SMCP - Glossary

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• Abandon vessel (to) 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
• Adrif Uncontrolled movement at sea under the influence of current, tide or wind
• Air draft The height from the waterline to the highest point of the vessel
• Assembly station an area of a ship where crew and passengers are directed to assemble in an emergency.
• Backing (of wind) Shift of wind direction in an anticlockwise manner, for example from north to west (opposite of veering)
• Beach (to) To run a vessel up on a beach to prevent its sinking in deep water
• Berth A sea room to be kept for safety around a vessel, rock, platform, etc.
• Berth The place assigned to a vessel when anchored or lying alongside a pier, etc.
• Blast A whistle signal made by the vessel
• Blind sector An area which cannot be scanned by the ship’s radar because it is shielded by parts of the superstructure, masts, etc.
• 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 Clear and brief information for crew and/or passengers
• Cable (1) Chain connecting a vessel to the anchor(s)
• Cable (2) A wire or rope mainly used for mooring a ship
• Cable (3) A distance equal to 100 fathoms or 1/10 of a nautical mile.
• Capsize (to) To turn over
• Cardinal buoy A buoy that shows the direction (north, east, south, or west) from a danger like a wreck, shallow water, or sandbank.
• Cardinal points The four main points of the compass: north, east, south and west
• Casualty 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
• Check (to) (2) To regulate motion of a cable, rope or wire when it is running out too fast
• Close-coupled towing A way to tow ships through polar ice using icebreaker tugs with a special notch at the back to hold the front of the ship being towed
• Close up (to) To decrease the distance to the vessel ahead by increasing one’s own speed
• Compatibility (of goods) Indicates whether different goods can be safely stowed together in one cargo space or in an adjacent hold.
• Vessel constrained by her draft A vessel severely restricted by her draught in her ability to deviate from the course followed in relation to the available depth and width of navigable 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 The path a ship actually follows over the ground, after considering currents, tides, and the effects of wind and waves
• COW Crude Oil Washing: a system of cleaning the cargo tanks by washing them with the cargo of crude oil during discharge
• CPA/TCPA Closest Point of Approach/Time to Closest Point of Approach
• 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
• Datum (2) The plane of reference to which all data as to the depth on charts are referenced
• Derelict Vessel still afloat, abandoned at sea
• Destination The port where a ship is heading
• Disabled A ship that’s damaged and can't continue its journey.
• Disembark (to) To go from a vessel
• Distress alert (GMDSS) A radio signal sent automatically by a distressed ship to an MRCC, giving its location, ID, course, speed, and details of the emergency
• Distress/ Urgency traffic The verbal exchange of information over radio from a ship to shore, or between ships/aircraft, about an emergency or urgent situation, as defined by ITU Radio Regulations
• Draught (or draft) Depth in water at which a vessel floats
• Dragging (of anchor) "When an anchor moves along the sea floor because it’s no longer holding the ship in place.
• Dredging (of anchor) Moving of an anchor over the sea bottom to control the movement of the vessel
• Drifting Being driven along by the wind, tide or current
• Drop back (to) To increase the distance from the vessel ahead by reducing one's own speed
• DSC Digital Selective Calling (in the GMDSS system)
• Embark (to) To go on board 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
• Fathom A measure of 6 feet
• Fire Patrol A crew member who checks the ship regularly to spot fires early; required on ships with more than 36 passengers.
• Flooding Major uncontrolled 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) When the anchor’s cable is tangled around it or caught on something underwater
• Foul (of propeller) A line, wire, net, etc., is wound round the propeller
• Full speed Highest possible speed of a vessel
• Fumes Often harmful gas produced by fires, chemicals, fuel, etc.
• General emergency alarm A sound made by the ship—seven short blasts and one long blast—using its horn or alarm system
• Give way To keep out of the way of another vessel
• GMDSS Global Maritime Distress and Safety System
• (D) GPS (Differential) Global (satellite) Positioning System
• Half cardinal points The four main points lying between the cardinal points: north east, south east, south west and north west
• Hampered vessel A vessel restricted by her ability to manoeuvre by the nature of her work
• Hatchrails Ropes held up by posts around an open hatch to stop people from falling in.
• Heading The horizontal direction of the vessel's bows at a given moment measured in degrees clockwise from north
• Hoist 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 a 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) To throw goods overboard 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 On or towards the sheltered side of a ship; opposite of windward
• Leeway Vessel’s sideways drift leeward of the desired course
• Let go (to) To set free, let loose, or cast off (of anchors, lines, etc.)
• Lifeboat station Place assigned to crew and passengers to muster before being ordered into the lifeboats
• List when a ship leans or tilts to one side—either to port or starboard
• Located In navigational warnings: Position of object confirmed
• Make water (to) When seawater enters the ship because of damage to the hull or open/poorly closed hatches
• MMSI Maritime Mobile Service Identity number
• Moor (to) To keep a ship in place using ropes or wires tied to the shore, anchors, mooring buoys, or by using both anchors."*
• MRCC Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre: land-based authority in charge of organizing and coordinating maritime search and rescue operations.
• Muster (to) To assemble crew, passengers or both in a special place for purposes of checking
• Muster list List of crew, passengers and others on board and their functions in a distress or drill
• Not under command : 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 Oil or liquid spilling from a tank due to overflowing, thermal expansion, changes in the ship's trim, or movement.
• 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: loudspeaker system
• Recover (to) 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) 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 how many passengers and crew members are present, e.g. at assembly stations, by reading aloud a list of their names
• Safe speed The speed of a ship that allows enough time to avoid a collision and stop safely under current conditions.
• SWL Safe working load: maximum working load of lifting equipment that should not be exceeded
• Safe working pressure The highest allowed pressure in cargo hoses.
• SAR Search and Rescue
• SART Search and Rescue Transponder
• Scene The area or location where the event, e.g. an accident, has happened
• Search pattern A plan for how vessels and/or aircraft can carry out a coordinated search (the IMOSAR provides seven search patterns).
• Search speed The speed of searching vessels directed by the OSC
• Seamark A navigational aid placed to act as a beacon or warning
• Segregation(of goods) Separation of goods which for different reasons must not be stowed together
• Shackle (1) Length of chain cable measuring 15 fathoms
• Shackle (2) U-shaped link closed with a pin used for connecting purposes
• Shifting cargo Transverse movement of cargo, especially bulk cargo, 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 The accidental escape of oil, etc., from a vessel, container, etc., into the sea
• Spill control gear Anti-pollution equipment for combating accidental spills of oils or chemicals
• Elongated spreader step of a pilot ladder which prevents the ladder from twisting
• Stand by (to) To be ready and available to carry out an order.
• Stand clear (to) to keep a boat away from the vessel
• Standing orders Orders of the Master to the officer of the watch which he/she must comply with
• Stand on (to) To maintain course and speed
• Station The assigned duties or location of each person on board.
• Stripping Final pumping of tank’s residues
• Survivor A person who continues to live in spite of being in an extremely dangerous situation, e.g. a shipping disaster
• Take off (to) To lift off from a vessel's deck (helicopter)
• 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 the passage of a vessel through a canal, fairway, etc.
• Transit speed Speed of a vessel required for passage through a canal, fairway, etc.
• Transhipment (of cargo) The transfer of goods from one vessel to another outside harbours
• Underway Describes a vessel which is not at anchor, or made fast to the shore, or aground
• Union purchase A method of cargo handling by combining two derricks, one of which is fixed over the hatch, the other over the ship’s side
• Unlit When the light of a buoy or a lighthouse are inoperative
• UTC Universal Time Co-ordinated (GMT)
• Variable (of winds) A wind that is constantly changing speed and direction
• Veering (of winds) Clockwise change in the direction of the wind; opposite of backing
• Veer out (to)(of anchors) To let out a greater length of cable
• VHF Very High Frequency
• Walk out (to) (of anchors) To reverse the action of a windlass to lower the anchor until it is clear of the hawse pipe and ready for dropping
• Walk back (to) To reverse the action of a windlass to ease the cable (of anchors)
• Waypoint 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, sunk or abandoned at sea

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