Able-bodied seamen
A member of the crew certificated by exam and with three years of service.
Aft
Near the stern, or rear, of a ship.
Allision
The collision of a moving vessel into a solid land or a stationary object.
Amidships
In the middle section of a ship.
Astern
To move backwards.
Ballast
Weight added to a vessel to improve stability. Water is the most common ships' ballast.
Beam
Ship's width, also referred to as 'breadth.'
Bow
The forward part of a ship.
Bridge
The navigating section of a ship.
Davits
Cranes on a ship which raise and lower lifeboats.
Draft
The amount of a ship beneath the water, measured in vertical feet or metres.
Dry dock
An enclosed docking wher a ship sits while subsurface cleaning and repairs are completed.
Forecastle
The raised section of the front end of a ship's hull.
Gangway
Narrow platform used as a temporary bridge to or from a docked ship.
Hatch
An opening in a ship's deck to allow egress and access.
Hawser
Strong rope, now usually steel cable, used for towing or mooring boats.
The head
A ship's toilet
Helm
A ship's steering wheel, it controls direction by moving the rudder from side to side.
Hull
A ship's body.
Keel
The seam running front to back along the very bottom of a boat.
Knot
Unit of speed at sea equal to one nautical mile (1,852 meters / 6,080 feet) per hour.
Laker
Cargo ships used only in the Great Lakes. The largest freshwater ships in the world.
Pilot
A local sailor who helps the captain of a ship enter or leave an unfamiliar port.
Port
The left side of a ship, when facing forward.
Purser
Officer in charge of accounts.
Rudder
A flat, movable structure attached upright to a ship's stern and used for steering.
Starboard
The right side of a ship when facing forward.
Stern
The rear part of a boat.
Trim
To right a ship by balancing or arranging cargo or ballast.
Watch
A 'sea day' is divided into six four-hour watches, with sailors standing watch four
hours on, eight hours off.
For a more complete Glossary of maritime terms, see http://www.sea-man.com/terms.html
