Two half hitches around a spar or post. Easy way to make a line temporarily fast to a piling or post. The clove hitch can jam under heavy tension, making it difficult to untie. Worse, is its tendency to untie itself when subjected to repeated strain and r ...

The highest navigation bridge. It usually includes an added set of controls above the level of the normal control station for better visibility.

The headway a vessel makes when luffed in the wind; the distance a sailing vessel will shoot up to windward when brought head to head in the act of tacking.

A bollard with horizontal arms, forming the shape of a cross, as a means of belaying lines.

See Brokerage.

Code of Practice for the Safe Loading and Unloading of Bulk Carriers

In a manner, or fashion, befitting a seaman.

The logic of binary systems, such as control systems in which all operations may be reduced to on-off, open-closed, or similar dichotomous basis.

Old sailor's term for a flat calm with no wind.

Depth measured; the number indicating depth on a chart; the process of measuring fuel or water in ships' tanks. A ship is thought to be "in soundings" when she is inside the 100 fathom line, and "off soundings" when she is outside that line. ...

BTU. The amount of heat required to raise the temperature of one pound of water one degree Fahrenheit under set conditions of temperature and pressure.

Galley smokestack or chimney.

A nautical astronomical observation of the sun, moon, or a star, by which means a vessel's position can be determined. The sight was taken with a sextant at a specific time, determined by a chronometer.

The turbulent effect of air on the lee side of a sail when trimmed in too far.

The basic unit of measurement for lumber. One board foot is equal to a oneinch board, 12 inches wide and one foot long. Thus, a board ten feet long, 12 inches wide, and one inch thick contains ten board feet.

Also known as (U.S.) Federal Bill of Lading Act of 1916. U.S. federal law enacting conditions by which a B/L may be issued. Penalties for issuing B/L's containing false data include monetary fines and/or imprisonment.

The piston only compresses air with its stroke in one direction.

Any bend or hitch which slips as a result of being improperly tied; an improvised knot which is not a recognized maritime knot as used at sea.

A compartment forward where the chain cable is stowed.

The water level used to record data on a chart. Usually the average low tide water level. It is the level below which depths on a chart are measured, and above which keights of a tide are expressed.