SHIP'S SERVICE AND ORGANIZATION MANUAL
APPENDIX III - A GLOSSARY OF COMMON NAUTICAL TERMS
ABAFT behind or aft of; toward the back of the boat ABEAM a direction at right angles to the ship's length ABOARD on or in a vessel. ABREAST alonside of; on the beam AFT Toward the back of the boat; in the stern AMIDSHIPS midway between bow and stern, in the line of the keel ASTERN toward the rear of the vessel; behind the vessel ATHWARTSHIP at right angles to the fore and aft lines AVAST command to stop an action BEAM greatest width of the ship BEARING compass directions of an object or destination from the ship. (see RELATIVE BEARING and TRUE BEARING) BELAY a command to stop an action; also to temporarily secure a line without knotting it BERTH bed or bunk; the positoin where a ship ties up or anchors; position of employment aboard ship; margin of safety in the distance from which another vessel or object is passed (giving a wide berth) BOAT traditional and affectionate term for a submarine BOW front end of the vessel BRIDGE the command center from which the ship is navigated and steered BULKHEAD equivalent of wall ashore BULWARKS fence-like guard along the edge of a deck BUNK bed, berth BUOY float used as a navigational aid, usually moored. Marks mooring, underwater objects, or acts as support for test or scientific gear. CAST OFF to leave a dock or anchorage CHART equivalent of map ashore CLOSE ABOARD close to another ship or obstruction COURSE the prescribed compass direction in which the vessel is steered DEAD AHEAD directly in front of the vessel DECK equivalent of floor ashore DOG heavy latch by which doors, hatches, portholes, etc. are secured; (verb) to latch DRAFT depth of water necessary to float a ship EASE OFF slack off or release tension slowly and smoothly FASTEN make secure FATHOM six feet or 1.85 meters FIX vessel's position determined by navigation data FORE toward bow FOUL opposite of clear, as in tangled lines or chains, or bad weather GALLEY equivalent of kitchen ashore; cooking area HATCH Opening in ship's deck for access to space below HAUL pull HEAD compartment containing a toilet; the toilet HEADING direction which ship's bow is pointing HEAVE reduce power until the ship is just maintaining position HELM controls for the steering apparatus HOLD storage area, usually beneath decks HULL the outside of the ship INSHORE near or toward shore KEEL backbone of the ship, running center line from bow to stern along the bottom of the hull KNOT unit of speed representing nautical mile per hour. (it is incorrect to say 'knots per hour') LADDER stairway between decks LEE the side of a ship or shore location that is away from the direction from which the wind is blowing LEEWARD away from the wind LEG the working portion of a cruise between ports LINE a piece of rope that is put into use LOCKER closet or chest-like storage space LOG record of all activities abord ship MESS where meals are eaten NAUTICAL MILE 1.15 land miles, 6,080 feet, 1,852 meters, one minute of latitude OVERHEAD equivalent of ceiling ashore PART for a line to break under strain PAYOUT let out chain, line or wire PITCH vertical motion of bow and stern PORT left side of the vessel when facing forward RELATIVE BEARING the direction relating to the ship with the bow 0 degrees (similiar to a fighter pilot's directional clock). SEABAG soft, sylindrical fabric bag for clothes and personal possessions, also called a DUFFLE SECURE to fasten, tie down, make safe and shipshape SHIP any vessel over sixty-five feet in length SOUND to measure water depth or the depth of liquid in a tank SOUNDING depth measured; the numbers indicating depth on a chart; the process of measuring fuel or water in a ships' tanks STARBOARD right side of a vessel when facing forward STATEROOM cabin; sleeping compartment STATION position of ship when she is hove to (stationary) for a specific purpose; assigned work location or emergency response location for a person on the ship. STERN the after part of the vessel STOW to put anything away for sea; to put gear away in the proper place TOPSIDE on top the hull, outside on the ship TRUE BEARING the direction of the ship relating to true north with north being 0 degrees and south 180 degrees UNDERWAY after the anchor has been weighted or the lines cast off. Strictly speaking, a ship can still be underway even if stopped, as long as not docked to a permanent facility VESSEL general term for a floating craft, used in navigation WATCH work period lasting 6 hours; those people standing watch, refers to individuals or work groups WAY vessel's movement through the water
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©K.I. Wolfe, 2002