To let the sheet out slowly while maintaining control.

An old name for high waves when they break with a white crest.

A navigation instrument used to measure the apparent height of a landmark whose actual height is known, such as the top of a lighthouse. From this information, the ship's distance from that landmark can be calculated.

Underwriters Lab.

(1) A sailing vessel common in the Far East. It's flat-bottomed, high sterned, has square bows, and has two or three masts carrying lugsails. (2) Old and condemned rope.

A representative of a government commission or agency vested with power to administer oaths, examine witnesses, take testimony, and conduct hearings of cases submitted to, or initiated by, that agency. Also called Hearing Examiner.

A colorless, odorless, tasteless gas. A mixture of individual gases. The gaseous mixture surrounding the earth. Standard density of dry air free of carbon dioxide (0

The interval between full moon and change of moon and the highest high tide.

The line where the water comes to on the hull of a boat. Design waterline is where the waterline was designed to be, load waterline is the waterline when the boat is loaded, and the painted waterline is where the waterline was painted. Actual waterline is ...

Are any material with an affinity for moisture. These analyzers use sensing elements that contain moisture adsorbing material. A change in the moisture content of the element is detected by an electric network and is used as a measurement of dew point

The situation of a vessel when listed over by the wind to such an extent that she does not recover.

(1) Describing a boat that lacks stability. (2) A small dinghy or launch used to transport crew and equipment from shore to a larger boat (3) One who serves as a precautionary standby, such as a line tender

To remove water from the boat by hand, bucket, pump etc.

Term for a seaman's short leave from his ship, permitting him to go ashore for the day or night.

Resting on the surface of the water.

(1) The last position on a chart, when a ship is leaving the land.(2) The number of nautical miles that one place is eastwards or westwards of another. (3)The easting or westing made by a vessel. The bearing of an object on the coast from which a vessel c ...

Sequence of letters and numbers, unique to each ship by which ships can be identified.

Sailing on a run with the wind coming over the stern from the same side as the boom (danger of jibing).

Above the upper deck (above).

A cargo consolidator in ocean trades who will buy space from a carrier and subsell it to smaller shippers. The NVOCC issues bills of lading, publishes tariffs and otherwise conducts itself as an ocean common carrier, except that it will not provide the ac ...