Official terminology for life jacket. When properly used a PFD will support a person in the water. Also called a life jacket, life preserver or life vest.

Metal strip and lead fastener used for locking freight car or truck doors. Seals are numbered for record purposes.

Owners or operators of vessels providing transportation to shippers. The term is also used to refer to the vessels.

When the wind pushes on the wrong side of the sail, causing it to be pushed away from the wind. If the lines holding the sail in place are not released, the boat could become hard to control and heel excessively.

The most common type of sail used today, a triangle-shaped mainsail defined by the mast and one horizontal boom perpendicular to the mast.

A line used to tighten the leech of a sail, helping to create proper sail shape.

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

A prisoner sold in the slave market. He was forced to serve in the war galleys, where he pulled on one of the oars.

The merchant ships on the official registers of any nation.

Alphabet used by the Navy when making sure that a letter is understood; i.e. "BRAVO OSCAR ALPHA TANGO spells BOAT"

A manmade waterway used to connect bodies of water that do not connect naturally. Canals use locks to raise and lower boats when connecting bodies of water that have different water levels.

A restrictive tube used in a refrigeration system which restricts the flow of freon and allows pressure to build on one side and suction on the other. It is located between the condenser and the evaporator.

A small crane that projects over the side of the boat to raise or lower objects (such as smaller boats) from or to the water.

To haul in or bind something together in order to create more space.

In railcar or container shipments, the weight of the empty railcar or empty container.

Used for sending messages to outside companies. Messages are transmitted via Western Union, ITT and RCA. Being replaced by fax and internet.

To reeve and secure a stopper (hold a strain on a line while transferring it).

A stream of vapor, gas or liquid coming out fast from a narrow orifice.

Stout line or cable fore and aft around the deck of the boat to keep crew from falling overboard.

A party named in an instrument as the beneficiary of the funds. Under letters of credit, the payee is either the drawer of the draft or a bank.