Reference: Terms and Phrases from the SMCP Glossary, English for Maritime Students
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Abandon vessel | To evacuate a vessel from crew and passengers following a distress |
Adrift | Floating, not controlled, without a clearly determinable direction |
Assembly station | Place on deck, in mess rooms, etc., assigned to crew and passengers where they have to meet according to the muster list when the corresponding alarm is released or announcement made |
Backing (of wind) | When a wind blows round anticlockwise (opposite of veering) |
Beach (to) | To run a vessel upon a beach to prevent its sinking in deep water |
Berth | A sea room to be kept for safety around a vessel, rock, platform, etc., or the place assigned to a vessel when anchored or lying alongside a pier, etc. |
Blast | A sound signal made with the whistle of the vessel |
Blind sector | Areas which cannot be scanned by the radar of the vessel because they are shielded by parts of its superstructure, masts, etc. |
Boarding arrangements | All gear, such as pilot ladder, accommodation ladder, hoist, etc., necessary for a safe transfer of the pilot |
Boarding speed | The speed of a vessel adjusted to that of a pilot boat at which the pilot can safely embark |
Briefing | A concise explanatory information to crew and passengers |
Capsizing | Turning of a vessel upside down while on water |
Cardinal buoy | A seamark, i.e., a buoy, including the north, east, south or west from a fixed point, e.g., a wreck |
Casualty | Case of death or serious injury to a person in an accident or shipping disaster, also said of a distressed vessel |
Close coupled towing | A method of towing vessels through polar ice by means of icebreaking tugs with a special stern notch suited to receive and hold the bow of the vessel to be towed |
Compatibility (of goods) | Stated whether different goods can be stowed together, e.g., through a canal or ice |
Convoy | A group of vessels which sail together, e.g., through a canal or ice |
COW | Crude Oil Washing: a system of cleaning the tanks by washing them with the cargo of crude oil while it is being discharged |
CPA | Closest point of approach |
CSS | Coordinator Surface Search: a vessel, other than a rescue unit, designated to coordinate surface search and rescue operation within a specified area |
Damage control team | A group of crew members trained for fighting flooding in the vessel |
Datum | The most probable position of a search target at a given time |
Derelict | Goods or any other commodity, specifically a vessel abandoned at sea |
Destination | Port which a vessel is bound for |
Disabled | A vessel damaged or impaired in such a manner as to be incapable of proceeding its voyage |
Disembark (to) | To go from board a vessel |
Distress alert (GMDSS) | A radio signal from a distressed vessel automatically directed to a RCC giving position, identification, course and speed of the vessel as well as the nature of distress |
Dragging (of anchor) | Moving of an anchor over the sea bottom involuntarily because it is no longer preventing the movement of the vessel |
Dredging (of anchor) | Moving of an anchor over the sea bottom to control the movement of the vessel |
Drifting | Floating, caused by winds and current with a determinable direction |
Drop back (to) | To increase the distance from the vessel ahead by reducing one’s own speed |
Embark (to) | To go aboard a vessel |
Escape route | A clearly marked way in the vessel which has to be followed in case of an emergency |
Escort | Attending a vessel, to be available in case of need, e.g., icebreaker, tug, etc. |
ETA | Estimated Time of Arrival |
ETD | Estimated Time of Departure |
Fairway | Navigable part of a waterway |
Fairway speed | Mandatory speed in a fairway |
Fire party | A group of crew members trained for firefighting on board |
Fire patrol | A round through the vessel carried out by a crew member of the watch at certain intervals so that an outbreak of fire may be promptly detected; mandatory in vessels carrying more than 36 passengers |
Flooding | Major flow of seawater into the vessel |
Foam monitor | A powerful foam fire extinguisher standing by aboard tankers loading or discharging of oil |
Foul (of anchor) | Anchor has its own cable twisted around it or has fouled an obstruction |
Foul (of propeller) | A line, wire, net, etc., is wound round the propeller |
Full speed | Highest possible speed of a vessel |
General emergency alarm | A sound signal of seven short blasts and one long blast given with the vessel’s sound system |
GMDSS | Global Maritime Distress and Safety System |
GPS | Global Positioning System |
Hampered vessel | A vessel restricted by its ability to manoeuver by the nature of its work or its deep draft |
Hatchrails | Ropes supported by stanchions around an open hatch to prevent persons from falling into a hold |
Hoist | Here: a cable used by helicopters for lifting or lowering persons in a pick-up operation |
IMO-Class | Group of dangerous or hazardous goods, harmful substances of marine pollutants in sea transport as classified in the International Dangerous Goods Code (IMDG Code) |
Initial course | Course directed by the OSC or CSS to be steered at the beginning of a search |
Inoperative | Not functioning |
Jettison (to) (of cargo) | Throwing overboard of goods in order to lighten the vessel or improve its stability in case of an emergency |
Launch (to) | To lower, e.g., lifeboats to the water |
Leaking | Escape of liquids such as water, oil, etc., out of pipes, boilers, tanks, etc., or a minor inflow of seawater into the vessel due to a damage to the hull |
Leeway | Lateral movement of the vessel to leeward of its course |
Let go (to) | To set free, let loose, or cast off (of anchors, lines, etc.) |
Lifeboat station | Place assigned to crew and passengers where they have to meet before they will be ordered to enter the lifeboats |
List | Inclination of the vessel to portside or starboard side |
Make over (to) | Seawater to flow into the vessel due to damage to its hull, or hatches awash and not properly closed |
Maneuvering speed | A vessel’s reduced rate of speed in restricted waters such as fairways, harbors, etc. |
Mass disease | An illness preferably of an infectious nature seizing more than two persons on board at the same time |
Moor (to) | To secure a vessel in a particular place by means of chains or ropes made fast to the shore, to anchors, or to anchored mooring buoys, or to ride with both anchors |
Muster (to) | To assemble crew, passengers or both in a special place for purposes of checking |
Not under command (NUC) | A vessel which through exceptional circumstances is unable to maneuver as required by the COLREGs |
Obstruction | An object such as a wreck, net, etc., which blocks a fairway, route, etc. |
Off air | When the transmissions of a radio station of a Decca chain, etc., have broken down, switched off or suspended |
Off station (of buoys) | Not at the position charted |
Oil clearance | A operation to remove oil from the water surface |
Operational | Ready for immediate use |
Ordnance exercise | Naval firing practice |
OSC | On-Scene Commander: The commander of a rescue unit designated to coordinate search and rescue operations within a specified area |
Outbound/Inbound vessel | A vessel leaving/entering port |
Overflow | Accidental escape of oil out of a tank when it gets too full because pumping was not stopped in time |
Polluter | A vessel emitting harmful substances into the air or spilling oil into the sea |
Proceed (to) | To sail or head to a certain position or to continue the voyage |
PA System | Public Address System: loudspeakers in the vessel’s cabins, mess rooms, etc., and on deck via which important information can be broadcast from a certain point, mostly from the navigation bridge |
RCC | Rescue Coordination Center: land-based authority conducting and coordinating search and rescue operations in a designated area |
Receiving point | A mark or place in which a vessel comes under obligatory entry, transit, or escort procedure |
Reference line | A fictive line displayed on the radar screen separating the freeway for inbound and outbound vessels so that they can safely pass each other |
Refloat (to) | To pull a vessel off after grounding: to set afloat again |
Reporting point | (see Way point) |
Rendezvous | An appointment between vessels normally made on radio to meet in certain area or position |
Rescue team | A group of crew members standing by in case of an emergency in order to assist other teams in action if necessary |
Restricted area | A deck, space, area, etc., not permitted to be entered for safety reasons |
Retreat signal | Sound, visual or other signal to a team ordering it to return to base |
Rig move | The movement of an oil rig, drilling platform, etc., from one position to another |
Roll out | The act of checking who of the passengers and crew members are present, e.g. at assembly stations, by reading aloud a list of their names |
Safe speed | That speed of a vessel allowing the maximum possible time for effective action to be taken to avoid a collision and to be stopped within an appropriate distance |
Safety load | The maximum permissible load of a deck, etc. |
Safe working pressure | The maximum permissible pressure in cargo hoses |
SAR | Search and Rescue |
Scene | The area where the event, e.g. an accident, has happened |
Search pattern | A pattern according to which vessels and/or aircraft may conduct a coordinated search (the IMOSAR offers seven search patterns) |
Search speed | The speed of searching vessels directed by the OSC or CSS |
Segregation (of goods) | Separation of goods which for different reasons must not be stowed together |
Shifting cargo | Transverse movement of cargo, especially bulk, caused by rolling or a heavy list |
Slings | Ropes, nets, and any other means for handling general cargoes |
Speed advance | The speed at which the storm center moves |
Spill (to) | To accidentally escape, e.g. oil, etc., from a vessel, container, etc., into the sea |
Spill control gear | Special equipment for fighting accidental oil spills at early stages |
Spreader | Here: step of a pilot ladder which prevents the ladder from twisting |
Stand by (to) | To be in readiness or prepared to execute an order |
Stand clear (to) | To keep a boat away from a vessel |
Standing orders | Orders of the Master to the officers of the watch which s/he must comply with |
Stand on (to) | To maintain course and speed |
Station | The allotted place or the duties of each person on board |
Take off (to) | To start with the helicopter from a vessel’s deck |
Target | The echo generated, e.g. by a vessel, on a radar screen |
Traffic lane | A one-way route which vessels have to comply with within a traffic separation scheme |
Transshipment (of cargo) | Here: the transfer of goods from one vessel to another outside harbors |
Transit | The passage of a vessel through a canal, fairway, etc. |
Transit speed | Speed of a vessel required for a passage through a canal, fairway, etc. |
Underway | A vessel which is not an anchor, or made fast to the shore, or aground |
Unlit | When the light characteristics of a buoy or a lighthouse are inoperative |
UTC | Universal Time Coordinated (GMT) |
Variable (of winds) | When a wind is permanently changing the direction from which it blows |
Veering (of winds) | When a wind blows round clockwise; opposite of backing |
VTS | Vessel Traffic Service: a service, designed to improve safety, efficiency, and easiness of vessel traffic and to protect the environment |
VTS area | Area controlled by a VTS Center or VTS Station |
Way point | A mark or position at which a vessel is required to report to establish its position |
Windward | The general direction from which the wind blows; opposite of the leeward |
Wreck | A vessel which has been destroyed or sunk or abandoned at sea |
