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Marine
Terms & Definitions
ABS -
American Bureau of Shipping; a vessel
classification agency which also assigns
international loadlines.
admeasure -
to measure, calculate, and certify; for the purpose of registration,
certain dimensions of a vessel as well as its gross
and net tons.
affreightment -
a contract for the movement of cargo in which the cargo owner/shipper is neither charterer nor
operator of the vessel.
AHP -
Above Head of Passes; used with mileage designations on
the Mississippi River, the Head of Passes being mile zero.
AIWW -
Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway.
anchor -
a heavy object of steel or iron attached to a vessel by a
cable and/or chain and cast overboard to keep the vessel in  place, either by its weight or by its flukes gripping the bottom.
anchor billboard -
a structure on the deck of a vessel
upon which the anchor is mounted
when not in use. |
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anodes -
metallic plates which, when attached to the hull of a vessel,
decompose because of electrolysis, thereby reducing deterioration
of hull plate.
athwartship -
transverse or across a vessel from side to side.
Automated Identification System (AIS) -
an electronic instrument placed on regulated powered vessels
to automatically provide their identity, location and
other navigational data to a central receiving base to
facilitate navigational control and safety.
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ballast -
any substance, other than cargo, which is usually placed in
the inner compartment of a vessel to
produce a desired draft or trim.
bareboat charter - (demise charter) -
a form of vessel rental in which the charterer assumes total
responsibility for the vessel and its operations as if it were
his own.
beam -
the breadth of a vessel.
bell suction -
the flared open end of a cargo pipeline which is
situated at close tolerances to the bottom of a
liquid cargo tank.
bilge -
the lower inner space of a vessel’s hull.
bin -
a walled enclosure built on the deck of a barge for the purpose
of retaining cargo; also called a pen or cargo box.
bitt (bollard or timberhead) -
a single or double post on a vessel or wharf to which lines
are tied.
bollard pull -
the static pulling force of a tugboat
measured in pounds.
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bounding
angle -
a steel angle used for reinforcement
at the junction of two steel plates.
bow -
the forward or front end of a vessel.
boxed end -
the end of a barge which is squared for the full depth and
width of the hull.
 bridle -
a V-shaped chain, wire, or rope attached to
a vessel being towed to which the towline
is connected.
buck
frame -
a transverse truss.
bulkhead -
an upright partition separating compartments.
bulwark -
the side of a vessel which extends above the
upper deck.
buoy -
a stationary floating object used as an aid
for navigation.
butterworth -
a
washing process used to gas free or clean a cargo tank,
employing hot water or chemicals, sprayed through a
patented rotating nozzle.
butterworth opening -
a deck access opening with bolted cover, designed for butterworth
operations.
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camber -
the upward slope of a vessel’s deck, occurring when the
centerline is higher than the gunwale.
camel -
a pontoon used to fender between a vessel
and a wharf.
 capstan -
a hand or machine powered, vertical, spindle-mounted drum
which rotates and pulls lines by winding.
CERCLA -
Comprehensive Environmental Response,
Compensation and Liability Act. The U.S.
federal statute that establishes the legal and financial
responsibilities of those persons or companies which discharge
or dispose of hazardous substances on or into land,
air, and navigable waters of the U.S. Primarily administered
by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
certification -
the act of attesting that a vessel has met specific legal requirements by the
issuance of various
certificates or validation of documents by certain governmental or private agencies.
channel -
that portion of a waterway which is naturally or artificially deepened to permit
safe navigation within certain limits.
charter party -
a contractual agreement between two entities for the purpose of renting, hiring,
or leasing the
exclusive use of a vessel.
chock -
a heavy metal casting through which lines may pass for mooring or towing.
CIF -
Cost, Insurance, and Freight; cost of transportation and insurance to be paid
by the seller of goods to the named point of destination.
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classification -
the certification process as
administered by certain
international agencies whereby
a vessel is designed, constructed,
and maintained to an agency’s requirements.
cleat -
a metal fitting with two projecting horns around which a
rope may be made fast. (See kevel.)
clip -
a small steel bracket used for securing or reinforcing.
coaming -
a watertight, raised framework around an opening in the deck
of a vessel.
cofferdam -
the space in a vessel between two closely located
parallel bulkheads.
COFR -
Certificate of Financial Responsibility; a document issued
by U.S.C.G. to a company for a vessel or a fleet of vessels,
giving evidence that the vessel owner/ operator has met the
financial requirements for oil spill clean up costs as contained
in the Oil Pollution Act of 1990.
coils -
a system of small diameter pipes installed inside a liquid
cargo tank for the purpose of heating the cargo by means
of hot oil or steam.
comehome -
a convex curvature of the rake sides of a barge that produces
a narrower beam at the headlog than the beam of the hull.
common carrier -
a federally licensed company which offers to the general
public, under published tariffs, to engage
in the interstate or foreign transportation of
commodities of various types.
compartment -
an interior space of a vessel’s hull which is formed
by bulkheads.
contract carrier -
a federally licensed company which offers,
under individual contracts, to engage in interstate or foreign
transportation of commodities of
various types.
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 daymark -
a marker used as an aid to
navigation and which is
visible in daylight.
deadman -
an object, such as an anchor, piling, or concrete block,
buried on shore.
deadrise -
the upward slope of a vessel’s bottom occurring when
the centerline is deeper than the bilge knuckle; provided
to facilitate removal of liquid cargo.
deadweight tonnage -
the cargo capacity of a vessel.
 deck button -
a round, steel fitting affixed to a
vessel’s deck, designed to secure or guide cables for
making up barge tows.
deck lashing strap -
a steel deck fitting normally used
as an attachment for cargo tie 
down lines.
"dedicated” tow -
movement of barge(s) between two points by the use of a boat
exclusively assigned to that movement (contrast with “tramp” tow).
A “dedicated” boat offers greater control of
barge movements than a “tramp” tow, but generally
at
a higher cost.
demurrage -
a charge assessed for detaining a vessel beyond the free
time stipulated for loading or unloading.
detention -
the period of time that an owner or charterer is deprived
of the use of his vessel as a result of actions of another
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docking
tug -
a tugboat which assists a large seagoing vessel to and from
its berth.
documentation -
the process of licensing a vessel in either
enrollment or registry, resulting in the issuance
of a vessel’s official document.
 dolphin -
a cluster of piles driven into the bottom of a waterway and
bound firmly together for the mooring of vessels.
doubler -
a steel plate installed on an existing structural plate and
used as a strengthening base for deck fittings or as a repair
of a damaged area.
draft -
the depth of a vessel’s keel below the waterline; often
expressed as light draft, or conversely,
loaded draft.
draft marks -
the numerical markings on the sides of a vessel at the bow
and stern, which indicate, at the lower edge of the number,
the amount of water the
vessel draws.
 drip pan -
an open container, located on deck
under the ends of a pipeline header
to retain cargo drippage. Required
on all U.S.C.G. certified tank barges.
drydocking -
the removal of a vessel from the water to accomplish repairs
or inspections.
dumb vessel -
a vessel without means of self-propulsion.
dunnage -
any materials used to block or brace cargo to
prevent its motion, chafing, or damage and to
facilitate its handling.
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EHL -
East of Harvey Lock; used with mileage
designations on the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, Harvey Lock
being mile zero.
ETA -
Estimated Time of Arrival. |
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ETD -
Estimated Time of Departure.
expansion trunk -
a raised enclosure around an opening in the
top of a liquid cargo tank which allows for heat expansion
of the cargo.
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fairing -
re-forming distorted steel to its original form
or shape.
fairlead -
a device consisting of pulleys or rollers arranged to permit
the reeling in of a cable from any direction; often used
in conjunction with winches and similar apparatus.
fender -
any device used to absorb and distribute shock
and to prevent chafing between a vessel and
another object.
 fish plate -
a triangular-shaped steel plate used to strengthen the connection
between the towing bridle and the towing hawser.
flame screen -
a corrosion-resistant fine wire mesh screen used to cover
certain openings on tank vessels to prevent the passage of
flame into the tank.
flange -
that portion of a steel shape which projects at a right angle
to provide strength or a means of attachment to another part.
fleet boat -
a boat which primarily tends, tows within, or
otherwise services a fleeting area.
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fleeting
area (fleet) -
a designated portion of a waterway where vessels are regularly moored and tended.
F.O.B. -
Free on Board; cargo delivered to and placed on board a carrier at a specific
point without charge.
freeboard -
the distance from the waterline to the main deck
of a boat or barge.
freeing port -
a large opening in the bulwark on an exposed deck of a seagoing vessel which
provides for the rapid draining of water from that deck.
fully found -
a vessel completely equipped and manned
for service.
FWPCA -
Federal Water Pollution Control Act; the U.S.
federal statute that establishes the legal and
financial responsibilities of those persons or
companies which discharge or dispose of oil or
hazardous substances into or upon the navigable waters of
the U.S. Primarily administered by the U.S. Coast Guard.
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gas
free -
the process of removing all hazardous gases and residues
from the compartments of a vessel.
gasket -
an elastic packing material used for making
joints watertight.
gauge -
a waterway marker which measures the level of the water in
foot increments; also refers to the specific measure on the
gauge.
GIWW -
Gulf Intracoastal Waterway.
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gross tons -
the volume measurement of the internal voids of a vessel wherein 100 cu. ft.
equals one ton.
gunwale (gunnel) -
that part of a barge or boat where the main deck and the side meet.
gusset -
a steel plate used for reinforcing or bracing the junction of other steel members.
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harbor
boat -
any powered vessel which is used primarily in
harbor operations.
hatch -
a removable cover over the cargo hold of a vessel.
hawser -
a large circumference rope used for towing or mooring a vessel
or for securing it at a dock.
headlog -
the reinforced, vertical plate which connects the bow rake
bottom to the rake deck of a barge or square-stemmed boat.
head of navigation -
the uppermost limit of navigation from the mouth of a waterway.
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hip
towing (hipping) -
a method of towing whereby the vessel being towed is secured
along-side the towboat.
home port -
the port city which is the home base of a vessel or the city
from which it is documented.
horsepower -
a standard unit of power which is often classified in connection
with engines as brake, continuous input, intermittent, output,
or shaft horsepower.
hull -
the main body of a vessel which provides flotation.
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ICC -
Interstate Commerce Commission; a U.S.
governmental agency which regulates the domestic transportation
of certain commodities.
inland waters -
considered to be the canals, lakes, rivers and their tributaries,
and bays and sounds of the land mass of a country.
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integrated
tow -
a tow of box-ended barges which, as a complete unit, is raked at the bow, boxed
at the intermediate connections, and boxed or raked at the stern.
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keel -
the lowest structural member of a ship or
boat which runs the length of the vessel at the centerline
and to which the frames are attached.
keel line -
an imaginary line describing the lowest portion
of a vessel’s hull.
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 kevel
(caval) -
a heavy, metal deck fitting having two horn-shaped arms projecting
outward around which lines may be made fast for towing
or mooring of a vessel.
knot -
one nautical mile per hour; used as a unit of
measurement in expressing the rate of speed
of seagoing vessels and the relative speed of
water currents.
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landing -
an improved waterfront property which facilitates loading,
unloading, and servicing of vessels.
lightening hole -
a hole cut in a plate or frame to reduce its weight without
reducing its strength.
lighter -
a vessel, usually a barge, that is used in loading or unloading
a ship or in transporting cargo in and around a harbor.
light screen -
a structure surrounding a vessel’s navigation light
so as to shield the light from view at certain points of
the compass as required by navigational
regulations.
light standard -
a structure on a vessel used to hold a navigation light. |
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limber hole -
a drain hole near the bottom of a frame or bulkhead.
lines -
the ropes or cables used on a vessel for towing, mooring, or lashing.
loadline marks -
a set of permanent markings on the side of an oceangoing or Great Lakes vessel
which denotes its maximum legal operating draft under certain specified conditions
and which is determined
by one of the internationally-recognized assigning agencies.
lock -
an enclosure on a river or canal, with movable, watertight gates, through which
vessels pass, and proceed from one water level to another by raising or lowering
the water within the lock chamber.
logbook (logs) -
the official records of the daily operations of a manned vessel, kept in detail
by the master.
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make-up -
the act of final positioning and securing of the
vessels that form a tow.
Maltese Cross A-1 -
the designation used by ABS which signifies that a vessel
has met the classification requirements of that agency.
manhole -
a framed opening in the deck of a vessel which
primarily provides access for a man.
manhole cover -
a cover which seals a manhole and is usually designed to
lock in place by twisting or using
a centerbolt, studbolts, or dogs.
MARAD -
the U. S. Maritime Administration.
marine chemist -
one who is certified to perform inspections in accordance
with the Standard for the Control of Gas Hazards on Vessels
to be Repaired as adopted by the National Fire Protection
Association.
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marine
chemist’s certificate -
the documentation of a vessel’s inspection by a marine chemist and his
assignment of standard safety designations to the inspected compartments or spaces.
master -
the captain of a vessel; the person who has complete charge of and authority
aboard an operating vessel.
mats -
slabs, usually constructed of timbers, which are placed on the deck of a vessel
for the purpose of supporting and distributing the weight of heavy loads.
milemarker (mileboard) -
a marker set up to indicate distances in miles along a waterway.
model hull -
a type of hull design in which the form is molded, curved, and shaped into a
pointed stem and rounded stern.
molded depth -
the distance from the top of the keel to the top of the upper deck beams amidships
at the gunwale.
MRGO -
Mississippi River Gulf Outlet; the deep draft
waterway connecting the New Orleans Inner Harbor Navigation Canal to the Gulf
of Mexico.
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nautical
mile -
a unit of length used in sea navigation equal to 1852 meters
or approximately 6076 feet.
navigable waters -
those waterways upon which commercial or
private vessels are able to operate in their
customary mode of navigation.
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net
tons -
the gross tons of a vessel less deductions for
certain specified non-cargo spaces resulting in
a net volume capacity of 100 cu. ft. per ton.
(See gross tons.)
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OCMI -
Officer in Charge of Marine Inspections at a U.S. Coast Guard
Marine Inspection office. Such offices are located in a
number of U.S. ports.
official number -
the registration number assigned by the U.S. Maritime Administration
to a U.S. documented
vessel which is permanently marked on the main beam of that
vessel.
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offshore
waters -
a common term for those waters which are beyond inland water limits and have
the technical classification of oceans.
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padeye -
a steel fitting formed by a flat doubler plate and vertical
steel member containing a circular opening.
pelican hook -
a hinged hook held closed by a ring and used to provide the
quick release of an object which it holds.
pipe stanchion -
a steel deck fitting consisting of a vertical post with angled
bracket(s)
on one side, welded to a doubler plate, which is welded on
the deck of a vessel to restrain the movement of cargo, such
as pipe.
Plimsoll mark -
the primary loadline mark which is a circle intersected by
a horizontal line accompanied by letters indicating the authority
under which the
loadline is assigned.
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port -
the left-hand side of a vessel when facing forward; a city having a harbor
for
vessels; a port hole.
pv
valve -
pressure vacuum relief valve; a valve which automatically regulates the pressure
or vacuum in a tank.
propeller -
a mechanical device having radiating blades which is mounted on a revolving,
power-driven shaft for the purpose of propelling a boat; also called a screw
or wheel.
pushboat -
a highly maneuverable, inland waters, shallow draft towboat usually designed
with a square bow and towing knees which facilitate its primary method of towing
which is pushing.
 push knee (tow knee) -
a vertical, reinforced steel structure installed on a vessel to facilitate push
towing. The height of the knee allows for variance in freeboard between vessels.
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raised
rake -
the rake of a barge which has sheer.
reachrod -
a steel rod which connects an above deck valve handle to
a below deck valve.
registered -
pertaining to certain vessel data calculated under specific
rules and officially documented, such as registered length.
rubrail -
a protective railing on the hull of a vessel which
is used for fendering.
Responsible Carrier Program - (RCP)
A vessel safety management program developed by the maritime
industry through the American Waterways Operators and designed as a framework for continuously improving the industry’s safety performance. AWO members use the RCP as a guide in developing company-specific safety and environmental programs that are tailored to the unique operational environments found in the barge and towing industry. The program complements and builds upon existing government regulations, requiring company safety standards that exceed those required by federal law or regulation.
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Rules
of the Road -
a code governing vessels as to the lights to be carried, the signals to be made,
and their safe and proper navigation in order to avoid collisions. Statutes
of the United States provide varying
regulations for two areas of navigation. These regulations are known as Inland
Navigation Rules and International Navigation Rules.
running lights -
those lights required to be shown at night aboard a vessel or a tow while underway.
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sailing
line -
the preferred course for safe and efficient
navigation in the channel of a waterway.
scow -
another term for a deck cargo barge having a hull design
of a flat bottom, square ended rakes, and usually with a
deck cargo bin.
scupper -
a drainage opening cut flush with the deck of a vessel through
the bulwark or bin wall.
seaworthy -
the reasonably staunch, sound, and fit condition describing
a vessel’s capability to safely carry its cargo and
complete its intended voyage or use.
semi-integrated barge -
a barge which is raked at one end and boxed at the other
end.
 shackle -
a U-shaped metal fitting used as a
connection for line, cable, or chain and which has a pin
secured through its end
by a nut cotterpin, or screw threads.
sheer -
the upward curvature or angle of a vessel’s deck
at the bow or stern.
shifting -
the short movement or transfer of a vessel within a harbor
or mooring area.
skeg (skag) -
a framed steel plate structure which acts as a fixed rudder
under the stern rake of a barge; also, the after part extension
of a boat’s keel upon which the rudder rests.
slopesheet -
the sloped vertical steel plate forming the end of the hopper
barge cargo compartment and which is part of the rake bulkhead.
SOPEP -
Shipboard Oil Pollution Emergency Plan; a U.S.C.G. approved
set of guidelines for responding to a spill or potential
spill of oil from all U.S. flag oil tankers of 150 gross
tons and above, as mandated in Regulation 21 of Annex I of
the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution
from Ships, 1973, as modified by the Protocol of 1978 (MARPOL
73/78).
sponson -
an addition to the side of a vessel that is outside its normal
hull and which provides added deck space and/or greater flotation
stability.
spud -
a steel or wooden post or pile that is placed
vertically through a well in the hull of a vessel
and which, when lowered to the bottom of the waterway, anchors
the vessel.
spudwell -
a casing which is attached to or passes through the hull
of a vessel through which a spud is raised or lowered.
starboard -
the right-hand side of a vessel when facing
forward.
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 steamboat
ratchet -
a sleeve, internally threaded at the ends and with attached eye-rods, equipped
with a ratchet used to turn the sleeve, thereby pulling the rods toward each
other.
stem -
the main vertical structural member which forms the foremost part of a boat’s
model bow.
stern -
the after or rear end of a vessel.
sternlog -
the reinforced, vertical shell plating which connects the stern rake bottom to
the rake deck of a barge.
strake -
a longitudinal or transverse row of steel hull plates.
strapping table -
a chart used to convert readings of liquid levels in the tanks of a barge to
volume measurements of that liquid.
strongback -
the bar in a centerbolt manhole cover assembly which is drawn up against the
manhole ring to pull the cover down tight.
superstructure -
the structural part of a boat above the main deck.
survey -
a critical examination or inspection of a vessel, cargo, or marine structure
for the purpose of ascertaining desired facts and conclusions when necessary.
survey, condition -
a survey that determines in some detail the specific condition of a vessel or
of cargo; usually performed at the commencement or termination of charters or
voyages for the agreed mutual benefit of various parties.
survey, damage -
a survey that determines the exact extent of damages incurred and specifies repair
requirements.
survey report -
the written evidence of the survey.
survey, suitability -
a survey that determines whether a vessel and its equipment are capable of adequately
and safely performing an intended task.
survey, trip and tow -
a survey in which the surveyor has full responsibility for inspecting and approving
the suitability of the towing vessel, its gear and its tow, the loading and lashing
of the cargo, and the navigational
procedures, all in relation to the trip intended.
survey, valuation -
a survey that determines the current market value and may also express replacement
value.
surveyor -
a qualified marine inspector who
performs surveys.
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tank -
an enclosed space used for holding liquids.
time charter -
a contract for the services of a vessel for a
specified period of time during which the primary control
and management of the vessel remain
with the owner.
tow -
to push or pull vessels on a waterway; also
refers to the unit comprised of the towing vessel and the
vessels being towed or only the vessels being towed.
towboat -
any powered vessel which is used for towing.
“ tramp” tow -
movement of barge(s) between two points by including it/them in a tow of a boat
and other barges going in the same direction (contrast with “dedicated” tow).
It is sometimes necessary to transfer barges being “tramped” from
one boat to another to achieve the desired route and destination. Cost is generally
less than the use of a “dedicated” boat, but control of the timing
of
barge movements is also less.
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transom -
the hull plate and its framing that form the vertical end of a box-shaped barge;
also, the frame plate forming the stern of a square-ended boat.
truss -
a rigid framework of horizontal, vertical, and diagonal structural members designed
to support loads and reinforce a vessel’s hull.
tugboat -
a model hull towboat of relatively deep draft used primarily for pull towing
and designed for navigation in open or unprotected waters.
 turnbuckle -
a connecting device usually used with cable
or chain and which takes up slack by rotating on its screw threads.
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ullage
opening -
a small, covered opening in the top of a cargo
tank through which measurements are made to determine the level of the liquid
in the tank.
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U.S.C.G. -
the United States Coast Guard.
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VCG -
vertical center of gravity; an important computation used in the determination
of the stability of a vessel with its cargo.
VRP -
Vessel Response Plan; a U.S.C.G. approved set
of guidelines for responding to a spill or potential spill of oil from tank vessels,
including training and testing procedures, as mandated in the Oil Pollution Act
of 1990.
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VTC -
Vessel Traffic Control; a central control system used in some ports to safely
direct navigation.
Vessel Security Plan - (VSP)
A U.S.C.G. approved set of guidelines providing for the
secure operation of regulated vessels under various levels of
national security warning levels, including specific protections,
defenses and procedures as mandated by the Maritime
Transportation Security Act of 2002. |
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watertight -
of such construction or fit as to prevent the passage of water, except when structural
discontinuity, physical rupture, or purposeful opening may occur.
 wheel -
another term for a propeller; also,
a boat’s steering wheel. WHL -
West of Harvey Lock; used with mileage designations on the Gulf Intracoastal
Waterway, Harvey Lock being mile zero.
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WHL -
West of Harvey Lock; used with mileage designations on
the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, Harvey Lock being mile
zero.
WQIS -
Water Quality Insurance Syndicate; an underwriting agency formed by various insurance
companies for the purpose of insuring against losses resulting from water
pollution. |
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NOTE: The preceding terminology is defined as it is used
in the shallow draft boat and barge industry in the United
States. For complete information regarding requirements or
regulations of governmental or private agencies, we recommend
direct contact with those agencies.
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