Terms and definitions used in the maritime field are different from the terms and definitions used in ordinary life. This article introduces you to the general terms used in the shipping industry. This terms passed by
IMO STANDARD MARINE COMMUNICATION PHRASES (SMCP)
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
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/Urgency traffic:- here: The verbal exchange of information on radio from ship to shore
/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
Hatchrails :- 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
Rendez-vous :- 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
In addition, several VTS special terms are used in the shipping industry. We hope to bring that to you in a future article.
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