English for Maritime: Essential Vocabulary & Phrases

"dead reckoning"

A navigation method that estimates a vessel's current position by calculating from a known past position using speed, heading, and elapsed time, without external reference points

"With the GPS system offline, the officer navigated by dead reckoning, using the last confirmed position and the ship's logged speed and compass heading to estimate their location."

"waypoint"

A specific geographic position defined by latitude and longitude that a vessel navigates toward as part of a planned route

"The helmsman entered each waypoint into the chart plotter before departure, ensuring the autopilot would steer the vessel along the intended coastal route."

"lee side"

The side of a vessel or land mass that is sheltered from the wind, as opposed to the windward side which faces into the wind

"The captain ordered the crew to transfer the injured sailor to the lee side of the deck before beginning first aid, providing shelter from the force of the wind and spray."

"bearing"

The horizontal angle or direction between a vessel and a fixed reference point, measured in degrees from north, used to determine position and plot courses

"The officer took compass bearings on three charted landmarks and plotted the lines on the chart to obtain a three-point fix of the vessel's position."

"helm"

The steering mechanism of a vessel, including the wheel or tiller, and by extension the act of steering or the position of the person steering

"The mate called out "starboard ten" and the officer at the helm applied ten degrees of right rudder to bring the vessel onto the new course."

"pilotage"

The navigational practice of directing a vessel through confined or hazardous waters using visible landmarks, buoys, and local knowledge rather than celestial or electronic methods

"Entering the narrow estuary required careful pilotage: the master conned the ship using charted buoys and transit marks visible from the bridge."

"ground track"

The actual path a vessel travels over the seabed, accounting for the effects of current and leeway, as opposed to the course steered through the water

"The strong tidal current set the vessel to the east, so although they steered due north the ground track showed a north-northeast track across the chart."

"lookout"

A crew member posted to maintain a continuous visual and auditory watch for hazards, other vessels, and navigational marks, as required by international collision regulations

"The mate stationed a dedicated lookout on the bow during the restricted visibility passage, supplementing the radar watch being maintained from the bridge."

"muster station"

The designated assembly point on a vessel where crew and passengers must gather in an emergency before lifeboat boarding or evacuation

"As the emergency alarm sounded, all passengers were directed to their muster station on the main deck where the crew conducted a roll call before assigning lifeboat positions."

"abandon ship"

The order given by the master to evacuate a vessel when it is in imminent danger of sinking or destruction, requiring all persons to leave immediately by lifeboat or life raft

"The master gave the order to abandon ship only after all other damage control measures had failed and the vessel's list had increased beyond thirty degrees."

"man overboard"

An emergency situation in which a person has fallen from a vessel into the water, requiring immediate rescue action and the execution of a standard recovery manoeuvre

"The officer shouted "man overboard, port side" and simultaneously threw a lifebuoy while the helmsman initiated the Williamson turn to bring the vessel back to the casualty's position."

"immersion suit"

A waterproof thermal protective garment worn in emergency situations to prevent hypothermia when a person is immersed in cold water, also called a survival suit

"The master required all crew to don their immersion suits before the vessel crossed the northern shipping lane in January, given the near-freezing sea temperature."

"distress signal"

Any internationally recognised signal used by a vessel in grave and imminent danger requiring immediate assistance, including MAYDAY calls, flares, and orange smoke signals

"The fishing vessel crew fired two red parachute flares and transmitted a MAYDAY on channel 16, which were both recognised as distress signals by the coast guard."

"damage control"

The emergency actions taken by crew to limit or repair structural damage, flooding, fire, or other threats to a vessel's safety and seaworthiness

"The damage control party sealed the fractured pipe with a wooden wedge and collision mat while the engineer assessed whether the bilge pumps could keep pace with the incoming water."

"fire watch"

A scheduled patrol of a vessel's spaces to detect fire or smoke at an early stage, or the continuous monitoring of an area where hot work is being carried out

"The bosun assigned a two-hour fire watch after the welding work was completed in the cargo hold, as smouldering materials can reignite long after the flame is removed."

"SOLAS"

The International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea — the primary international treaty establishing minimum safety standards for ship construction, equipment, and operation

"The port state control inspector checked whether the vessel's lifejacket count, fire detection system, and lifeboat capacity all met current SOLAS requirements before clearing the ship."

"stowage plan"

A detailed diagram or document showing where each cargo unit, container, or parcel is to be placed within a vessel's holds and on deck for a specific voyage

"The chief officer reviewed the stowage plan carefully to ensure that hazardous chemicals were segregated from foodstuffs and that heavy containers were loaded in the lower holds first."

"draft survey"

A method of calculating the weight of cargo loaded or discharged by measuring changes in a vessel's waterline draft before and after the cargo operation

"The independent surveyor conducted a draft survey at all six points around the vessel before and after loading to verify that exactly fifteen thousand tonnes of grain had been taken on board."

"lashing"

The wires, chains, straps, or rods used to secure cargo in place so that it cannot shift during the motion of the vessel at sea

"The chief officer inspected every lashing on the deck cargo of steel pipes before departure, tightening turnbuckles where tension had relaxed after the initial loading."

"trim"

The difference in draft between a vessel's bow and stern; a vessel is trimmed by the stern when it sits deeper at the back, which typically improves steering and fuel efficiency

"After ballasting, the chief officer adjusted the trim to one metre by the stern, which the captain confirmed was within the limits allowed by the stability booklet for the loaded condition."

"cargo manifest"

An official document listing all cargo aboard a vessel, including descriptions, quantities, weights, shipper and consignee details, and ports of loading and discharge

"Customs officers boarded the vessel on arrival and compared the cargo manifest against the containers on deck to verify that no undeclared goods had been loaded at the previous port."

"ullage"

The space between the surface of a liquid cargo and the top of the tank or container, used to measure how full or empty the tank is

"The cargo officer measured the ullage of each crude oil tank with a calibrated tape before the bill of lading was signed, confirming the quantity loaded matched the shore figure."

"stevedore"

A person or company employed at a port to load and unload cargo from ships, also known as a longshoreman or docker

"The stevedore gang worked through the night to clear the remaining containers from hold three, enabling the vessel to sail on the morning tide."

"dangerous goods declaration"

A legal document provided by a shipper to a carrier stating that hazardous materials are correctly identified, classified, packed, labelled, and ready for transport in accordance with the IMDG Code

"The chief officer refused to sign the mate's receipt until the shipper provided a fully completed dangerous goods declaration for the drums of flammable solvent stowed on the main deck."

"main engine"

The primary propulsion engine of a vessel that drives the propeller shaft to move the ship through the water, typically a large two-stroke or four-stroke diesel

"The chief engineer reduced the main engine to slow ahead as the vessel entered the pilotage waters, bringing shaft revolutions down from ninety to forty RPM."

"bilge"

The lowest interior part of a vessel's hull where water collects from drainage, leaks, and condensation; bilge pumps are used to remove this accumulated water

"The engineer discovered an unusual amount of water in the bilge of the engine room and began an immediate investigation to identify whether a sea water pipe had developed a leak."

"planned maintenance system"

A documented schedule of routine inspections, servicing, and overhaul tasks for all machinery and equipment on board, carried out at specified intervals to prevent breakdown

"The third engineer updated the planned maintenance system after completing the auxiliary engine's five-thousand-hour service, logging the work done and resetting the interval counter."

"bunker"

The fuel oil carried on a vessel for its own propulsion and power generation; bunkering is the process of taking on fuel at a port

"The vessel's agent arranged for a fuel barge to come alongside at the anchorage, and the chief engineer supervised the bunkering operation, monitoring tank levels and checking for overflow."

"black-out"

A complete loss of electrical power on a vessel resulting from a generator failure, which leaves the ship without propulsion, lighting, navigation aids, and safety systems

"The sudden black-out in the Strait plunged the bridge into darkness; the duty engineer started the emergency generator within thirty seconds to restore steering and navigation lights."

"sea chest"

An underwater opening in a ship's hull fitted with a grating that allows sea water to enter the vessel's cooling and fire-fighting systems

"The engineer discovered that jellyfish had blocked the low sea chest, restricting the cooling water flow to the main engine and causing the temperature alarm to trigger."

"propeller pitch"

The distance a propeller would advance in one full revolution if moving through a solid medium; controllable pitch propellers allow the pitch angle to be adjusted while underway

"The captain used the controllable pitch propeller to give astern thrust while manoeuvring in the berth, gradually reducing the propeller pitch from ahead to astern without stopping the shaft."

"class survey"

A periodic inspection of a vessel's hull, machinery, and equipment carried out by a classification society surveyor to verify the ship continues to meet required safety standards

"The vessel entered dry dock for its five-year special class survey, during which the surveyor inspected the hull thickness, propeller shaft, rudder bearing, and all sea valves."

"pilot"

A licensed maritime professional with detailed local knowledge who boards a vessel to advise or assist the master in navigating confined, hazardous, or port waters

"The pilot boarded via the pilot ladder at the breakwater, introduced himself to the master, and discussed the passage plan and berthing manoeuvre before taking the con."

"ETA"

Estimated Time of Arrival — the predicted time at which a vessel will reach its destination, berth, or waypoint, communicated to port agents, authorities, and other vessels

"The master updated the port agent with a revised ETA of 0600 the following morning after the vessel's speed had been reduced due to the head wind and swell."

"VTS"

Vessel Traffic Service — a shore-based maritime traffic management system that monitors and directs vessel movements in congested or hazardous waterways, similar to air traffic control

"The officer called the VTS on channel 12 when approaching the separation scheme, reported the vessel's name and destination, and received clearance to proceed through the traffic lane."

"Notice of Readiness"

A formal document tendered by the master to the charterer or shipper declaring that the vessel has arrived at the agreed port and is ready in all respects to load or discharge cargo

"The master tendered the Notice of Readiness to the terminal representative at 0800, which started the laytime clock running as stipulated in the charter party."

"mooring"

The system of ropes, wires, anchors, or buoys used to secure a vessel to a berth, quay, buoy, or another vessel, and the act of securing the vessel in this way

"The bosun directed the mooring gang to run two breast lines and a spring from the forward fairlead to hold the vessel against the quay during the strong tidal stream."

"port state control"

The right and responsibility of a coastal nation to inspect foreign ships in its ports to verify compliance with international conventions on safety, pollution prevention, and crew welfare

"The port state control inspection flagged deficiencies in the fire detection system and an overdue lifeboat servicing record, and the vessel was detained until both were rectified."

"clearance"

Official permission granted by customs, immigration, or port health authorities for a vessel to enter a port or to depart after all formalities have been completed

"The agent confirmed that customs clearance had been granted and that the vessel was free to sail as soon as the last container was sealed and the ramp retracted."

"free pratique"

Permission granted by port health authorities for a vessel and its crew to enter port and have contact with the shore, given after confirming that no communicable disease is present on board

"The vessel anchored in the outer roads and the master submitted the Maritime Health Declaration by radio; free pratique was granted without a physical inspection since no illness had been reported."

"flag state"

The country under whose national flag and laws a vessel is registered and operates, with responsibility for enforcing international conventions on ships flying its flag

"The flag state administration issued a deficiency notice after the annual audit revealed that the vessel's safety management system had not been updated to reflect the most recent SOLAS amendments."

"MARPOL"

The International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships — the primary treaty controlling discharges of oil, chemicals, sewage, garbage, and air emissions from vessels

"The chief officer recorded every overboard discharge in the oil record book to demonstrate compliance with MARPOL Annex I, knowing that falsifying the record was a criminal offence in most jurisdictions."

"ISM Code"

The International Safety Management Code — the international standard requiring shipping companies to establish a documented safety management system covering all aspects of vessel operation

"During the audit, the inspector reviewed the vessel's ISM Code documentation including the safety management manual, drill records, and non-conformity reports from the previous twelve months."

"COLREGs"

The Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea — the rules governing the conduct of all vessels to avoid collisions, covering lights, shapes, sound signals, and right-of-way

"The court found that the container ship had violated COLREGs Rule 15 by failing to give way to the sailing vessel which was crossing from the starboard side."

"charter party"

A written contract between a shipowner and a charterer for the hire of a vessel or its cargo space for a specified voyage or period, defining commercial terms, rates, and responsibilities

"The charterer's lawyers reviewed the charter party carefully before signing, negotiating the demurrage rate and the laytime calculation method to protect against delays at the discharge port."

"bill of lading"

A legal document issued by a carrier to a shipper acknowledging receipt of cargo, providing details of the shipment, and serving as a contract of carriage and a document of title

"The shipper could not present the original bill of lading at the discharge port because it had been lost in transit, requiring a letter of indemnity before the cargo could be released."

"general average"

A principle of maritime law whereby all parties in a sea voyage proportionally share the losses resulting from a voluntary sacrifice of part of the ship or cargo to save the whole

"When the captain ordered containers jettisoned in the storm to prevent the vessel from capsizing, general average was declared and all cargo interests were required to contribute to the loss."

"STCW"

The International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers — the international standard defining minimum qualifications and competencies required for seafarers

"The second officer's STCW certificate had expired and she was required to complete a refresher course in basic safety training before the company would allow her to join the next vessel."