bridge to engine room, etc.
Template	A pattern made in themold loft from wood strips or heavy paper.
Tenon	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 in another piece which is termed mortise.
Test head	The head of water corresponding to the pressure prescribed as a test for bulkheads, tanks, compartments, etc. Test heads are prescribed to insure satisfactory water or oil tightness, and also as tests of strength.
TEU	Twenty-foot equivalent unit. A standard of measurement used in container transport based on the dimensions of a container 20 ft long ´ 8 ft wide ´ 8.5 ft high; (6050 ´ 2440 ´ 2590 mm).
That’s high	An order to stop hoisting.
Thimble	An iron ring with a groove on the outside for a rope grommet or splice.
Tholes	The pins in the unwale of a boat which are used for carlocs.
Thread	The spiral part of a screw.
Three sheets to the wind	Sailing with three sheet ropes running free, thus making the ship barely able to keep headway and control. Drunk.
Throwing a Fish	Saluting
Thrust block	A bearing arrangement, aft of the engine(s), by which the thrust of the propeller is transmitted to the ship. Thrust block
Thwart	The athwartships seats in a boat on which oars-men sit.
Thwarts	Boards extending across a rowboat just below the gunwale to stiffen the boat and to provide seats.
Thwartships	At right angles to the fore and aft line (across the ship).
Tie plates	A single fore-and-aft or diagonal course of plating attached to deck beans under wood deck to give extra strength.
Tiller	An are attached to rudder head for operating the rudder.
TLV	Threshold Limit Value
TM	Tonnage Measurement
TMSA	Tanker Management Self Assessment
Toe	The edge of the flange of an angle.
Toggle	A small piece of wood or bar of iron inserted in a knot to render it more secure, or to make it more readily unfastened or slipped.
Toggle pin	A pin, usually having an eye worked on the head, and having a point so constructed, that a portion of it it may turm on a pivot pin, forming a tee shaped looking device to keep the pin in place.
Tongue	The tongue of a stern post or propeller post is the raised middle section which is fastened to the vertical keel. A a rule the tongue is raised twice as high as the sides of the dished keel.
Tonnage	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 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 openings	Openings in shelter deck bulkheads for purpose of economy in tonnage rating.
Tonnage, gross	The entire internal cubic capacity of a vessel expressed in “tons” taken at 100 cubic feet each. The peculiarities of design and construction of the various tyoes of vessels and their parts necessitate certain explanatory rulings in connection with this term.
Tonnage, net	The internal cubic capacity of a vessel which remains after the capacities of certain specified spaces have been deducted from the gross tonnage.
Tonnes per centimetre immersion (TPC)	The extra buoyancy experienced due to increasing the draught by 1 cm.
Top breadth lines	The width of a vessel measured across the shelter deck.
Top-heavy	Too heavy aloft.
Topping lift	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 of supporting the weight of the boom or gaff and its loads, and permitting them to be totated at a certain level.
Topside	That portion of the side of the hull which is above the desidgned water line.
Torsional strength	The strength of the hull in resisting twisting about a longitudinal axis.
Tow	To pull through water; vessels towed.
Towage	Charges for the services of tugs assisting a ship or other vessels in ports.
TPA	Third Party Auditor
TPRG	Terminal Policy Review Group
TPSG	Terminal Policy Steering Group
Track	The path of the vessel.
Tractor propulsion	A system of vertical blades used to propel a vessel in the water. Used on some harbour tugs and ferries. Made by Volith. Sometimes called a cyclonic system in reference to the way the blades are mounted under the hull, and the way they turn.
Trades	The practically steady winds blowing toward the equator, N.E. in the northern and SE. in the southern hemisphere.
Tramp line	An ocean carrier company operating vessels on other than regular routes and schedules.
Transhipment	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 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.
Transom	Square-ended stern. Transom Transom
Transom beam	A strong deck beam in the after end of a vessel directly over the stern post, and connected at each end to the transom frame. The cant beams supporting the deck plating in the overhang of the stern radiate from it.
Transom frame or plate	A horizontal frame under a ship’s counter.
Transverse	(1) Alignment perpendicular to the centreplane of a vessel. (2) Deck beam.
Transverse	Placed at right angles to the eel, such as a transverse frame, transverse bulkhead, etc. See also Abeam Athwart.
Transverse bulkhead	A partition wall of planking or plating running in an athwartship direction across a portion or the whole breadht 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 planes	Vertical planes normal to the centreline plane of the ship.
Transverse sections	The intersections of transverse planes with the envelope of the ship’s hull.
Transverse stability	A measure of a ship’s stability in relation to rotation about a longitudinal axis.
Trawler	Fishing vessel designed for operation involving the towing of submerged nets. trawler trawler
TRCF	Total Recorded Case Frequency
Tread	The length of a vessel’s keel.
Treenails	Wooden pins employed instead of nails or spikes to secure the planking of a wooden vessel to the frames.
Trice	To lash up.
Tricing line	A line used for suspending articles.
Trick	The period of time during which the wheelsman remains at the wheel.
Trim	The longitudinal attitude of a vessel, i.e., the difference between forward and aft drafts.
Trip	To let go.
Tripping brackets	Flat bars placed at various points on a deck girder or beams as reinforcement.
Tripping line	A line used for capsizing the sea anchor and hauling it in.
Truck	The flat circular piece secured on the top of the mast.
Trunk	Vertical space or passage formed by bulkheads or casings extending 1 or more decks providing access or through which piping or cabling may be conducted.
Trunk bulkhead	The casing or partition that forms an enclosures running from deck to deck and surrounding the hatch openings.
Try square	A small and handy instrument for trying the square of surfaces while planing or fairing up with any tool. They 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	Training Ship Golden Bear (California Maritime Academy)
TSS	Traffic Separation Scheme
TTL	Total
Tuck	The after part of a ship where the sheel plating meets tn the run and is tucked together.
Tug	Small powerful and highly manoeuvrable vessel designed for towing, assisting and manoeuvring larger vessels in port or restricted waterways. Tug Tug
Tug boat	A small vessel fitted for towing.
Tumble home	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. Tumblehome
Turn in all standing	Go to bed without undressing.
Turn to	An order to commence ship’s work.
Turn turtle	To capsize.
Turnaround time	The time it takes between the arrival of a vessel and it’s departure from port; frequently used as a measure of port efficiency.
Turnbuckle	A connecting device usually used with cable or chain and which takes up slack by rotating on its screw threads. back Turnbuckle Turnbuckle
Turnbuckles	Used to pull objects together. A link threaded on both ends of a short bar, one left handed, the other right handed.
Turrets	Structures designed for the mounting and handling of the guns and accessories (usually main battery guns) of a war vessel. Turrents are constructed so as to revolve about a vertical axis usually by means of electrical or hydraulic machinery.
TW	Tween Decker
Tween decks	The space between any continuous decks.
Tween-deck	Intermediate deck within a cargo space above the lower hold and below the upper deck. Tween-deck
Twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEU)	Container size standard of twenty feet. Two twenty-foot containers (TEUs) equal one FEU. Container vessel capacity and port throughput capacity are frequently referred to in TEUs.
Two blocks	When the two blocks of a tackle have been drawn as close together as possible.

UKHO	United Kingdom Hydrographic Office (provides AIO)
ULCC	Ultra large crude carrier. Tanker of deadweight greater than 320,000 tonnes. ULCC ULCC
Ullage hatch	A small hinged opening on a tank for gauging or sampling cargo. The ullage is the distance from the top of this hatch to the top of the cargo. It is the “opposite” of innage.
Ullage opening	A small, covered opening in the top of a cargo tank through which measurements are made to determine the level of the liquid in the tank.
Umbrella	A metal shield in the form of a trustrum of qa cone, fitted to the outer casing of the smokestack over the air casing to keep out the weather.
Unbend	To untie.
Under below	A warning from aloft (heads up).
Undermanned	Insufficient number of crew; shorthanded.
Undertow	A subsurface current in a surf.
Underway	Said of a vessel when not at anchor, nor made fast to the shore, or aground.
Unitization	The consolidation of a quantity of individual items into one large shipping unit for easier and faster handling through methods such as palletizing, stripping, slinging and containerization.
Unloader	Port equipment employed to unload ships carrying dry bulk cargo.
Unmoor	To remove the ropes that attach a ship to the shore.
Unship	To remove anything from its usual place. To take apart.
Unstuffing (or stripping)	Unloading of a container.
Unwatched	Said of a lighthouse not tended.
Up anchor	Hoist or haul in the anchor.
Upper deck	A partial deck above the main deck amidships.
Upper works	Superstructures, or deck erections located on or above the weather deck. Sometimes used with reference to a ship’s entire above-water structure.
Uptake	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 radiation. Swinging dampers for controlling the fires are fitted in the uptake.
USC	Unless Sooner Commenced
USL	Uniform Shipping Laws (Australian federal code for the design, construction and stability of vessels.)
UU	Unless Used
UUIUATUTC	Unless Used If Used Actual Time Used To Count

Vapor Header	A pipeline connected to the top of a cargo tank that channels the displaced tank vapors to a shoreside control system.
Vast	An order to cease (stop).
VCG	Vertical center of gravity; an important computation used in the determination of the stability of a vessel with its cargo. back
VCG	Vertical center of gravity; an important computation used in the determination of the stability of a vessel with its cargo. back
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	Vessel Experience Factor
VEL	Velocity
Ventilation	The process of providing fresh air to the various spaced, and removing foul or heated air, gases, etc., from them. This may be accomplished by natural sraft or by mechanical means.
Ventilations, bell-mouthed or cowl	Terminals on open decks in the form of a 90^oelbow with enlarged or bell shaped openings, so formed as to obtain an increase of air supply when facing the wind and to increase the velocity of air down the ventilation pipe.
Ventilator	Installation or nacelle for the intake or exhaust of ventilation air for enclosed spaces.
Ventilator cowl	The swiveled opening at the top of a ventilator.
Vertical keel	A plate running in a fore and aft direction connecting to the flat keel and keel rider plates, it is usually connected by two angles at the top and bottom for a riveted job or welded to the keel and keel rider.
Vessel manifest	Declarations made by international ocean carriers relating to the ship’s crew and contents at both the port of departure and arrival. All bills af lading are registered on the manifest.
Vessel traffic management system	Vessel control and management system (VTMS) usually under the authority of the harbormaster, comprising equipment (such as radars, tracking software, and radio communications), personnel (traffic operators0, and 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	Very High Frequency
VIQ	Vessel Inspection Questionnaire
Visor	A small inclined awning running around the pilot house over the windows or air ports to exclude the glare of the 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.
VLCC	Very large crude carrier. Tanker of deadweight between 160,000 and 320,000 tonnes.
VLOC	Very Large Ore Carrier
VOC	Volatile Organic Compound
Voice tube	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 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 space	Enclosed space (often watertight) intentionally left empty; (e.g., cofferdam).
Void tank	A watertight space that does not carry ballast or cargo. For floatation.
VP	Voyage Plan
VPD	Vessel Protection Detachment
VPD	Vessel Pays Dues
VPQ	Vessel Particulars Questionnaire
VRM	Variable Range Marker
VTS	Vessel Tracking System

Waist	The portion of the deck between the forecastle and quarterdeck of a sailing vessel.
Wake	The disturbed water left behind by a moving ship.
Wales	See Harpings.
Wardroom	A room or space on shipboard set aside for use of the officers for social purpose and also used as their mess or dining room.
WASP	Weather Analysis Service Provider
Waste	Cotton yarn used for cleaning purposes.
Watch cap	A canvas cover secured over a funnel when not in use. Sailor’s headwear, woolen type, capable of covering the ears in cold weather.
Watch officer	An officer taking his turn as officer of the watch.
Water breaker	A small cask carried in ship’s boats for drinking purposes.
Water lines	Lines drawn parallel with the surface of the water at varing heights on a ship’s outline. In the sheer plan they are straight and horizontal, in the half-breadth plan they show the form of the ship at each of the successive heights marked.
Waterline	The line painted on the side of the vessel at the water’s edge to indicate the proper trim.
Waterlogged	A ship full of water but still afloat.
Water-logged	Filled with water but afloat.
Water’s edge	The surface of the water.
Watertight	Capable of preventing the ingress of water under a head of water likely to occur in the intact or damaged condition.
Watertight bulkhead	A partition of plating reinforced where necessary with stiffering bars and capable of preventing the flow of water under pressure from one compartment to another.
Watertight compartment	A space or compartment whithin a ship having its top, bottom, ans sides constructed in such a manner as to prevent the leakage of water into or from the space.
Watertight door	A door so constructed that, when closed, it will prevent water under pressure from passing throught.
Waterway	A gutter-like recess on the shelter deck at the midship section of a ship, which delivers excess water the sea.
Waterway bar	An angle or flat bar attached to a deck stringer plate forming the in-board boundary of a waterway and serving as an abutment for the wood deck plating.
Waybill	Document, issued by a shipping line to a shipper, which serves as a receipt for the goods and evidence of the contract carrier.
Ways	The timber sills upon which a ship is built.
WCCON	Whether Customs Cleared Or Not
WCDC	Wind and Current Drag Coefficient Task Group
Weather deck	Uppermost hull deck exposed to the weather at all times. Weather deck
Weather eye	To keep a weather eye is to be on the alert (heads up).
Weather side	The windward side (from where the wind is blowing).
Weathertight	Capable of preventing the ingress of water in any wind and wave conditions up to those specified as critical design conditions.
Web	The vertical portion of a beam, the athwartship portion of a frame.
Web frame	Transverse side frame with deeper web, spaced at multiples of main frame stations for the provision of extra strength. Web frame
Weeping	The very slow issuance of water through the seamsof a ship’s structure or from a containing vessel in insufficient quantity to produce a stream.
Weigh	Lift anchor off the bottom.
Weigh anchor	To lift anchor off the sea bottom.
Welding	The method of fastening steel objects together by fusing the metal with a gas flame or an electrical arc.
Welding bead	A seam made by closing a joint with molten metal applied with a welding stick.
Well	The space between the first bulkhead of a long poop deck or deck house and a fore-castle bulkhead.
Well deck	A sunken deck on a marchant vessel, fitted between the forecastle and a long poop or continuous bridge house or raised quarter deck.
Well enough	An order meaning sufficient (enough).
WGS84	World Geodetic System 1984
Whaler	Any steel or wooden member used for temporarily bracing a bulkhead, deck section, etc.
Wharf	Structure built alongside the water or perpendicular to the shore where ships berth for loading or discharging goods.
Wharfage	The charge that an owner of a facility charges for the movement of cargo through that facility.
Wheel	Nickname for propeller, steering gear control.
Where away	A call requesting direction in answer to the report of a lookout that an object has been sighted.
Whipping	A method of preventing the ends of a line from unlaying or fraying by turns of small stuff, stout twine or seizing wire with the ends tucked.
White cap	The white froth on the crests of waves.
WIBON	Whether In Berth Or Not
Wide berth	At a considerable distance.
WIFPON	Whether In Free Pratique or not
Wildcat	A sprocket wheel on the windlass for taking links of the chain cable.
Winch	A hoisting or pulling machine fitted with a horizontali single or double srum. A small drum is generally fitted on 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
Wind scoop	A device used to divert air into a compartment of a ship.
Windlass	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
Wing	To overhanging part of a deck on a ferry boat, or fore and aft of paddle boxes in a side wheeler. Also used to indicate outboard parts of the ship, such as in the wings of the hold.
Wing brackets	The arge brackets which fasten the margin plates to the lower frame ends. (Also known as deep bracket knees and bilge brackets).
Wing passage	A passage way below the water line on a man-of-war, used for repairs and inspections.
Wing tank	Ballast or cargo tank adjacent to the hull side. Wing tank
Wing tanks	Tanks located autboard and usually just under the wether deck. They are sometimes formed by fitting a 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	A general handyman in the engine room.
WIPON	Whether In Port Or Not
Wire mesh bulkhead	A partition built up of wire mesh panel.
WLTOHC	(distance) Water Line-To-Hatch Coaming
WOG	Without Guarantee
WPD	Weather Permitting Day
WRIC	Wire Rods In Coils
WTF	Western Terminal Forum
WWD	Weather Working Day
WWR	When, Where Ready
WWWW	Wibon, Wccon, Wifpon, Wipon

Yacht	Private or charter vessel designed for pleasure cruising, racing, etc. propelled by wind or power. Yacht1 Yacht
YAR	York Antwerp Rules
Yard	A term applied to a spar attached at its middle portion to a mast and running athwartship across a vessel as a support for a square sail. Signal halyards, lights, etc.
Yardarm	A term applied to the outer end if a yard.
Yaw	To steer wildly or out of line of course.
Yield stress	Stress limit within a material at which plastic (permanent) strain commences under load.

Z-drive	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_side_view
Zee-bar	A structural shape with a cross section resembling the letter Z.
Zenith	When the sun is in the zenith and observed with a sextant, the arc will be 90^o from the horizon.
Zinc primer	Common corrosion inhibiting primer used to coat bare steel prior to subsequent paint coatings being applied.

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