GLOSSARY - General terms

Abandon vessel to evacuate crew and passengers from a vessel following a distress

Accommodation ladder Ladder attached to platform at vessel's side with flat steps and handrails enabling persons to embark/
disembark from water or shore

Adrift Floating, not controlled, without a clearly determinable direction

Air draft The height from the waterline to the highest point of the vessel

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) Shift of wind direction in an anticlockwise manner, in time (opposite of veering)

Beach (to) To run a vessel up on a beach to prevent its sinking in deep water

Berth 1: A sea room to be kept for safety around a vessel, rock, platform, etc.
2: 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 sectors Areas which cannot be scanned by the radar of the vessel because they are shielded by parts of its
superstructure, masts, etc, or shore obstructions.

Boarding arrangements All equipment, 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 / disembark

Bob-cat A mini-caterpillar with push-blade used for the careful distribution of loose goods in cargo holds of
bulk carriers

Briefing Concise explanatory information to crew and/or passengers

Cable 1: Chain, wire or rope connecting a vessel to her anchor(s)

2: (measurement),185.2 metres, i.e. one tenth of a nautical mile

Capsizing Turning of a vessel upside down while on water

Cardinal buoy A seamark, i.e. a buoy, indicating the North, East, South or West, i.e. the cardinal points from a
fixed point. such as a wreck, shallow water, banks, etc.

Cardinal points the four main points of the compass, i.e. North, East, South and West; for the purpose of the SMCP
the intercardinal points, i.e. Northeast, Southeast, etc., are also included

Casualty here: Case of death in an accident or shipping disaster

Check (to) 1: To make sure that equipment etc. is in proper condition or that everything is correct and safe
2: To regulate motion of a cable, rope or wire when it is running out too
fast

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

Close up (to) To decrease the distance to the vessel ahead by increasing one`s own speed

Compatibility (of goods) states whether different goods can be stowed together in one hold

Constrained A vessel severely restricted by her draft in her ability to deviate from the
(Vessel constrained by course followed in relation to the available depth and width of navigable
her draft) water.

Convoy A group of vessels which sail together, e.g. through a canal or ice

Course The intended direction of movement of a vessel through the water

Course made good That course which a vessel makes good over ground, after allowing for the effect of currents, tidal
streams, and leeway caused by wind and sea

COW Crude Oil Washing: A system of cleaning the cargo tanks by washing them with the cargo of crude
oil during discharged

CPA/TCPA Closest Point of Approach /Time to Closest Point of Approach limit as defined by the observer to give
warning when a tracked target or targets will close to within these limits

Crash-stop An emergency reversal operation of the main engine(s) to avoid a collision

Damage control team A group of crew members trained for fighting flooding in the vessel

Datum 1. The most probable position of a search target at a given time

2. The plane of reference to which all data as to the depth on charts are referenced.
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 on its voyage

Disembark (to) To go from a vessel

Distress alert (GMDSS) A radio signal from a distressed vessel automatically directed to an MRCC giving position,
identification, course and speed of the vessel as well as the nature of distress

Distress/ here: The verbal exchange of information on radio from ship to shore
Urgency traffic and/or ship to ship/ air craft about a distress / urgency situation as defined in the relevant ITU Radio
Regulations

Draft The depth of water which a vessel draws

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 to the vessel ahead by reducing one's own speed

DSC Digital Selective Calling (in the GMDSS system)

Embark (to) To go aboard a vessel

EPIRB Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon

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. ice-breaker, tug, etc..

ETA Estimated Time of Arrival

ETD Estimated Time of Departure

Fire patrol A crew member of the watch going around the vessel 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

Fire monitor Fixed foam/powder/water cannon shooting fire extinguishing agents on tank deck, manifold etc.

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

Fume Often harmful gas produced by fires, chemicals, fuel, etc.

General emergency alarm A sound signal of seven short blasts and one prolonged blast given with the vessel´s sound system

GMDSS Global Maritime Distress and Safety System

(D) GPS (Differential)Global (satellite) Positioning System

Hampered vessel A vessel restricted by her ability to manoeuvre by the nature of her work or her deep draft

Hatch rails Ropes supported by stanchions around an open hatch to prevent persons from falling into a hold

Heading The horizontal direction the vessel's bows at a given moment measured in degrees clockwise from north

Hoist here: A cable used by helicopters for lifting or lowering persons in a pick-up operation

Icing Coating of ice on an object, e.g. the mast or superstructure of a vessel

IMO-Class Group of dangerous or hazardous goods, harmful substances or marine pollutants in sea transport
as classified in the International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code (IMDG Code)

Inert (to) To reduce the oxygen in an oil tank by inert gas to avoid an explosive atmosphere

Initial course Course directed by the OSC or other authorized person 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 damage to the hull

Leeward The general direction to which the wind blows; opposite of windward

Leeway The angular effect on the vessel's course caused by the prevailing wind

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 must gather before being ordered into the lifeboats

List here: Inclination of the vessel to port side or starboard side

Located In navigational warnings: Position of object confirmed

Make water (to) Seawater flowing into the vessel due to hull damage, or hatches awash and not properly closed

MMSI Maritime Mobile Service Identity number

Moor (to) To secure a vessel in a particular place by means of wires or ropes made fast to the shore, to
anchors, or to anchored mooring buoys, or to ride with both anchors down

MRCC Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre: Land-based authority responsible

for promoting efficient organization of maritime search and rescue and for
co-ordinating the conduct of search and rescue operations within a search
and rescue region

Muster (to) To assemble crew, passengers or both in a special place for purposes of checking

Muster list List of crew, passengers and all on board and their functions in a distress or drill

Not under command (abbr. NUC) A vessel which through exceptional circumstances is unable to manoeuvre 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 etc., have broken down, been switched off or suspended

Off station (of buoys) Not in charted position

Oil clearance Oil skimming from the surface of the water

Operational Ready for immediate use

Ordnance exercise Naval firing practice

OSC On-Scene Co-ordinator: A person designed to co-ordinate search and rescue operations within a
specified area

Overflow Accidental escape of oil from a tank which is full because pumping was not stopped in time

Polluter A vessel emitting harmful substances into the air or spilling oil into the sea

Preventers Ropes or wires attached to derricks to prevent them from swinging during cargo handling
operations

Proceed (to) To sail or head for a certain position or to continue with the voyage

PA-system public address system: Loudspeakers in the vessel's cabins, mess rooms, etc., and on deck through
which important information can be broadcast from a central point, mostly from the navigation
bridge

Recover (to) Here: To pick up shipwrecked persons

Refloat (to) To pull a vessel off after grounding; to set afloat again

Rendezvous an appointment between vessels normally made on radio to meet in a certain area or position

Reported in navigational warnings: Position of object unconfirmed

Restricted area A deck, space, area, etc., in vessels, where for safety reasons, entry is only permitted for authorized
crew members

Resume (to) here: To re-start a voyage, service or search

Retreat signal Sound, visual or other signal to a team ordering it to return to its base

Rig move The movement of an oil rig, drilling platform, etc., from one position to another

Roll call 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 or location where the event, e.g. an accident has happened

Search pattern A pattern according to which vessels and/or aircraft may conduct a co-ordinated search (the IMOSAR offers
seven search patterns)

Search speed The speed of searching vessels directed by the OSC

Seemark An elevated object on land or sea serving as a guide …..

Segregation(of goods) Separation of goods which for different reasons must not be stowed together
Shackle Standard length (15 fathoms) of an anchor cable

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 of advance The speed at which a storm centre moves

Spill (to) The accidental escape of 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; to be readily available

Stand clear (to) here: To keep a boat away from the vessel

Standing orders Orders of the Master to the officer 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

Stripping Draining tanks of the remaining cargo, water, etc.

Survivor A person who continues to live in spite of being in an extremely dangerous situation, e.g. a shipping
disaster.

Take off (to) A helicopter lifts off from a vessel's deck

Target The echo generated e.g. by a vessel on a radar screen

Tension winch A winch which applies tension to mooring lines to keep them tight

TEU Twenty Foot Equivalent Unit (standard container dimension)

Track The path followed, or to be followed, between one position and another

Transit here: The passage of a vessel through a canal, fairway, etc.

Transit speed Speed of a vessel required for the passage through a canal, fairway, etc.
Transshipment (of cargo) here: The transfer of goods from one vessel to another outside harbours

Underway A vessel which is not at anchor, or made fast to the shore, or aground

Union purchase A common method of cargo handling by combining two derricks, one of which is fixed over the quay,
the other over the hatchway

Unlit When the light characteristics of a buoy or a lighthouse are inoperative

UTC Universal Time Co-ordinated (ex GMT)

Variable (of winds) When a wind is permanently changing the direction from which it blows

Veering (of winds) Shifting of wind direction in a manner, in time; opposite of backing

Veer out (to)(of anchors) To let out a greater length of cable

VHF Very High Frequency (30 - 300 MHz)

Walk out (to) (of anchors) To reverse the action of a windlass so as to ease the cable

Way point A position a vessel has to pass or at which she has to alter course according to her voyage plan

Windward The general direction from which the wind blows; opposite of leeward

Wreck A vessel which has been destroyed or sunk or abandoned at sea