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 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 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 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 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.

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 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 90o 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 90o, or an open bevel, more than 90o.

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 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 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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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 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 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 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 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.

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

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.

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 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.

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.

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 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 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 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.

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 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.

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 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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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 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

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.

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 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.

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(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.

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.

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 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 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 room Space where the main engines of a ship are located.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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 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.

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.

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

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 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 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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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 180o 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 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 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.

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 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-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 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.

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

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

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.

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

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

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.

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 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.

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-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