The area of calm which lies inside the trade winds near the equator.

A bulkhead, frame, or longitudinal stiffener, running fore and aft.

The practice of obtaining a crew by means of force. Crews were hard to get for long voyages, and when the unwilling shipmate regained consciousness, he found himself bound for some remote port, such as Shanghai. One who is forced to do something against h ...

An air operated device for hoisting or pulling. Similar to a slusher or winch

Heavy weight,which gives a ship stability when the vessel is not carrying cargo.

A region near the earth in which the relative velocity increases from zero with elevation, due to the motion of the atmosphere relative to the earth's surface.

Weight of the earth's atmosphere over a unit area of the earth's surface, measured with a mercury barometer at sea level. which corresponds to the pressure required to lift a column of mercury 760 mm.

A contract for transportation between a shipper and a carrier. It also evidences receipt of the cargo by the carrier. A bill of lading shows ownership of the cargo and, if made negotiable, can be bought, sold or traded while the goods are in-transit.

See insurance.

The tendency in a boat to keep an upright position or to return to it when careened over.

A non-commissioned naval rank. Midshipmen play a part, under supervision, in most of the ship's activities, and are in training for higher command.

(1) An engine. (2) The act of using an engine to move a boat.

(1) Sailing away from the wind with the sails let out all the way; going with the wind, downwind sailing (2) To allow a line to feed freely. (3) The shape of the afterpart of the underbody of a ship in relation to the resistance it creates going through t ...

Here are a few old superstitions of seamen: (1) When a ship was launched or about to sail on a long voyage, a libation was offered to the gods of the sea by pouring wine upon the deck so that good fortune would accompany the ship. (2) Flowers carried on b ...

A process employed in the shipment of citrus fruits and other perishable commodities. The fruit is packed and placed in a cold room from which the heat is gradually extracted. The boxes of fruit are packed in containers that have been thoroughly cooled an ...

(1) A large casting shaped to allow the propeller blades to revolve. The rudder is fitted on the after post. (2) The principal vertical timber in a ship's stern, upon which the rudder is fastened.

The forward edge of a fore-and-aft sail

Various means for allowing LNG tanks to expand and contract due to temperature changes by sliding on the tank supports while restricting its movement due to the motion of the vessel.

Forward. The opposite of abaft.

A switching railroad operating within a commercial area.