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Generic words 

  • Aft – The back half of the vessel  

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  • Bow – Front of the vessel

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  • Stern – Rear of the vessel

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  • Port – Left side (facing forward)

 

  • Starboard – Right side

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  • Bridge – Navigation control center

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  • Deck – Floor level of the ship

 

  • Hull – Main "shell' of the vessel everything is centered around the hull 

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  • Keel – Backbone structure of the ship, situated o the bottom of the hull 

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  • Bulkhead – Internal wall

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  • Draft (Draught) – Depth of vessel below water

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  • Freeboard – Height from waterline to deck

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  • Displacement – Weight of water displaced (ship’s weight)

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  • Deadweight (DWT) – Cargo + fuel + stores capacity

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  • Beam – Width of the vessel

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  • LOA (Length Overall) – Total vessel length

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  • Mooring – Securing vessel to dock

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  • Anchoring – Securing vessel using anchor

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  • Gangway – Access point to vessel

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  • Watchkeeping – Duty period on bridge/engine room

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  • OOW (Officer of the Watch) – Watch leader

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  • Helm – Steering position generally located in the bridge 

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  • Rudder – Steering device located in the rear of the ship 

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  • Propeller – Provides forward and backward motion 

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  • CPP (controllable Pitch Propellor) - Propellor that can change the pitch of its propellor to provide forward and backward motion 

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  • Engine Room (ER) – Machinery space

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  • Main Engine (ME) – Primary propulsion engine

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  • Auxiliary Engine (AE) – Generates electricity

 

  • Bunkers – Fuel onboard

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  • Ballast – Water used for stability

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  • Trim – Difference between bow and stern draft

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  • List – Leaning to one side

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  • Stability – Ability to return upright

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  • GM (Metacentric Height) – Stability indicator

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  • Cargo Hold – Storage space for cargo

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  • Hatch Cover – Covers cargo holds

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  • Manifest – Cargo documentation

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  • Bill of Lading (B/L) – Legal cargo document

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  • ETA (Estimated Time of Arrival)

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  • ETD (Estimated Time of Departure)

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  • Underway – Vessel moving

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  • Alongside – Moored next to berth

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  • Berth – Docking position

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  • Fender – Protects hull during berthing

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  • Line handling – Managing mooring ropes

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  • Chipping/Painting – Maintenance work on metal surfaces of the ship by common use of a pneumatic needle gun to remove rust flakes in preparation for paint

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  • Permit to Work (PTW) – Safety authorization system

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  • Toolbox Talk – Pre-job safety briefing

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  • PPE (Personal Protective Equipment)

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  • Near Miss – Incident that could have caused harm

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  • Drill – Emergency practice exercise

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