Search of a vessel, by Customs authorities, for unreported goods.

Condition of a sailing ship when all sails have been taken down in a severe storm, very often a hazardous undertaking if there is a high sea running.

The operation of taking a sounding with the hand lead (to find bottom).

Permanent pip iron ballast specially shaped and placed along each side of keelson. Name is sometimes given to any iron ballast.

Boat carried at davits on quarter of ship, and kept ready for immediate use when at sea.

The total rate from the point of origin to final destination.

A rope used for securing any movable object in place

Six feet. Comes from the Dutch word "fadom" which was the distance between fingertips of outstretched hands.A unit of measurement relating to the depth of water or to the length of line or cable; one fathom is 6 feet or 1.83 meters

A fix taken by visually observing the location of known landmarks.

Distance at sea is measured in nautical miles, which are about 6067.12 feet, 1.15 statute miles or exactly 1852 meters. Nautical miles have the unique property that a minute of latitude is equal to one nautical mile - Measurement of speed is done in knots ...

The direction to which a compass points. Magnetic north differs from true north because the magnetic fields of the planet are not exactly in line with the north and south poles. Observed differences between magnetic and true north is known as magnetic var ...

Bulk Carrier or Motorcar Carrier

The top of a mast.

Most ocean freight is billed on the basis of weight or measurement tons (W/M). Weight tons can be expressed in short tons of 2000 pounds, long tons of 2240 pounds or metric tons of 1000 kilos (2204.62 pounds). Measurement tons are usually expressed as car ...

The highest continuous deck which runs the full length of the ship without a fall or interruption.

A wind shift that forces a boat to sail below its mean wind course.

(1) In good condition. (2) To adjust to proper shape or size.

An instrument that, once established, cannot be modified or cancelled without the agreement of all parties concerned.

The part of the rotating element of a dynamic compressor that imparts energy to the flowing medium by means of centrifugal force. It consists of a number of blades mounted so as to rotate with the shaft.

A pin placed through the head of a rudder to prevent it from being lost.