A small round platform, smaller than a Crow's Nest, which was placed at the top of the mast to provide a greater range of vision from a ship at sea.

ACRONYM - Compressed natural gas, primarily methane.

A boom on a jib or staysail.

Same as two blocks.

A non-profit entity that represents the interests of a number of shippers. The main focus of shippers associations is to pool the cargo volumes of members to leverage the most favorable service contract rate levels.

A large balloon shaped lightweight sail used when running or reaching. Spinnakers are made of cloth very similar to that used for parachutes, which is why you may also hear them called chutes, or kites.

Is a compression in which the temperature of a gas remains constant.

On steam vessels has responsibility for the boilers, on diesels, the evaporators and the auxiliary equipment.

The act of supporting anything by propping or shoring it up.

A metal plate, strap, or rod bolted to the hull structure to which the lower ends of shrouds and stays are attached

A materials handling/storage facility used for completely unitized loads in containers and/or empty containers. Commonly referred to as CY.

A "C" shaped fitting which can be slipped over the boom, for example, when the sail has been roller reefed to allow the boom vang to be reattached.

Port where cargo is unloaded and enters a country.

Point at which all of the force of the wind can be thought to concentrate; the point in the sail plan that is the balance point for all the aerodynamic forces

Fast boat used for passenger and cargo traffic in fairly sheltered waters.

A pair of vertical wooden or iron heads on board ship, used for securing mooring or towing lines. Similar to dock bollards.

A general nautical term for Canadians, but more especially for Nova Scotian sailing ships and men.

Abnormal, rapid reciprocating movement of the disc on the seat of a pressure relief valve.

An articulated five-platform rail car that allows containers to be double stacked. A typical stack car holds ten 40-foot equivalent units (FEU's).

Length of chain used for putting around logs or steel products.