MUELLER MARITIME, INC.

Coast to Coast & Ocean to Ocean

SOME GENERAL, SHIPPING, INSURANCE AND LEGAL TERMS

ABAFT: Toward a vessel's stern; behind; back off; aft of:

ABEAM: Position or direction that lies at right angles to a ship's fore and aft line.

AB INITIO: From the beginning.

ABREAST: Said of ships on paralell courses when abeam of each other. Objects inside a ship are abreast when they are in the same transverse line.

ACCESS HOLE: An opening through the bulkhead, deck or casing, to enable a person to reach work or gear.

AD HOC: For this particular purpose (common usage: "improvise").

AD HOMINEN: To the person (to appeal to feelings rather than reason).

ADJUSTMENT: Of averages. See our page "G.A. & Salvage."

AD LIBITUM (AD LIB): Freely; at pleasure.

ALEA IACTA EST: The die is cast.

ADRIFT: Unattached to the shore or ground and at the mercy of wind and tide. Colloquially used to mean missing from its place; absent from place of duty; broken away from fastening.

AD VALOREM: From the Latin phrase meaning according to value. Used when the freight for goods are assessed by their value, and not by weight or quantity.

AFTER SIGHT: In a financial document, it means "After payer has endorsed it as an acknowledgement of sighting it."

AGREED VALUE CLAUSE: A bill of lading clause which limits the responsibility of the

shipper.

ALIST: Listed or canted to one side, inclined; heeling; not on even keel.

ALL RISKS: An insurance term which means that the policy covers the insured property for any fortuity. The policy does NOT cover inevitable loss.

AMICUS CURIAE: Friend of the court (objective adviser).

.

.

AMPHIDROMIC POINT: Point at which cotidal lines meet, and at which there is no range of tide.

ANCHORABLE: Fit for anchorage or anchoring.

ANCHOR-ROCKET: A life-saving device consisting of a rocket having an anchor-shaped head for carrying and attaching a life-line fired to a stranded ship.

ANGARIA: In maritime law, forcible seizure of a ship for public use; in international law,  use or destruction by a belligerent, subject to a claim for compensation, of neutral property within its territory in time of war, a privilege claimed by belligerents under title of jus angaria, or right of angary.

ANGLE OF ENTRANCE: The angle formed by the center line of the ship and the tangent to the designed waterline at the forward perpendicular.

ANEMOMETER: Instrument for measuring wind velocity or pressure.

ANGLE IRON: Iron or steel stiffener inserted in an angle,

ANGLE OF POSITION: In great circle sailing, it is the angle that great circle track makes with meridian at any given point.

ANGLE OF REPOSE: The maximum angle at which grain, coal or other bulk products will retain their form or heap. The angle of repose for grain is 20-25 degrees; for coal 30-45 degrees; for ore 30-50 degrees.

ANSCHUTZ GYRO COMPASS: German type compass in which three gyros revolve in air. Sensitive element floats in a mercury bath. Damping is effected by oil.

ANTE MERIDIEM: Before midday.

ANTIFOULING: Paints and preparations that attack and kill marine life that tries to attach itself to ship's underwater skin.

ANTI-ROLLING TANKS: A means of reducing a ship's angle of roll by a contra-flow of water between two tanks, or sets of tanks, built in each wing of a lower deck. Volume and flow are regulated by appropriate valves according to the ship's rolling period, chief feature of the system being timing of flow to become effective as the ship begins her return roll. First experimented with as far back as 1874, only the Frahm System, introduced in early 1900's, has met success. It's latest pattern was first installed on the large North-German Lloyd liners "Bremen" and "Europa."

APPARENT SLIP: The difference between the speed of the stream projected by the propeller and the speed of the ship, in relation to a fixed point in the water, clear of the wake.

APOGEE: Point in the Moon's orbit farthest from Earth.

ARCHED: Hogged

ARTICLES OF AGREEMENT: The document containing all particulars relating to the terms of agreement between the Master of the vessel and the crew. Sometimes called ships's articles, shipping articles.

ASCERTAINED: As used in 'Collision Regulations', has been ruled as meaning 'determined distinctly and unequivocally.'

ASSIGNMENT CLAUSE: A clause incorporated in a maritime policy permitting the person in whose name the insurance has been effected to transfer his interest in the policy to another person. The assignment is usually made by endorsement and delivery.

ASTERN: Any point behind a ship; away from any craft in a direction opposite her course; opposite to ahead, always indicates direction outside and beyond a ship's stern.

ASTEROIDS: (From Greek, meaning starlike.) Small planets, or planetoids, about 1200 in number and their largest, named Ceres, 480 miles in diameter, which revolve around the Sun between Mars and Jupiter.

ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE: That of the air at sea level, under standard condition in which a mercury barometer reads 29.94 inches or 760 millimeters.

ATTESTATION CLAUSE: A maritime insurance clause certifying that the policy has been signed by a duly authorized person in the insurance company, thereby binding the contract.

AVOIDANCE: The right of an underwriter to avoid a contract of maritime insurance. This can occur in the event of a breach of good faith by the insured or by his broker or, in the case of a voyage policy, where the voyage does not commence, within reasonable time after acceptance of the risk by the underwriter.

AWAFT: Afloat; adrift.

AWNING: A canvas spread above deck to give protection from the sun and rain.

BACK LETTER: Name sometimes given to a 'Letter of Indemnity", which see below.

BACK-STRAPPED: Said of a ship having fair wind but not strong enough for stemming a current.

BACK STREAM: A current running counterwise to a regular stream; an eddy.

BAF: Bunker Adjustment Factor.

BAFFLE: To struggle ineffectually, or strive in vain as, a ship baffles with a current.

BAGUIO: (From Tagalog): Native Philippine name for a typhoon in the South China Sea

and the Philippine Islands

and the Philippine Islands.

BALE CUBIC: Space in a ship's hold available for cargo, as measured inside the frame cargo battens and to under the beams. In general cargo of mixed commodities bale cubic applies, since stowage of such cargo usually is confined to the limits indicated. From data I have taken from an actual case bale cubic amounted to 698,000 feet while grain cubic, which includes spaces between frames and deck-beams, amounted to 835,000 cubic feet.

BALLASTAGE: A fee levied for the privilege of taking ballast at port.

BALLAST DECLARATION: Short name for "Master's Declaration and Stores Content for Ship's Outbound in Ballast." It is one of the documents rendered to Customs authorities when clearing outward ships with no cargo.

BARBER: A cold weather gale in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, which is characterized by driving ice spicules of such cutting violence as to cause bleeding from one's skin. It is essentially a vapor or low fog rising from the water in freezing weather.

BAR-BOUND: Said of a ship hindered by heavy seas on a bar.

BARDEN'S METHOD: An arrangement of shifting-boards for grain cargoes approved  by the New York Board of Underwriters and the British Board of Trade. It consists basically of a row of iron stanchions six to eight feet apart, depending upon thickness of boards used, placed so as to form uprights in a partition along a hold's midship fore-and-aft line. The stanchions are built to receive the boards with a minimum of trouble, while their main objective is to withstand pressure on either side of partition, i.e., from the bulk of grain as it tends to shift during heavy weather.

BARRATRY: An illegal or fraudulent act committed by the master or crew to the prejudice of the owner or charterer.

BATTEN DOWN: To securely cover a hatch with one or more tarpaulins that are secured by hatch battens and wedges.

BATTER: Referred to a ship's form, indicating topsides of hull having less breadth than that measured at the water-line.

BATTERING RAM: A general name for various types of rams used during the process of removing support from under a vessel during preparations for launching the ship.

BAYAMO: A violent blast of wind, accompanied by vivid lightning and heavy rain, from the Bight of Bayamo, in Cuba.

BEAM:1. The width of the ship, also called breadth. The beam is one of the principal

actions governing a ship's transverse stability, and therefore her behavior at sea. It also

has an important influence upon her resistance. Experience has proved that it is

advantageous from the standpoint of economical propulsion to use as large a beam as is practical and consistent with satisfactory qualities while maintaining the required displacement. 2. A transverse structural member of the ship's framing. Beams as joists support the deck against pressures that may be sustained from cargo or from masses of water falling thereon in heavy seas. As ties and struts they support and hold at fixed distances the ship's sides and check racking tendencies in the transverse section.

BEAR AWAY: To put the helm up and run off to leeward. To turn a ship's head away from the wind. Sometimes called to bear up.

BEAUFORT'S SCALE: See our page "Beaufort's Scale."

BELL: Unit used on shipboard to announce each half hour of a watch. The day is divided into 6 watches of 4 hours each, first half hours of which are, respectively, indicated on ship's bell by one stroke, or one bell; next half hour by two bells; and so on, eight bells corresponding to 4, 8 and 12 o'clock a.m. and p.m., thus:

1 bell   at 12:30; 4:30 and   8:30 o'clock

2 bells at   1:00; 5:00 and   9:00 o'clock

3 bells at   1:30; 5:30 and   9:30 o'clock

4 bells at   2:00; 6:00 and 10:00 o'clock:

5 bells at   2:30; 6:30 and 10:30 o'clock

6 bells at   3:00; 7:00 and 11:00 o'clock

7 bells at   3:30; 7:30 and 11:30 o'clock

8 bells at   4:00; 8:00 and 12:00 o'clock

BENEAPED: State of a ship when aground and unable to float at high water because rise of neap tide is insufficient. Also said of a ship unable to leave dock or harbor for want of sufficient water due to the same cause.

BESET: Said of a vessel when she is entirely surrounded by ice.

BETWEEN PERPENDICULARS: Distance between fore side of stem and after side of stern post when measured along summer loadline.

BILOXI MEAN GULF LEVEL: A tidal datum at Biloxi, Mississippi of 0.78 foot above mean level of the Mississippi at its mouths.

BITE: To take hold of, e.g., an anchor bites the ground.

BITUMEN CARRIER: A tanker specially designed for the transportation of bitumen in bulk. Special heating coils are installed in the tanks for raising the temperature of the cargo to about 270 degrees F., in order to keep the highly viscous bitumen in a manageable condition for loading and discharging. There are two longitudinal bulkheads, but only the center compartments which are much wider than usual are used for cargo. The wing tanks are used for ballast. - Also called Asphalt Carrier or Bitumen Tanker.

BLEEDER PLUG: Screw-plug in a ship's bottom for draining a double-bottom tank or bilges while in dry-dock.

BLOCKING OFF: The operation of wedging cargo tightly in a ship's hold, not completely filled, so that it will not shift in heavy weather.

BLUE PETER: A rectangular flag, blue with white square in the center, which is displayed to indicate that a ship is ready to proceed.

BOILER EFFICIENCY: The ratio of the heat actually transmitted to the water in the boiler to the total heat developed by the combustion of fuel.

BOILER FUEL CONSUMPTION: Rate is expressed in pounds per square foot of grate surface, heating surface, or indicated horse-power per hour; or in pounds or gallons per mile of distance steamed.

BOOT TOPPING: A protective composition painted round the hull of a ship to prevent corrosion between the load and waterlines.

BOARD MEASUREMENT FOOT: A timber/lumber term meaning the cubic measurement of a piece of lumber 1'x1'x1". Hence 1000 board feet occupy a space of

1000 divided by 12 = 83-1/3 cubic feet excluding broken stowage. (Also see "Standard" below).

BONA FIDE: In good faith.

BOTTOMRY BILL OR BOND: The pledge of a ship, or of her cargo, as security for repayment of money advanced to the master in an emergency, and of no avail if the ship be lost.

BOW THRUSTER: A propeller used to provide transverse thrust to the bow of the ship and to assist movement in confined spaces.

BRACKISH: Salty in a moderate degree; as fresh water adulterated by sea-water.

BREAKING BULK: The initial opening of hatches on entering port and the commencement of discharge.

BREASTHOOK: A place bracket joining the starboard and port stringers at the stern of the ship.

BREWING: Said of an apparent approach of bad weather as indicated by ominous dark clouds gathering on the horizon; as, a south-easter is brewing.

BRIGHT: Sharp; alert; watchful; as in keep a bright outlook.

BRINE: The ocean. Water strongly saturated or impregnated with salt; pickle; any strong saline solution. In a cargo or provision cooling system, fresh water impregnated by calcium chloride which is cooled and then circulated in coils provided in refrigerated spaces.

BROKEN BACKED: An excessively hogged ship.

BROKEN STOWAGE: Stowage of unusually bulky units of cargo which leaves broken up and unoccupied space in a hold, as, for example, that of locomotives, boilers, or irregularly shaped pieces of machinery. As a rule owners expect to be paid for lost space.

BUCKLE: To bend or become permanently distorted.

BULKHEAD: One of several upright partitions separating various compartments in a ship; a water-tight hull partition for preventing passage of oil, water, or fire from one part of the ship to amother. Main bulkheads serve as important strength and stiffening members in a ship's structure.

BUTTERWORTH SYSTEM: A method of cleaning oil tanks by two water-nozzles rotating in right angles. By cutting steam into the line, hot water at high pressure is forced against every part of a tank. Extensively used in oil-tankers.

BY THE HEAD: Said of a ship when she is floating deeper forward than aft.

CABLE-SHIP: A ship used for laying or picking up undersea telephone cables.

CABOTAGE: Coasting trade; navigation along the coast; coast pilotage.

CALIBRATE: To correct errors of scale readings of any graduated instrument, as to calibrate a radio direction-finder.

CANDY STOWAGE: A stevedore's term for stowage of goods that are perishable or adversely affected by heat.

CANTILEVER BEAM: Girder with one end unsupported, and depending on its girder strength to bear stresses on the unsupported end.

CARBON DIOXIDE: CO2 gas popularly known as carbonic-acid gas; an incombustible and irrespirable gas used as a refrigerant and as a fire-extinguishing agent on board ship. The CO2 refrigerating machine, of which there are several types, is largely used in the care of perishable cargo and provisions as a means of safely and efficiently cooling the brine (see also above) which is circulated through batteries of coils appropriately placed in cargo and store-room spaces. In extinguishing fire, supply of gas is opened to compartments containing the fire, which is tightly closed against ventilation, so that fire or combustion process is blanketed or smothered.

CARDINAL POINT: One of the four principal points of the compass - North, East, South and West.

CARGO BATTENS: Wood battens, portable or fixed, in ship's cargo hold(s) to keep cargo away from ship's side  and to allow necessary ventilation.

CARPE DIEM: Seize the day.

CARPE NOCTUM: Seize the night.

CARRIER'S LIEN: The right to retain possession of goods pending payment of overdue freight charges.

CAST: To throw; to cause to fall; to let down; to toss. To turn from the wind or cause a ship to fall off, especially in getting under way from an anchorage; to tack; to put about.

CASTAWAY: 1. To commit a willful act that causes a ship to perish, to be lost, or to make it necessary to abandon her. 2. A person (usually a stowaway) set adrift against his will. Although this practice is condemned by all Human Rights Organizations, many master's decide on this course of action, the main reason being that most ports refuse to accept stowaways.

CAUSA CAUSANS: The cause of a cause of a loss.

CAUSA PROXIMA: See "Proximate Clause" below.

CAVEAT EMPTOR: Let the buyer beware.

CDS: Construction Differential Subsidy: A direct subsidy paid to U.S. shipyards building U.S.-flag ships to offset high constructions costs in American shipyards, An amount of subsidy (up to 50%) is determined by estimates of construction cost differentials between U.S. and foreign shipyards.

CELSIUS: Centigrade thermometer devised by Swedish Astronomer Anders Celsius (1701-44), also known as Celsius scale; because of its accuracy, in use in the majority of countries in the world.

CENTER OF BUOYANCY: Center of immersion; center of gravity of water volume displaced by a ship.

CESSER CLAUSE: A clause contained in charter parties by which the charterer's liability under the C/P is to cease on shipment of cargo, the shipowner taking a lien on the cargo for freight, deadfreight and demurrage in discharging, and average. Also called Limitation of Liability Clause. (From the French cesser = to cede or withdraw.)

CHANGE OF TIDE: Reversal of tidal flow from ebb to flood, or vice versa; change from rise to a fall in height of water surface, as referred to a tidal datum mark.

CHARGES CLAUSE: A clause in a charter party stipulating which contracting party(ies) agrees to pay wharfage, harbor dues, pilotage, towage, customs duties and fees etc., incident to the chartered ship.

CHOCOLATERO: A brisk north-west wind in the Gulf of Mexico, so called from the resemblance of the sea during the breeze to a variety of chocolate confection; also called chocolate gale.

CHUBASCO: A violent thunder-squall on the west coast of Central-America.

CLASSIFICATION SOCIETIES: American Bureau of Shipping (New York, 1864); Bureau Veritas (Paris, 1828); Germanischer Lloyd (Hamburg, 1867); Teikoku Kaiji Kyokai (Tokyo, 1899); Lloyd's Register of Shipping (London, 1834); Norske Veritas (Oslo, 1864); Registro Italiano Navale (Genoa, 1861).

CLINOMETER: An instrument for measuring the angle of the ship's roll. It usually consists of a suspended pointer which indicates direction of the plumb line, as the ship rolls;often it is a graduated tube of glass containing a liquid in which a bubble marks the degree of roll.

COAMING STIFFENER: Horizontal bulb angle bar fitted to the coamings of the weatherdeck hatchways, and to which the hatch cleats are fixed.

COEFFICIENT: A numerical constant used as a comparative value, as in determining resistance and necessary powering of ships, considering immersed body dimension and speed required; a ratio or constant used as a multiplier to determine an area, volume, or a change in volume due to a physical change, as a coefficient of expansion.

COFFERDAM: Transverse double bulkheads at least three feet apart, extending from the keel to the upperdeck, to separate one part of the ship from another. Cofferdams are located at either side of the engine-room space and are used as collision bulkheads.

CO-LATITUDE: Complement of the latitude; or 90 degrees less latitude.

COLLISION BULKHEAD: The foremost transverse watertight bulkhead extending from the bottom to the freeboard or bulkhead deck. The principal object of this bulkhead is to keep water out of the forward hold in case of collision and to confine the damage to the forward section of the ship.

COMMON LAW LIEN: One's right to hold and retain another's property until a claim is paid; as, in shipping, for unpaid construction or repair charges to a ship. A master has a contract lien on cargo for freight, deadfreight, demurrage, general average contribution, and extraordinary expenses incurred in protecting cargo carried while goods are in his ship or temporarily landed in his custody.

COMPARTMENTATION: Partitioning of a ship's hull by tranverse, and, in some cases longitudinal bulkheads according to rules formulated at the International Conference for Safety at Sea. Depending upon number of watertight bulkheads, compartmentation is designed to ensure a ship remains afloat while any one or two compartments are flooded. (See also "Floodable Length" below)

CONCEALMENT: Deliberately, or negligently, withholding from an insurer relevant information that he would normally unable to obtain.

CONDEMNED: Said of a ship when pronounced unfit for further service; or of a ship and her cargo adjudged to be forfeited for cause, or as decreed by a prize court.

CONSTRUCTIVE TOTAL LOSS: A right of a maritime assured to claim a total loss on the policy because either 1. the property has been lost and recovery is unlikely; or 2. an actual loss total loss appears to be unavoidable; or 3. to prevent an actual total loss it would be necessary to incur an expenditure which would exceed the saved value of the property. To establish a claim for constructive total loss the insured must abandon what remains of the property to underwriters and give notice of his intention to do so.

CONTINUATION CLAUSE: An insurance time clause providing for the continuation of a hull policy beyond the natural expiry date. The ship is covered at a pro rata premium until arrival, and for up to 30 days after.

COUNTER GUARANTEE: An undertaking given by a cargo insured to an underwriter agreeing to reimburse the underwriter in the event that the issue of the underwriter's guarantee to pay a general average contribution results in payment in excess of the amount properly due under the policy.

CROSS SEA: A confused irregular sea often running contrary to the wind. It is frequently caused by the shifting winds of a cyclonic storm, or in a strait where wind and tide are in conflicting directions.

CROSS SET: Said of current effect in a direction at or about right angles to a ship's course.

CRUISING RADIUS: Expressed in miles, distance a ship is capable of covering at normal speed without re-fueling or re-storing; also called steaming range.

CUI BONO: Whom does it benefit?

CUM GRANO SALIS: With a grain of salt.

DAILY RATE: Referred to a chronometer, denotes amount of gain or loss in 24 hours, which change in error of a good instrument is nearly constant within ordinary ranges of temperature, and, generally is not more than 2 or 3 seconds.

DAMAGES FOR DETENTION: A chartering term which applies to damages for delay of the ship contrary to the terms of the charter party, even when the laydays are not exceeded or where demurrage is stipulated for a limited period. It is to be distinguished from demurrage which is compensation at a fixed rate for exceeding laydays.

DAYS OF GRACE: Time allowed, beyond a time and date specified during which no action will be taken for non-fulfilment of a contract. In the case of money bills the usual period is three days.

DAVITS: Two radial cranes on a ship which hold the lifeboats, They are constructed in such a way as to lower and lift the lifeboats the easiest way possible and are also unobstructed in case of emergency.

.

DEAD RECKONING: Calculations of a ship's position by consideration of distance logged, courses steered and estimated leeway.

DECLINOMETER: An instrument for scientifically measuring the declination of a magnetic needle.

DECLIVITY OF WAYS: The slope or downward inclination of a shipyard launching ways, which is, generally 5/8th to 3/4th inch per foot. These days the majority of ships are build in permanent drydocks which are flooded upon completion of the ship's construction.

DEFEASIBLE INTEREST: An insurable interest that ceases during the transit of the cargo.

DEFICIENCY CLAUSE: A clause used in the grain trade by which it is agreed that freight is paid on delivered weight.

DEMISE CHARTER: A demise charter is an agreement by which the charterer becomes for the time being practically the owner of the hired ship. He appoints the captain, engages the crew and pays their wages. He provisions and equips the ship and becomes liable for all running charges. He pays all disbursements and keeps hull and machinery in efficient order. Usually. the actual owner makes no restrictions as to the trading limits or cargoes carried. The principal obligations of a demise charterer are to pay the owner an agreed sum in the event that the ship is lost and to redeliver her in the same condition as when chartered, ordinary wear and tear excluded. - Also known as bare-hull charter and bare-boat charter.

DERELICT: A ship permanently, voluntarily and willfully cast away at sea by its owner. Thereafter such property belongs to the first person taking possession of it, excepting that, in the case of a ship improperly abandoned by her Master and not relinquished by her owner, salvage services alone, as determined by a court, may be claimed by the finder and salvor. - An abandoned or forsaken ship.

DEVIATION CLAUSE: A charter party clause enabling a ship to call at ports other than the intended port of discharge.

DREADING: A chartering term which means that at loading port the charterers are given the option of shipping general cargo, charterers paying all expenses over and above a bulk cargo at loading port; freight payable is to be equivalent to what would be paid for a full bulk cargo. - Also called dreadage.

DRIFT ANGLE: The difference between course steered and course made good when due to the action of a current.

DUAL VALUATION CLAUSE: A hull clause contained in maritime insurance policies. Its purpose is to give one value, a low one, for total loss settlements and a second one, a higher one, for partial loss and damage claims. It is based on the theory that when the value of tonnage is low and underwriters' premium reduced, repair expenses do not follow this level. On the other hand, if insurance is effected on a value higher than the current market price of the ship, the owners receive an inadequate return for their money in the event of a total loss.By charging a total loss only premium on the lower value, and a partial damage premium on the higher value, a fair average for both parties is maintained.

DUMB BARGE: A barge with no means of propulsion.

EARTH: Third planet out from the Sun. Distance from Sun varies between 94.5 and 91.4 million miles. Rotates on axis in 23h 56m 04s mean solar time. Revolves round the Sun in 365.2422 mean solar days. The Earth is an oblate spheroid with a polar diameter of 7899.7 miles and an equatorial diameter of 7926.5 miles.

ECHO SOUNDING: Ascertainment of water depth by use of an echo sounder.

ENTREPORT: A place of transshipment.

ERRARE HUMANUM EST: To err is human.

ESCALATOR CLAUSE: A clause allowing for adjustment of the insured value in certain non-maritime material damage insurances.

EXCELSIOR: Ever upward!

EXCESS: An amount that is deducted from a partial loss before the claim is applied to the policy.

EXCESS POINT: Term used in excess of loss reinsurance to determine the point at which the reinsurer comes on risk.

EXCESS VALUE INSURANCE: A policy effected to cover the shipowner's liabilities attaching to the difference between the insured value and the contributory value where the latter is higher than the former. Without this such excess liabilities would be uninsured.

EX LIBRIS: From the books of (from the library of).

EXPLOSIVES: Laws governing carriage of explosives in merchant ships are in force in most countries. For instance U.S. navigation laws contain such legislation with specific regulations for packaging and stowing this kind of cargo, including provisions for magazines specially constructed to accommodate more dangerous types of such cargoes, such as bombs, detonating fuses and primers, dynamite, fire-works, gun-powder, mines. torpedoes, hand grenades etc.

EX POST FACTO: After the fact.

FAC/OBLIG: Facultative/obligatory. A reinsurance term for a contract where the reassured can select which risks he cedes to the reinsurer, but the the reinsurer is obliged to accept all cessions made.

FAHRENHEIT: Thermometer invented by Gabriel Daniel Fahrenheit, German physicist (1686-1736), and still commoly used in the United States and some other English-speaking countries. It's scale indicates zero as that temperature observed in equal mixture of snow and common salt; 32 degrees as that at which fresh water begins to freeze; 212 degrees as that at which fresh water begins to boil at sea level; the two last-named being usually termed freezing-point and boiling point, respectively.

FALL ASTERN: To get astern of another ship by reduction of speed.

FASHION PLATE: Ship side plate at end of well deck. Usually has an end that is swept in a curve.

FATA MORGANA: A mirage sometimes observed in the Strait of Messina, so named because it was once regarded by seamen and local coast dwellers as the work of the fairy Morgana.

FATIGUE: Deterioration in strength of a metal due to stress, variations in temperature, vibration and other factors.

FEELING THE WAY: Proceeding slowly while making port, or navigating in narrow waters, during thick weather, taking extra precautions, including frequent echo soundings, radio bearings and, where possible, placing additional lookouts.

FEND OFF: To push or hold off, as in keeping a boat from striking or chafing against a wharf or dock.

FIRE AND BILGE PUMP: A service pump intended for discharge of bilge-water and for supplying a force of sea-water to ship's fire line system, as required.

FLAME SAFETY LAMP: For testing the oxygen content of atmosphere in tanks or closed-in compartments preparatory to sending persons into such spaces for cleaning purposes, repairs, etc. A lamp designed to burn therein as long as supply of oxygen remains greater than 16%, 21% being content of normal air. Such lamps indicate an explosive atmosphere as well as a deficiency in oxygen, and all maritime countries require at least two of them as equipment on their ships.

FLOODABLE LENGTH: Maximum length of hull space which may be flooded without causing the ship to sink. Such length differs with location in the fore-and-aft line. What is called the subdivision factor, multiplied by the floodable length, gives the maximum length permitted at that location. This is known as the permissible length, or maximum distance allowed between the water-tight bulkheads for that locality. Subdivision, or permissible factor is determined according to rules prescribed at the International Conferences on Safety of Life at Sea. As defining the limit to which a ship may be immersed in the event of uncontrolled entry of water throughout her floodable length, the margin line is drawn at least 3 inches below the upper surface of the bulkhead deck (that deck to which the water-tight bulkheads extend from ship's bottom) at ship's side.

FLOOD PIPES: An arrangement of pipes for flooding a magazine with sea-water; flow is controlled by flood-cocks.

FLYING LIGHT: Said of a ship when in ballast and her draft marks are well above the water line.

FOLLOWING SEA: Sea that runs, approximately, in direction of ship's course.

FORBES' LOG: Consists, basically, of a manganese bronze tube that can be protuded through bottom of ship at a position near her turning point. Bottom of tube carries a vane that rotates as the ship moves through water, sending an electric signal every 0.01 of a mile travelled. These signals operate the 'Distance Recorder.'

FORCE MAJEURE: An occurrence outside human control, e.g., earthquakes, hurricanes etc.A superior power.Also called an act of God, although God probably had little to do with it.

FOREFOOT: The lower part in the stem of a ship that curves to meet the keel.

FORGE: To force or impel onward; as, to forge a ship through ice. Usually with ahead, to move forward, as a ship by her own momentum, or as in passing another.

FORE PEAK: The space between the forward collision bulkhead and the stem plating.

FORE WIND: A favoring breeze or one that sends a ship on her way.

FORTES FORTUNA JUVAT: Fortune favors the brave.

FOUNDER: A ship fills with water and sinks.

FREEBOARD: This is the height between the deck line and the Plimsoll (or Load) line.

FREE OF AVERAGE: A policy term excluding partial loss claims.

FREE OF CAPTURE AND SEIZURE: Clause included in war risks exclusion clause to relieve insurers of liability for loss sustained by attack, capture or seizure made by a belligerent or enemy.

FREE SHIP: A ship of a nation that is neutral during a war.

FREIGHT ABANDONMENT: A term in a hull policy whereby the underwriter waives his right to freight earned or to be earned by a ship that is the subject of constructive total loss claim.

FREIGHT CONTINGENCY: The insurable interest of a consignee who has paid freight on cargo when delivered over the ship's side, but where the cargo is still subject to peril until it arrives at the final destination.

FRESH WATER ALLOWANCE: Amount that a ship's load line may be submerged when loading in water of less density than that of salt water.

FRUSTATION OF ADVENTURE: A circumstance whereby a ship or cargoes cannot reach the intended destination but remains undamaged and are not lost to the owner.This peril is normally excluded from policies covering war risks.

FULL OUT RYE TERMS: Where rye or other grain is purchased on these terms the price is paid on the full out-turn weight from the carrying ship at the port of discharge. (See also Rye Terms below.)

FUMIGATION: Destruction of vermin, insects or bacteria by application of fumes, gases or vapor.

GAIN UPON: To advance nearer to, or lessen the distance separating one ship from another when both are steering the same, or nearly same, course.

GALE: See our page "Beaufort's Scale."

GALVANOMETER: Named for Prof. Luigi Galvani (1737-1798) Italian discoverer of dynamical or current electricity, apparatus or instrument for detecting presence and direction of an electric current, also its intensity, by the deflections of a magnetic needle. On board ship the marine galvanometer  is so constructed as to be unaffected by a ship's motion and is protected by a magnetic screen, which usually is a soft iron box or case.

GARBOARD STRAKE: The shell plating of a ship that is next to the keelplate.

GATT: General Agreements on Tariffs and Trade.

GEOGRAPHICAL MILE: One minute of longitude at the equator or 6087.1 feet.

GLARE: Brightness appearing in the horizon caused by reflected light from sea breakers or ice.

GNOMONIC CHART: Used for navigation in high latitudes or in great circle sailing, chart in which arcs of great circles appear in straight lines.

GONIOMETER: (From the Greek gonia = angle) An instrument for measuring angles; a maritime direction finder.

GORCE: Obstruction in a river preventing passage of ships. Also, a whirlpool.

GREENLAND: Island of the Arctic region lying northeastward of North-America. It has an area of 840,000 square miles and extends northward from Latitude 60 degrees, in Longitude 44 degrees W., to Latitude 83-1/2 degrees, or some 1400 miles, with greatest east and west breadth of 750 miles.

GROUNDING CLAUSE: A hull clause in maritime insurance policies, which states that grounding in certain rivers, canals and bars is not deemed a stranding. Buenos Aires, Argentina and St. John, NB are examples.

GROUND SWELL: A sudden swell preceding a gale, which rises along the shore, often in fine weather and when the sea is beyond it is calm. A swell remaining after a gale.

GROWLER: A low-lying mass of floe ice which is not easily seen by approaching ships owing to its dark indigo color. It is therefore a menace to shipping. It is usually caused by the capsizing and disintegration of an iceberg.

GULF STREAM: The most remarkable of all ocean currents.Through the combined trade-winds generated by the North and South Equatorial Currents which continues westward through the Caribbean Sea and banks up, as it were, in the Gulf of Mexico, or body giving the Stream its name. Its formative stage as an ocean river begins in the  Florida Straits midway between Key West and Havana, Cuba, thence turning northeastward and closing in with the Florida coast, where, about 30 miles southeast of Miami, it is joined by a portion of the North Equatoriall drift flowing along the north coasts of Puerto Rico, Haiti and Cuba. It continues northward to Latitude 31 degrees, thence northeastward, roughly following the contour of land to Cape Hatteras, where it begins to widen out and lay E.N.E., finally diffusing itself in the broad Atlantic some 250 miles south of Noca Scotia. The Stream is an indigo-blue color and its edges thus sharply defined against ordinary sea-water. Its temperature during August reaches 88 degrees F. off Florida and about 82 degrees F. in mid-winter, and due to its velocity of flow, suffers little loss of heat up to its arrival at Cape Hatteras. Between Key West and Havana its mean surface velocity is 2-1/4 knots; off Fowey Rock, Florida, 3-1/2 knots; off Cap Hatteras 2 knots; variations in which rates at different hours of the day are being accounted for is because of the lunar tidal wave. Maximum velocity is considered generally as ocurring about 3 hours after the Moon's transit. Average width of the Stream from Florida to Cape Hatteras is 40 miles; off Nova Scotia it has spread to about 250 miles.The influence of the Gulf Stream in raising  North Atlantic temperatures and the general easterly current driven by prevailing westerly winds toward Europe's northwestern shores account for the comparatively mild climate from France to the far north of Norway.

If by a freak of nature, the Gulf Stream millennia ago had continued on a northerly course along the North American coast and had ended up in the Arctic Ocean between Canada and Greenland, New York, Boston and Montreal would enjoy the same year round mild climate that prevails between Madrid and the south of France and northwestern Europe would be a wasteland and as uninhabitable as northern Canada. Yes, the Gulf Stream is Nature's greatest gift to the Northwestern Europeans. I would even go so far and say European evolution and culture would not have evolved the way it has without the Gulf Stream.

HANDINESS: Quality or degree of satisfactory maneuverability exhibited by ship under action of the propeller or in sailing.

HARD AND FAST: Said of a ship when she is firmly on the rocks, a shoal or a beach.

HATCH COAMING: Raised wall of steel around a hatch.. Raises hatch covers above level of main deck and carries fittings for securing hatch covers.

HATCHWAY: Hatch leading to another deck and provided with stairs or a ladder.

HAUL ROUND: When said of wind, it means to veer.

HAWSER: Large strong rope used for towing purposes and for securing or mooring ships. Hawsers are now mostly made of steel.

HEAD SEA: A sea in which waves run directly against the heading of a ship, so that a ship must rise over or cut through each wave. Their effect depends upon their height, form, and speed; sometimes they are steep, quick and irregular, so that a ship is caught by a second before it has recovered from the first wave.

HEAVE IN STAYS: To bring a ship to the wind when tacking.

HEAVE TO: To bring a ship's head near the wind and to remain stopped in that position by working the engines, as may be necessary.

HIGH AND DRY: State of a grounded ship when sea level is below her keel as tide ebbs.

HOGGED: A hogged ship is one that is held amidship with both ends sagging lower than the center.

HORSE LATITUDES: Calm area between trade wind belt and "Westerlies" in Atlantic Ocean. Approximately between Lat. 30 and 35 degrees North.

HORSE POWER: Usually abbreviated HP or hp, unit of power equal to that required to lift 33,000 lbs. one foot in one minute, or work = 33,000 foot-pounds per minute (=550 ft.lbs. per second). The corresponding metric equivalent is 75 kilogram-meters per second, or 32,500 ft.-lbs per minute. It is universally understood as work of which an average horse is capable on a short pull, the animal being credited with ability to constantly work at rate of 22,000 ft.-lbs. per minute.

HUMBOLDT CURRENT: A continuation of a north-easterly drift from the Antarctic region setting along the coasts of Chile and Peru. Discovered by German Naturalist Alexander von Humboldt (1769-1859.)

ICE BLINK: A glow on the horizon caused by the reflection of sunlight from the surface of an ice pack or floating mass of ice or from land covered with ice. Also called Ice Sky.

INCH-TREE MOMENT: Usually abbreviated I.T.M., a moment to change a ship's trim, i.e., to increase the difference in draft at stem from that of stern by 1 inch.

INCHMAREE CLAUSE: A clause, in a policy of maritime insurance to cover damage or loss of ship when caused by latent defects not discoverable by due diligence.

INDUCED MAGNETISM: The magnetic properties included in the hull of steel ships as result, according to well known laws, of contact with Earth's magnetic field. During process of ship's building, a component of this induction is rendered more or less permanent by the hammering the hull is subjected to, while upon ship being floated and headed in another direction, its counterpart is found to be of a transient character. Subsequent compass adjustment, to be reasonably successful, must deal seperately with each component.

INERT GAS SYTEM: A system of preventing any explosion in the cargo tanks of tankers by replacing the cargo, as it is pumped out, by an inert gas, often the exhaust of the ship's engines. Gas-freeing must be carried out subsequently if crewmen have to enter the empty tanks.

INHERENT VICE: In cargo parlance it denotes an innate tendency of certain cargo to self-damage through spontaneous heating, wasting, rotting, fermentation, etc., with sequential injury to other cargo stowed in the same compartment. Copra, certain nuts and seeds, dye-stuffs, onions, molasses, green hemp and some kinds of bituminous coal are included in goods known to possess this fault. It is the shipper's lawful duty to inform the shipowner of any knowledge he may possess regarding a particular cargo's inherent vice and the treatment such cargo requires, in order to lessen or prevent any damage arising from this source.

IN PERSONAM: Legal action against a person.

IN REM: Legal action against an object, e.g., action aganst a ship.

INSTITUTE WARRANTIES: See our page "Institude Warranties."

INTEREST POLICY: One whereby definite or definable interests are insured in contradiction to the wager policy.

INTERNATIONAL NAUTICAL MILE: Unit adopted by the International Hydrographic Bureau and having a value of 1852 meters. This length - 6076 ft. 2 in. - is equivalent to one minute of Latitude at 44-1/2 degrees N. & S.

INTERNATIONAL OIL POLLUTION COMPENSATION FUND: An inter-governmental agency designed to pay compensation for oil pollution damage, exceeding the shipowner's liability. It was created by an IMO convention in 1971 and started its operations in Otober 1978. Contributions come mainly from the oil companies of the member states.

INTERNATIONAL RADIO SILENCE: Three minutes of radio silence on the frequency of 500 kilocycles (distress frequency) commencing 15 and 45 minutes after each hour during which all ship's radio stations listen on that frequency for distress signals.

INTERNATIONAL WATERWAY: All parts of a waterway which in its course is naturally navigable to and from the sea separates or traverses different countries.

IN TOTO: Altogether.

IRRESPECTIVE OF DAMAGE: When shown in a policy this means that particular average is not subject to the franchise expressed in the standard S.G. policy form.

JASON CLAUSE: Named from a U.S. court case involving general average on the S.S."Jason", a bill of lading or contract of carriage clause intended to protect shipowners in the event of cargo interests claiming damage or loss due to unseaworthiness, latent defect, or other causes not discoverable by diligent effort on part of the ship's owner. In effect, its aim is to relieve the shipowner from any liability for cargo losses for which he is not responsible, and requires that cargo, with ship and freight, to contribute in general average following loss laid to fault of the ship but caused by no lack of diligence by the shipowner to provide a ship seaworthy in all respect. Through the Harter Act the Jason clause and New Jason clause became integral parts of all charter parties.

JERQUE NOTE: A document given to the master by Customs after the inward cargo is discharged and the vessel has been rummaged.

JETTISON: The deliberate throwing overboard of cargo or fittings for the preservation of a ship in peril.

JONES ACT: Merchant Marine Act of 1920, section 27, requiring that all U.S. domestic waterborne trade be carried by U.S.-flag, U.S.-built, and U.S.-manned vessels.

JOULE'S EQUIVALENT OF HEAT: Expresses the relationship between heat energy and mechanical work as 778-foot pounds; being equal to heat required to raise one pound of water through one degree Fahrenheit.The British Thermal Unit assumes 762-foot pounds.

JUPITER: Largest planet of the solar system, being 1300 times larger than Earth and 317 times heavier. According to latest discoveries Jupiter is orbited by 61 Moons. Its orbit lies between Mars and Saturn. Its mean distance from the Sun is 478 million miles and is thus fives times farther from the Sun than the Earth.

JUSTICIA OMNIBUS: Justice for all.

KAMCHATKA CURRENT: A branch of the Kuroshio current which separates from it in Latitude 40 degrees N. near Longitude 146 degrees E., flowing northeast in the direction of the Aleutian Islands at about 18 miles a day.

KEEP HER AWAY: Injunction to helmsman to keep ship's head from coming to close to the wind.

KEEP HER SO: Order to helmsman to keep ship's head on her heading when the order is given.

KIEL CANAL: (Formerly known as Kaiser-Wilhelm-Canal). One of the three most important canals in the world. Named for the city at its northeastern entrance, it runs through the German state of Schleswig-Holstein in a northeasterly direction from the mouth of the river Elbe at the North Sea to Kiel Bay in the southwestern corner of the Baltic Sea. Its length is 53 nautical miles, breadth 341 feet, depth 37 feet and passing height under bridges 137.8 feet. Greatest dimensions of ships accomodated: length 1033 ft.; breadth 131 ft.; draft 31 ft.; masts above water 131 ft. Maximum allowed speed 15 km per hour, or 8.1 knots. Passage usually takes 7-8 hours.

KNOT: Nautical unit of velocity representing a speed of 6080 ft. per hour, 101.3 ft. per  minute, 1.69 ft. per second. One meter per second = 1.944 knots. It is the only unit of velocity in existence. Name is derived from the knots in the common log line.

KNUCKLE: The angle formed by the shell plating at the intersection of the counter and the upper part of the stern at or just below the deck.

KOKU: A Japanese shipping measurement unit, equal to10 cubic feet.

KUROSHIO: Ocean current running eastnortheast from southeast coast of Japan towards the American coast. Rate and direction vary with prevailing winds. Also known as Japan current.

LAGAN: Cargo thrown overboard from a sinking ship but buoyed so that it may be recovered later.

LAID: (Not what you think!) - Generally, a combining word connoting a setting, condition, state or form,as in laid the keel;was laid on the other tack;cable-laid; the ship was laid up.

LAPSUS LINGUAE: A slip of the tongue.

LATENT DEFECT: A defect in the construction of a ship or engine that is not readily discernible to a competent person carrying out a normal inspection. Discovery of a latent defect does not give rise to a claim on the ordinary hull policy, but damage caused thereby is usually covered. One clause of the Carriage of Goods by Sea Act, provides that neither ship nor carrier shall be responsible for damage or loss arising or resulting from "latent defects not discoverable by due diligence."

LENGTH OF WAVE: Usually measured as the distance between two successive crests, which is also the distance between lowest point of two successive troughs. The length is usually expressed in feet.

LETTER OF INDEMNITY: A letter given by the shippers/charterers to the shipowner when cargo put on board are not in good condition, holding the shipowner harmless in respect of any claim the receivers may make. In exchange for this letter Clean Bills of Lading are issued. Letters of Indemnity are frowned upon by underwriters since essentially they consider the issuance of such a letter a fraud committed on an innocent Bill of Lading holder (the receiver/buyer of the cargo). As a rule shipping lines only agree to the issuance of a Letter of Indemnity to their very best customers whom they know to pay for any claims that may result.

LIMBER HOLE: A drainage hole in a ship.

LIMITED LIABILITY: A term which when used in connection with collision cases refers to the value of the ship after the accident, plus the earnings for the voyage, collected or collectable.

LIMIT PER BOTTOM: The maximum amount of cargo insured by a policy in any one ship.

LIST: The leaning or inclination of a ship. A ship is said to be listed when she has found equilibrium in any position other than upright, whether owing to an unsymmetric distribution of weights or to any peculiarity of form. Listing is a static condition, as distinguished from heeling, which dynamic.

LITTORAL ZONE: The interval on a sea coast between highest and lowest water marks.

LOCATION CLAUSE: A maritime insurance cargo clause attaching to the interest before shipment in the even of an "open cover." It limits the liability of the underwriters when several shipments have accumulated in one particular place and they are destroyed or damaged by a peril covered in the policy.

LOFTIN, FRED: Best transportation manager in Canada bar none. Participated in the formulation of many of Canada's transportation policies in place today. Unmatched as a

Chartering Manager for the United Cooperatives of Ontario.

LOGGER: Name given in the Netherlands and Germany to a ketch-rigged fishing boat used for lining and drifting in the North Sea.

LONDON CLAUSE: A bill of lading clause in common use which entitles the shipowners to discharge cargo onto or into a barge hired by them immediately on arrival, at the receivers risk and expense, however, these days the clause is ususally rejected by the charterers.

LONGITUDE BY DEAD RECKONING: The longitude deduced from the course and distance sailed since the last observation. Also called longitude by account.

LONGITUDE LEFT: The longitude from which a ship has departed.

LONGITUDINAL STRENGTH: That quality which prevents a ship from breaking in two when at sea exposed to hogging and sagging stresses. Longitudinal strength is provided by the hull or ship girder.

LONG SEA: A uniform motion of long waves, resulting from a steady continuance of the wind from the same direction.

LOOK UP: Said of a ship sailing close-hauled when, by the shifting of the wind it is able to steer a course closer to the point of destination.

LOOMING: A phenomenom due to refraction, by which images of objects which are below the horizon may be observed.

LOST OR NOT LOST CLAUSE: 1. A maritime insurance policy which entitles the insured to claim for loss or damage which occurred before the policy was taken out, provided neither party was aware of the loss or damage when the policy was drawn up. 2. A bill of lading and charter party clause which states that freight is due and considered earned even if the cargo is lost.

LOSS OF SPECIE: A change in the character of the cargo which, in insurance terms, is effectively an actual total loss.

LOST DAY: Day ignored when crossing Date Line from west longitude to east longitude.

LOW: Area of low barometric pressure. Cyclonic depression.

LULL: Temporary cessation of wind force.

LUNATION: The period of time taken by the Moon to complete one journey around the Earth. The mean value is 29 days 12 hours 44 minutes 2.87 seconds.

LYING TO: Said of a ship when stopped and lying near the wind in heavy weather.

MADE GOOD: The sums paid to a general fund to make good losses incurred by the General Average Act. See our page " G.A. & Salvage."

MAELSTROM: Famous whirlpool off the coast of Norway in the Lofoten Islands between the islands of Mockenaso and Mockeno. Actually it is far removed from its exaggerated character ascribed to its horrors in fable; particularly its oldtime fanciful capacity for drawing ships to destruction as described by Edgar Allan Poe.

MAGELLAN, FERDINAND (1480-1521): I consider him the greatest explorer of all time. Credited with first circumnavigation of the Earth. Discovered (1520) the after him named Strait of Magellan between the Island of Tierra del Fuego and the southern tip of South-America, noted for its strong tidal current. A year later, in 1521, Magellan was killed by natives in Mactan, an island in the Philippines.

MAGNA CUM LAUDE: With great honor.

MAGNETIC DECLINATION: The difference in direction between true north as determined by the Earth's axis of rotation and magnetic north as determined by the Earth's magnetism. Also called variation. The variation is designated as east or positive when the magnetic needle is deflected to the east of true north, and as west or negative when the deflection is to the west of true north.

MAGNETIC STORM: Large-scale disturbance of the magnetic elements occurring simultaneously over the whole of the Earth's surface and lasting for a period varying from a few hours to a few days. Magnetic storms usually occur concurrently with major eruptions of Sun flares emanating from Sun spots.

MAKING LIGHT: Making lights are those which the navigator first sights on approaching land. Also called landfall light.

MARE CLAUSUM: Legal term used to denote a sea subject to the jurisdiction of a particular nation which, under certain circumstances, may prohibit ships from sailing in these waters. A closed sea.

MARE LIBERUM: Legal term which applies to the high seas on which ships of all nations have equal rights.

MARGIN PLATE: Plating forming side of double-bottom ballast tank.

MARINER'S MEASURE:

6 feet = 1 fathom (1)

100 fathoms = 1 cable (2)

10 cables = 1 mile

6080 feet = 1 mile (3)

3 miles = 1 league.

MARITIME: "PERTAINING TO THE SEA, TO NAVIGATION, TO SHIPPING AND COMMERCE."

MARITIME DECLARATION: An extract of the ship's logbook sworn before a notary public by the ship's captain.

MARITIME PERIL: A peril consequent on, or incidental to, the navigation of the sea, that is to say, a peril of the seas, fire, war, pirates, thieves, capture, seizure, jettison, barratry, and other perils either of like kinds or which may be designated by the maritime policy.

MARRIED GEAR: Gear used for handling cargo with two falls brought together and terminating in a single hook.

MATERIAL CIRCUMSTANCE: Any circumstance that would affect a prudent underwriter in deciding whether or not to accept an insurance contract and in assessing the correct premium to charge.

MAYDAY: From the French "m'aidez" = Help me. The international spoken radiotelephony signal of distress.

MEA CULPA: My fault.

MEAN DRAFT: The average of the drafts measured at the bow and the stern.

MEAN NEAP TIDE: The average height of high water above chart datum.

MEMORANDUM CLAUSE: A maritime insurance cargo clause which constitutes a limitation of the underwriter's liability in connection with claims for particular average, by exempting him from such claims either absolutely or under certain percentages unless the ship is stranded. "See also our Page G.A. & Salvage."

MERCATOR CHART: Projection of the Earth's surface in which all meridians are made parallel and the latitude scale is increased in the same ratio as the expansion of the longitude scale in the area. Distances are measured by minutes of latitude in area considered. The distortion in northern latitudes is very great. The reason is, that, when the German cartographer Martin Waldseemueller (1470-1521) made use of an account of the travels of the Italian explorer Amerigo Vespucci, the discoverer of the north-coast of South-America, to publish in 1507 the rough map and globe on which he named the New World America in Vespucci's honor. This was possible because the Spanish Crown had kept Columbus' discovery a secret for 15 years. Later the Belgian mathematician and geographer Gerhard Mercator (1512-94) enlarged on Waldseemueller's World Map by introducing a real World Map projection to aid navigators. However, the distortion in latitudes remained, and in Atlases remain so to this day. It has the weird effect that the island of Greenland appears twice as large as Argentina, when in fact Argentina is twice the size of Greenland. Only on a globe can you ascertain the correct dimensions of all continents and land masses.

MERIDIAN: Semi-circle of terrestrial sphere passing between the North- and South-Pole. All positions on this line have noon at the same instant, and the same longitude.

MIDSHIP FRAME: Largest transverse frame of a ship.

MOHN EFFECT: The erratic transmission of sound emitted by fog signals. It is due to a difference in density of the atmosphere at different points through which sound travels.

MOORING ANCHOR: An anchor used for holding in place a mooring buoy to which ships may secure in lieu of anchoring. They serve also as anchors for buoys marking a channel or shoal. These anchors should not project above the bottom, and therefore have only one fluke, or are mushroom anchors.

MOVABLES: A term used in maritime insurance to denote any movable, tangible property which would not, ordinarily, be included under the terms "cargo" or "goods." Money, valuable securities, and other documents come under this heading.

MUELLER'S RULES: Term coined by Actor and Columnist Sir Peter Ustinov, after the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, when H. Mueller calculated a new formula by which the medal standings should be counted on a per capita basis for each country, instead of the countries with the most medals being in the top tier.

NAUTICAL MILE: The standard unit of measure for maritime navigation and for work with the Mercator Chart. The Nautical Mile is 6080 feet, being the length of one minute of arc of a meridian or of the equator.

NAVIGATION LIGHTS: The light any ship under way must exhibit between sunset and sunrise, so that her classification, position and course can be identified.

NEGLIGENCE CLAUSE: A maritime insurance clause covering a shipowner against loss of freight directly caused by: 1. accidents in loading,discharging or handling of cargo;  negligence of master, engineers, crew and pilots; 3. explosions, bursting of boilers, 2. breakage of shafts, or any latent defect in the hull or engine, provided that such a loss has not resulted from want of due diligence by the owner or managers of the ship.

NEUTRAL EQUILIBRIUM: When the metacenter and center of gravity of a ship coincide, the metracentric height is zero and the ship when slightly inclined will not tend to move from the inclined position. The ship is then said to be in a state of neutral equilibrium. Put another way, in that state of flotation the ship will have neither a righting nor capsizing moment if moved.

NEW FOR OLD: When new material or parts replace damaged material or parts during repairs to a ship, underwriters are entitled to make deduction from the claim as a result of betterment but they waive this right in practice. Average adjusters may apply this principle in general average for ships 15 years of age and older.

NIGHT EFFECT: In radio engineering a term applied to difficulty experienced in obtaining accurate radio bearings from about half an hour before sunset until after sunrise.

NIPPED: Said of a ship when pressed by ice on both sides.

NO CURE - NO PAY: The principle of pure salvage whereby the salvor who fails in his task to save the ship receives NO REWARD for his efforts.

NOLENS VOLENS: Whether willing or not.

NOLI ME TANGERE: Let nothing touch me (do not interfere).

NONCUMULATIVE CLAUSE: A maritime insurance hull clause which states that damages sustained by the ship during each voyage are to be kept distinct and not aggregated.

NON COMPOS MENTIS: Of unsound mind.

NON SEQUITUR: A statement that does not follow logically from what preceded it.

NORTH ATLANTIC TRACKS: Seasonal routes used since 1891 by the principal transatlantic shipping lines at the time and still in use today, in order to provide safety from the danger of ice, fog, and collision with fishing boats on the Grand Banks of Newfoundland: Route C, northerly from Sept. 1 to Jan. 31. Route B, northerly from Feb. 1 to Aug. 31. Route A, the southernmost route, used only when ice menaces Track B.

The purpose of these tracks is that one lane or strip of the ocean is used for westbound ships and another for eastbound ships, thereby reducing the danger of collision in fog and also giving additional security in cases of wreck or disaster. The greatest width, 20 to 25 miles, is given where most fog is expected.Tragically, the Captain of the S/S TITANIC, in order to win the Blue Band, chose Route B, despite warnings that icebergs could be expected on this track and he should have sailed across on Track A, when his magnificent ship hit that iceberg about 280 miles south of Newfoundland on April 4th,

1912 with the loss of 1600 lives.

NOTHING OFF: Cautionary order to a helmsman to keep a ship up to the wind, as in sailing close-hauled; or, in steering a course directly for an object, to keep the ship from swinging off to leeward.

NOTICE OF ABANDONMENT: The formal surrender by the owner to underwriters of the policy of an insured ship that is a constructive total loss. It is a prerequisite to payment of the insurance.

NOT TO INURE CLAUSE: A clause in a cargo policy stating that the policy shall not inure to the benefit of owners or other bailee. The intention is to deny the right of the owners to benefit from the insurance when they claim such rights in the Contract of Carriage.

NUNC AUT NUNQUAM: Now or never.

OATH OF ARRIVAL: The oath of truth of the statement of the ship's manifest by the master on arrival in port to the custom's officer who boards the ship.

OBLIQUE ANGLE: An acute or obtuse angle; opposed to a right angle.

OBSTRUCTION: In a chart, it signifies something below chart datum that is a possible menace to navigation.

OCCLUDED DEPRESSION: Atmospheric depression in which the cold front closes on the warm front.

OHM: Unit of electrical resistance. Equivalent to force of one ampere of current at a pressure of one volt.

OHM'S LAW: Formulated by German Scientist Georg Simon Ohm (1789-1854) which links up the relationship between electrical current, voltage and resistance by formula E=CR when E is voltage, C is current in ampere, and R is resistance in ohms.

OMNIBUS CLAUSE: A clause in a hull policy extending liability cover to embrace, in addition to the insured's legal liability, the liability of other organisations who are connected with the ship. It usually excludes liability of shipyards, repair yards and others to whom underwriters do not wish to extend cover.

OPEN COVERAGE: A cargo insurance policy in which underwriters contract to insure, or reinsure at stated intervals, all shipments by certain shipowners up to a stipulated limit on each ship.

OPEN PACK: Ice floe rendered navigable by its loose condition, or that in which many open patches are visible throughout the field or floe.

ORE CARRIER: A ship specifically constructed for the transport of large ore cargoes. - Ore is a difficult cargo to carry; because of its extreme density a ship may be loaded down to her marks before the holds are one-quarter full, with the result that all the weight is concentrated in the bottom of the ship. - This leads to a snappy roll  with consequent liability of straining in heavy seas. To eliminate this liability the ore carrier has a central compartment running fore and aft with buoyancy spaces in the wings and underneath the ore space, thus lifting the center of gravity, reducing the metracentric height, and easing the roll at sea. - Ore cargoes are generally loaded by gravity and discharged by grabs or by self-unloading devices.

ORLOP: The lowest deck of the ship.

OUT OF TRIM: Not properly trimmed, or ballasted.

OVERFALLS: Violently disturbed water where a current sets over an irregularity in the sea bed. Levels tend to sink where bed rises, and to rise where bed sinks.

OVER-LANDED: Refers to discharge of cargo when more goods or a greater number of packages than shown in the manifest are put ashore. The converse is short-landed.

OVERRAKE: Said of heavy seas which come off the ship's bow when it is at anchor with head to the sea.

OWNER'S LIABILITY: Statutory limit of liability of shipowner for losses due to improper navigation of his ship when occurring without his fault or privity.

OWNERS RISK: Phrase appearing in bills of lading covering cargo loaded, lashed and secured on deck, as in stowed on deck at owner's (or shipper's) risk, indicating owner of shipment assumes risk of loss due to exposure of cargo to weather or possible boarding seas.

OWNERS "PRO HAC VICE": Legal expression indicating that the charterer stand in place and in lieu of the legal owners and with their responsibilities, though the latter remains none the less the legal owners of the ship.

OXTER PLATE: A plate fitted to the top of the rudder post.

PANAMA CANAL: Together with the Suez Canal (which see) the most important artificial waterway in the world, connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans through the Isthmus of Panama. Construction of the canal was begun by a French company, controlled by French entrepeneur Ferdinand Marie Lesseps (1805-94), builder of the Suez Canal, on January 20, 1882.The company eventually went bankrupt due to the immense expenses and the lack of financial backers. The U.S. purchased the uncompleted work in 1904 and the present waterway was opened to traffic August 15, 1914, although until 1920 passage was hampered somewhat by landslides in the section known as the Culebra Cut. At the time of the U.S. Purchase Panama was still a Province of Colombia. The U.S. subequently forced Colombia to grant Independence to Panama and the U.S. established sovereignity of the Panama Canal Zone on both sides of the canal. Following a treaty signed by President Carter in 1978 sovereignity of both the Panama Canal and the Panama Canal Zone reverted to the Panamanians in 1999. During the height of the 10 years main construction over 16,000 laborers worked 24 hours a day, 365 days per year and about 2,500 workers died of Malaria and Yellow Fever. The world owes these brave men a great debt.

The canal's total length is 44 nautical miles; has a least channel width of 300 feet; and a minimum depth of 42 feet. At its Atlantic end, ships are raised approximately 85 feet to the level of Gatun Lake in three successive steps by Gatun Locks and a similar lowering to sea level takes place at the Pacific end, at which, however, a tidal spring range amounts to 16 feet as against about 1 foot at the Atlantic entrance. The lake mentioned, which was made by damming the Chagres River, provides a navigable stretch of 21 miles from Gatun Locks to the Gaillard Cut, or principal excavation of 7 miles through the interior hilly divide. At the Pacific end of the cut is Pedro Miguel Lock and farther on, the canal proper terminates on the two Miraflores Locks. From Colon, at its Atlantic end, the canal follows a general direction of south-east, so that a ship enters the Pacific ocean about 24 miles eastward of her Atlantic ocean starting point; which is explained by the fact that the Isthmus of Panama lies in a NE and SW direction at the site of the canal.

PANAMA CANALTONNAGE: The registered tonnage as computed by Panama Canal authorities for the assessment of dues for the passage of a ship through the canal.

PANAMA CHOCK: A closed roller-chock prescribed by Panama Canal authorities for all ships going through the canal.

PANAMA LEAD: Circular fair leads at ends of a ship. Necessary when being towed by shore locomotives in the Panama Canal.

PANCAKE ICE: Small, circular sheets of newly-formed ice that do not impede navigation.

PANTING STRESS: Stress, due to water pressure variations, that tends to cause an in and out movement of ship's underwater plating.

PARALLEL SAILING: Practice of navigating along a given parallel of latitude, or sailing true east or true west.

PARALLACTIC INEQUALITY: Variation in tidal phenomena that is due to variation in Moon's distance from the Earth.

PARTICULAR CHARGES: A maritime insurance term used to denote expenses incurred by or on behalf of the insured for the safety or preservation of the subject matter insured, other than general average and salvage charges. None of the particular charges are included in the definition of "particular average."

PARTITION BULKHEAD: A lightly constructed partition for subdividing a main compartment. Also called non-structural bulkhead. Such bulkheads are limited to one deck height and are neither oiltight nor watertight.

PAX VOBISCUM: Peace be with you.

PEAK TANK: A ballast tank in extreme end of vessel, either forward or aft, used for trimming.

PENALTY CLAUSE: A charter party clause stating the penalty for non-performance of the charter, proved damages. In voyage charters proved damages cannot exceed the estimated amount of the freight.

PERFECTING THE SIGHT: Adding necessary details to a bill of lading when such had been previously omitted.

PERILS OF THE SEA CLAUSE: A maritime insurance clause which states that the underwriters are liable for loss or damage of the sea. Sometimes called Perils Clause.

PERMANENT BALLAST: Ballast in the form of sand, concrete, scrap, or pig iron, usually carried to enhance ship's stability or trim, to overcome an inherent defect due to the faulty design of a ship or due to a change of the ship's service.

PERMANENT WIND: Wind that blows in one direction continuously. Found approximately between latitudes 20 degrees and 40 degrees Lat. N.

PERIOD OF ENCOUNTER: Time interval between successive wave crests passing a given point of the ship.

PERIOD OF ROLL: Time, in seconds taken by a ship to roll from an extreme angle on one side to an extreme angle on the opposite side.

PERIOD OF WAVE: Time interval, in seconds, between passage of two wave crests past a stationary point. With ocean waves, this interval, in seconds, is about 2/7th the speed of waves in knots.

PHANTOM SHIP: "Flying Dutchman". There are, however other phantom ships that are reported as having been sighted!

PILFERAGE: Petty theft.

PINNACLE: A sharp pyramid or cone-shaped rock, under water or showing just above it.

PITCH: In a nutshell - it's the downward falling of the ship's bows as water leaves them.

PITCHING: The angular motion which a ship makes about a transverse axis through her center of gravity at sea. The physical laws governing pitching are identical with those for rolling, but there are important numerical differences, the principal of which are due to the fact that the longitudinal stability is very large and the period consequently short, and that the resistance to pitching is relatively great.

To keep decks dry it is important that the ship should pitch with the wave instead of remaining level and thus shipping great quantities of water. In a large number of ships the period is about one-half of that for rolling, but the maximum angles are considerably less.

PITCHPOLE: Said of a ship which, through the sheer force of a breaking sea, is turned over stern over bow, or vice versa, in a sort of half somersault motion.

POINT OF MAXIMUM SEPARATION: The point in great circle track that is farthest from the rhumb track. At this point the courses on both tracks are parallel with each other.

PORTAGE BILL: A bill giving the statement of wages of each member of the crew at the end of the voyage, together with all rightful deductions to be made. These deductions include such monies as allotments, advances of pay, etc.

PORT RISK: In maritime parlance, a ship insured against loss for period of her stay in a particular port. (See next paragraph)

PORT RISK POLICY: A maritime policy under which the risk ceases as soon as the ship, ready for sea, leaves its moorings to commence the voyage.

POSSESSORY LIEN: A common law lien which arises out of and is dependent upon the possession of the thing by the person asserting the lien. Such a lien may attach to a ship or the freight.

PRECIPITOUS SEA: A mountainous sea with wave heights over 36 feet.

PRIDE OF THE MORNING: A fine fog or mist hanging over a coast, said to indicate a clear day; a light morning shower; end of the land breeze, or interval of calm, before arrival of the sea breeze.

PRO BONO PUBLICO: For the public good.

PROLONGATION CLAUSE: A time charter clause which gives the charterers the option of continuing the charter for further periods beyond those originally agreed upon, on giving notice to the owners in writing on an agreed date or time. In short period time-charters, of say, 6-18 months, the notice for an extension (prolongation), of say, 1 more year usually is due about 6-9 weeks prior to re-delivery. In long period time-charters, of say 3-5 years, the notice for an extension is usually due about 6-9 months prior to re-delivery.

I might mention here that on time-charter periods between 2 and 5 years there is generally a proportional annual increase in the rate of hire for each extended year. Whereas for super long time-charters, say, upto 20 years, there is usually a decrease in the rate of hire,  starting with the 10th or 12th year.

PROLONGED BLAST: By the International Rules of the Road, a blast on a whistle or fog horn, from 4 to 6 seconds in duration during thick weather. Also called long blast.

PROMONTORY: A headland, high point of land, or cape, projecting into the sea.

PROTECTION AND INDEMNITY CLUB: A mutual insurance club formed by shipowners in order to secure cover for various risks. For full details see our page "Maritime Law."

PROTEST: See our page "Letter of Sea Protest."

PROXIMATE CLAUSE: The most effective cause of a loss in a chain of events leading to the loss. A basic principle of insurance in that, unless the policy provides otherwise, the underwriter is not liable for any loss that is not proximately caused by an insured peril.

PURCHASE BLOCK: One having two or more sheaves, used in a tackle for lifting or moving heavy weights.

.

QUARANTINE: The period during which a ship is detained in isolation until free from any contagious disease among passengers and crew. The word is now applied to the sanitary regulations which are the modern substitute for quarantine.

QUID PRO QUO: A thing for a thing (substitute).

RADIO DISTRESS FREQUENCIES: Frequencies for radiotelegraphy and radiotelephony assigned by international radio regulations. These frequencies are at present 500 kilocycles per second for radiotelegraphy and 2182 kilocycles per second for radiotelephony.

RADIO FOG SIGNAL: A signal made by a coastal radio station operating only during periods of fog or low visibility.

RADIO DISTRESS SIGNAL: Radio operator's daily period of duty where he must listen on the 500 kilocycle distress frequency during internationally agreed-upon silent periods

of 3 minutes each at 15 minutes and again at 45 minutes past each hour to listen to signals from ship's in distress.

RANGE OF STABILITY: The number of degrees of heel from the upright position over which the righting arm is positive. It is shown by the stability curve. It may be defined as the angle at which the righting arm becomes zero.

RECIPROCAL BEARINGS: Simultaneously observed bearings of a shore compass from a ship's compass and vice versa.

REFERENCE: The submission of a matter in dispute to arbitrators for their award.

REFRIGERATED CARGO: Any cargo which is stowed at a low temperature in order to preserve the cargo during transport. Refrigerated cargoes are divided into three general classes: frozen, chilled and air-cooled,according to the temperature at which they are kept.

REFUSE STAYS: A ship which fails to tack or balks at going about is said to refuse stays.

REPLACEMENT CLAUSE: A clause in maritime insurance policies on machinery, by which the insurer's liability is restricted to the cost of repairing or replacing the particular part lost or damaged.

RESERVE BUOYANCY: The watertight volume of a ship above the designed waterline. It is usually expressed as a percentage of the total volume of the ship or buoyancy, and is thus a measure of the additional weight which could be placed on the ship before it would sink through loss of buoyancy. It is an indication of the ship's seaworthiness.

RESPONDENTIA: A loan obtained by the master of the ship on the security of the cargo alone. In other respects the contract is of the same character as bottomry.

RETARDATION: A slowing up. A lateness of arrival. It's the opposite of acceleration.

RETENTIVITY: The property by virtue of which hard iron resists being magnetized, and when magnetized resists being de-magnetized. Also called coercive force.

REVERSING CURRENT: A tidal current that flows alternately in approximate opposite directions with slack water at each reversal of direction. Currents of this type usually occur in rivers and straits where the direction of floe is more or less restricted to certain channels.There is a reversing current near St. John, NB.

RIDE HARD: Refers to a ship at anchor when she pitches violently thereby straining at her cables in heavy weather.

RIDE OUT: Refers to a ship lying at anchor or hove to in heavy weather when sufficiently seaworthy to stay safely afloat.

RIGHT OF ANGARY: The right of a state, whether belligerent or neutral, whether in time of peace or war, to requisition ships and cargoes situated in its territory, subject to adequate compensation. It has been recognized by both constitutional and international law.

RIOTS AND CIVIL COMMOTION CLAUSE: Included in a policy of maritime insurance to relieve insurers of liability for loss(es) due to strikes, labor disturbances, riots and suchlike.

ROADSTEAD/ROADS: Sheltered water with good holding ground, in which ships may anchor and ride safely.

ROARING FORTIES: Strong westerly winds encountered between 40 and 50 degrees Latitude S..

ROLLING: The transverse rotatiton of a ship about a longitudinal axis, which results when it meets waves with crests approximately parallel to the length of the ship. When a ship rolls, it disturbs a much larger cross section of water than when she is steady. This increases its resistance to propulsion, and requires a corresponding increase in the propulsive power to maintain her given speed.

ROTTEN CLAUSE: A maritime insurance clause which provides that if a ship is found unseaworthy on a regular survey by reason of being rotten or unsound the underwriters are released of all obligations.

RUMMAGE: To clear or to move about the cargo of a ship in a search for smuggled goods.

RUNNING DOWN CLAUSE: A clause extending a hull insurance policy to cover legal liability amounts paid by the assured consequent upon collision of the insured ship with another ship.

RYE TERMS: When grain is bought on these terms the seller guarantees the condition of the cargo on arrival. Hence sea water damage en route is at his risk.

.

ST. ELMO'S FIRE: This is the luminous brush discharge frequently seen on the extremeties of masts and yards at sea and also occasionally on stays and other parts of the ship, when atmospheric electricity of low intensity induces electricity on the ship or other objects that happens to be under its influence. This induced electricity concentrates at the the extremities of structures where it becomes visible.

SALVAGE AGREEMENT: An agreement containing the conditions by which the owner or master of a ship in distress accepts the proposed services of a salvor, in return for remuneration. The agreement should be in writing, signed by both parties, and witnessed. The owner or master of the ship is under obligation to disclose all important facts which might affect the salvage services. Lloyd's of London Salvage Agreement spells out the obligations of both parties in full detail.

SALVAGE CLAUSE: A maritime insurance policy clause which states the proportion of salvage charges for which the underwriter are liable.

SALVAGE LIEN: A maritime lien which exists when a ship or cargo comes into the possession of one who preserves them from peril at sea. All salvage services carry with them a maritime lien on the things saved.

SARGASSO SEA: The area of the North-Atlantic ocean which lies eastward of the Bahamas between Latitude 25 and 30 degrees North and Longitude 38 and 60 degrees West where large quantities of seaweed float on the surface. The Sargasso Sea is also the spawning ground for all North-Atlantic EELS, whether European or North-American.

SCANT: The handling of a ship under way when obliged to head as closely to the wind as possible to make port or any other desired point.

SCANTLING:The dimensions of all structural parts such as frames, girders, plating,  used in building a ship. The various classification societies publish rules giving the scantlings to which the shipbuilder must adhere.

SCREEN BULKHEAD: A light bulkhead made of plain or corrugated sheet metal or wood frequently fitted in ships as a partition between boiler and engine rooms. It is dust-tight only.

SCUPPER: One of the drains set in decks to carry off accumulation of rain or sea water. Also called deck drain.

SEA BATTERY: Assault upon a seaman, by the master, while at sea.

SEA-DAMAGED TERMS: A contract for the sale and purchase of grain on these terms gives the buyer the right either to reject cargo delivered damaged by sea water, or to claim from the seller the proved amount of sea water damage. Sweat damage is also at the risk of the seller.

SEA KINDLINESS: The characteristics of a ship by which she behaves well in heavy weather, and adapts herself well to varying states of the sea.

SEA REACH: The length of a river between its discharge into the sea and its first bend  inland.

SEASONAL AREA: Part of a seasonal zone, but having a load line period that differs somewhat from the load line period of the zone. For full details see our page "Institute Waranties."

SEA SUCTION: Underwater opening in a ship, through which seawater is pumped for washing decks, extinguishing fires, ballast, sanitary conditions, or any other uses.

SEA TRIALS: Usually 2 twelve hour voyages to test a newbuilding's stabilities and machinery, to ascertain the ship's capabilities and deficiencies.

SEAWORTHINESS: The fitness of a ship to encounter the hazards of the sea with reasonable safety. In addition to having a sound hull the ship must be fully and competently crewed and be sufficiently fuelled and provisioned for the contemplated voyage. All her equipment must be in proper working order and, if she carried cargo, she must be cargoworthy. The right to claim under a hull policy is prejudiced if the ship puts to sea in an unseaworthy condition.

SELFTRIMMER: A ship with large hatches and clear holds that allow coals, grain and similar cargoes to be loaded and trimmed into any part of the hold.

SENTIMENTAL LOSS: A market loss of cargo brought about by fear that cargo may have suffered a casualty whereas no such loss exists in fact.

SETTLING TANK: Holding tank into which fuel oil is pumped and allowed to settle before being used. Oil is drawn through a filter so that solid contents, usually sand, are left behind.

SEVEN SEAS: The seven oceans: North and South Atlantic; North and South Indian; Arctic; Antarctic, Pacific.

SHEER OFF: To move away from. The opposite of to bear toward.

SHEER STRAKE: So named from its upper edge marking ship's line of sheer curvature.

SHORT STOWAGE: A term used in the lumber trade to denote short and small pieces which form part of a shipment in order to obtain maximum stowage. Also called ends. A shipowner usually demands that the charter party specify the percentage of short lengths to be supplied by shipper's for stowage purposes.

SIGHTING THE BOTTOM: Examining the underside of a ship for damage following an accident.

SIROCCO: A hot dust-laden SE wind that occasionally blows from the Lybian desert toward Sicily and southern Italy during the summer. The term is also applied generally to any hot wind originating in dry heated regions, as the harmattan of West-Africa, khamsin of Egypt, leveche of Spain, leste of the Canary Islands, etc.

SISTER SHIP CLAUSE: An insurance clause by which the underwriters agree that in the event of collision between ships of the same ownership they will deal with the matter as if the ships belonged to different owners.

SLAMMING: The striking of the sea surface, by the forward flat bottom, when a ship is pitching in a head sea and lifts her fore-part out of the water.

SLANT: A slant wind; i.e., a transitory breeze or period of its duration.

SLIP (to): To let go suddenly. To slip the anchor cable. To detach a ship from her anchor in an emergency by letting go the chain at a shackle when there is no time to heave up the anchor. To let go entirely.

SLIPSTREAM: The current of water projected on the rudder by propeller action.

SLUICE: A valve, in the form of a door, that moves perpendicularly to the direction of the flow it controls. Found in ship's bilges, tanks, and in flooding openings of drydocks.

SMELLING THE GROUND: Said of a ship when her keel is close to the bottom and all but touching it.

SNUG HARBOR: A harbor affording good shelter, where ships can lie securely.

SONIC SOUNDER: An instrument that measures sea depths by measuring time interval between emission of an audible sound and its return from the sea-bed.

SON OF A GUN: Seaman who was born aboard a warship. As this was once considered to be one of the essentials of the perfect seaman it has long been a complimentary term.

SOUNDING TABLE: A table indicating the capacity in tons of each double-bottom tank, peak tank and deep tank, corresponding to every inch of sounding.

SOS: Morse symbol of 3 shorts, 3 longs, 3 shorts, made by any signalling method. The international signal, "I am in distress and require assistance."

SOUTH EQUATORIAL CURRENT: The South Atlantic equatorial current is a strong permanent westerly stream met with from the Eastward of 30 degrees W. Longitude, to 15 degrees S. Latitude. The South Pacific equatorial current stretches from 85 degrees W. Longitude to 136 degrees E. Longitude.

SPECIAL SURVEY: A ship is said to be built "under special survey" when during the process of construction from the laying of the keel to completion, the material and workmanship has been examined by the surveyors of the cognizant Classification Society in order to ensure that the requirements of the rules and the approved plans are satisfactory followed. Thereafter examination and inspection of registered ships (accidents excluded) follows every 4, 8, and 12 years from date of building. They are termed No.1, 2, and 3 special survey, respectively - No. 3 being the most rigorous. After No. 3 survey the next one is termed "2nd. No. 1", and so on. Each survey is mandatory for the ship to maintain her class. The older a ship gets to conduct a Special Survey it takes a longer time period and consequently more expensive.

SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION: A danger always present in coal cargoes and under certain condition in many other cargoes. It may be defined as the gradual heating and igniting of a substance by chemical action of constituents of the substance itself, or of a combination of substances.

SPOT SHIP: A chartering term which denotes a tramp-ship which has arrived at a loading area or port, say in the Gulf of Mexico off the Mississippi River, with no cargo booked, i.e. the ship is unfixed. A spot ship ususally has to accept a slightly discounted freight rate.

SQUALL: A sudden and violent gust of wind or a succession of gusts, usually accompanied by rain, snow, or sleet. It is frequently associated with a shift of wind. It arises suddenly, lasts for some minutes, and ususally dies away suddenly.

STABILITY: State or quality of being in equilibrium; tendency of a ship to return to her original position upon being inclined therefrom. In order that the upright position may be maintained, stability conditions demand that the ship's center of gravity lie vertically below her center of buoyancy, and, in general, great transverse stability obtains, or a ship is said to be "stiff," when the points indicated are comparatively greatly separated.

STABLE EQUILIBRIUM: A ship which, when forcibly inclined, returns to her original upright position is in stable equilibrium. See also "LIST" above.

STANDARD: A capacity measurement used in the lumber/timer trade and which has a different meaning in various countries:

1 Goeteborg standard contains 120 cbft.

1 St. Petersburg standard contains 120 pieces of

  1-1/2 in. x 11 in. x 12 ft. = 165 cbft.

1 London standard contain 120 pieces of

  3 in. x 9 in. x 12 ft = 270 cbft.

1 Drammen standard contains 120 pieces of

  2-1/2 in. x 6-1/2 in. x 9 ft. = 127-7/8 cbft.

1 Quebec standard contains 100 pieces of

  2-1/2 in. x 11 in. x 12 ft = 229-1/6 cbft.

1 Christiana standard contains 100 pieces of

  1-1/4 in. x 9 in. x 11 ft. = 103-1/8 cbft.

1 batten standard contains 120 pieces of

  2-1/2 in. x 6-1/2 in. x 12 ft = 162-1/2 cbft.

STANDARD COMPASS: A term applied to a magnetic compass used generally as an azimuth compass, to which all other compasses are referred to and by which the ship is navigated. It is placed in a position as remote as possible from magnetic influence and is adjusted with great care. All courses are referred to its reading. See also our page "The Compass."

STANDARD PORT: A port for which full tidal predictions are given in the tide tables and to which tidal differences for secondary ports are applied.

STAND ON: Maintain course and speed.

STAND OUT: To sail away from the port or the coast.

STAND UP: To keep close to the wind or come closer to it.

STATION KEEPING: Maintaining a prescribed distance and bearing from a specified ship.

STATUS QUO: The existing state of affairs.

STAUNCH: Said of a ship that is firm, strong, and unlikely to develop leaks.

STATUTE-BARRED: Debts the claim of which is barred by lapse of time under the Statutes of Limitations. In cargo damage claims the period in which to file a claim is one year in most jurisdictions, however, for good customers shipowners usually grant a periodic of extension in which to file the claim.

STATUTORY DECK LINE: Datum line from which a ship's freeboard is measured. It is painted black on a light ground or white on dark ground on each side of the hull, at mid-distance betwen stem and stern, as a horizontal stripe 12 inches long by 1 inch in width, the upper edge of which indicates the exposed surface of the freeboard deck plating at ship's side.

STEM: 1.The upright post or bar of the bow. 2. An agreement respecting the quantity of cargo, date of loading and time to be occupied in loading. Stems generally refer to bulk cargoes.

STEMMING: The application made by a ship's agent to the port authorities for a loading or discharging berth just before ship's arrival at port of destination.

STERN THRUSTERS: Propeller(s) set in the stern of the ship and positioned to give sideways thrust to assist manoeuvring in a confined space. Also called bow thruster(s).

STIFFENER: Angle-bar or stringer fastened to a surface, as a plated bulkhead, for increasing rigidity. Also called stiffening-bar.

STIFFENING: Ballast put in a ship to increase her stability.

STOPPAGE IN TRANSITU: The right of a seller to give instructions to a shipowner to withhold delivery to the buyer, usually due to non-payment for the cargo.

STOWAGE FACTOR: The figure which expresses the number of cubic feet or cubic meters occupied by one longton of 2240 lbs. or one metric ton of 1000 kilograms when stowed and dunnaged in the usual manner. The factor is computed by dividing 2240 lbs. or 1000 kilograms by the weight, in lbs. or kg., of a cubic foot or cubic meter of a particular commodity. See our page "Stowage Factors."

STORM TRACK: The line of progressive motion by the path or vortex of a cyclonic storm, like a hurricane or typhoon. In the Northern Hemisphere the path follows a right-hand curve and in the Southern Hemisphere a left-hand one.

STRINGERS: Longitudinal members that, in conjunction with frames, give girder strength to a ship. Same name is sometimes given to battens that go fore and aft along ship's side in the holds.

.

 

STRUCTURAL BULKHEAD: A bulkhead, generally water- or oiltight, which forms one of the boundaries of the main compartments and contributes to the strength of the hull. Its depth usually extends through several decks.

STRUCTURAL STRESS: Stress that tends to deform the whole ship's structure.

SUBROGATION: In maritime insurane, the act by which an underwriter, having settled a loss, is entitled to place himself in the position of the insured, to the extend of acquiring all the right and remedies in respect of the loss which the insured may have possessed, either in the nature of provisions for compensation or recovery in the name of the insured against third parties, or in obtaining general average contributions.

SUEZ CANAL: Named for the Isthmus through which it cuts connecting the Mediterranean with the Rea Sea. It was built by the French entrepeneur Ferdinand Marie Lesseps (1805-1894). Construction started in 1860 and the canal was opened for traffic in 1869. The canal has a total length 104.5 statue miles and its minimum width is196 feet with a maximum draft of 35 feet.The canal was primarily constructed for shortening the steaming from Europe to the Far East. Compared with passage via the Cape of Good Hope the Canal effects a saving of about 3990 miles from Hamburg, Germany to Kobe, Japan. The Canal saves about 2800 miles from Atlantic Europe to South-China (via Sunda Strait) and about 1200 miles to Australia. A personal note: The Italian composer Giuseppe Verdi composed the Opera "AIDA" on the occasion of the opening of the Suez Canal.

SUMMUM IUS SUMMA INURIA: The more law, the less justice.

SUMNER'S METHOD: An important discovery made by American Captain

T. H. Sumner in 1837. It is the method of finding a ship's position at sea by the projection of one or more lines of equal altitude on the Mercator chart.

SUMP: A small well fitted in the main compartments, usually at the afterend, to facilitate drainage of bilge water. Also called drainage sump, drainage well.

SWEAT DAMAGE: Damage caused to the cargo by condensation, usually due to lack of ventilation in ship' holds..

SWELL DAMAGE: The damage caused to anchored or moored ships, shore installations and so on, caused by a swell or system of waves which are generated by a moving ship in constricted waters. These waves travel at a velocity of about one-half the speed of the ship and proceed on a course diverging 45 degrees from the course of the moving ship. Considerable swell damage may result from the passage of a very large bulkcarrier or oiltanker or passenger ship through constricted passages at high speed. I know of several cases where this has happened.

SYNCHRONISM: State of being synchronous, or occurring at the same instant. Specifically it is the heavy rolling of a ship in a beam sea (or nearly abeam) caused by

her rolling period and wave period having approximately equal value, or by the ship's period being about half that of the waves. Such condition may be controlled temporarily by a substantial change of the ship's course and/or speed.

SYMPATHETIC DAMAGE: Loss suffered by cargo following damage to other goods

in the same ship. An example would be taint arising from odor given off by another cargo which has been damaged by seawater.

TABULA RASA: A clean slate.

TACTICAL DIAMETER: It is the distance made to right or left of the ship's original course when a turn of 180 degrees has been completed with the rudder at a constant angle.

TAIL SHAFT: Extreme section at the aft end of a ship's propeller.

TAKINGS AT SEA: An expression used in maritime insurance policies. It relates to the stopping, in wartime, and the taking into port for examination of neutral merchant ships suspected of carrying contraband of war to the enemy.

TAKING ULLAGE: Measuring the height of empty space above the level of oil in the bunker tank.

TALE QUALE: A grain trade term implying that the buyer of a parcel must accept it in whatever condition it is in at the time of delivery, the seller having given an undertaking that the cargo were in good condition on shipment. Sea water damage en route is therefore at the risk of the buyer who must pay for the cargo "as sound." (Compare this with "Sea-Damaged Terms.")

TARPAULING: Canvas treated with waterproofing and preservative dressings. Used for covering hatches for protective purposes.

TARE: The weight of a container, box, or other carrier of cargo when empty.

TAUT: Tight or well stretched. Not slack. Neat.

TEEM: To pour. To empty.

TEMPEST: A violent wind storm.

TEMPORARY REPAIRS: Repairs necessitated by the action of a peril insured against and for which underwriters may be held liable.

They are classified as follows: 1. those effected as a port of refuge because the cost of permanent repairs would be excessive. 2. those effected at a port of refuge because of lack of necessary facilities for permanent repairs. 3. those made at port of destination because of lack of permanent work or in order that the ship may proceed to another port where damage can be repaired at less cost. 4. those incurred at a port of refuge for the common safety of all interests.

TENDER CLAUSE: A hull clause in a maritime insurance policy whereby the underwriters are entitled to decide the port to which a damaged ship shall proceed for repairs or dry-docking. The underwriters also have the right of veto in connection with the place of repair and/or repair yard proposed by the owners. Whenever the extent of the damage is ascertainable the underwriters may require tenders to be taken for the repair of such damage.

TERRA INCOGNITA: An unkown land.

THIRTY-DAY RETURNS: Proportional re-payment of insurance premiums for each 30 days days an insured ship is laid up, or taken off insurance.

THREATENING: Term applied to weather when the indications are that it will become bad, or worse.

TIDAL AMPLITUDE: The height of a tidal rise above a given level, generally the chart datum or mean sea level.

TIDAL RIVER: A river whose depth and flow are affected by tides of the sea.

TIDAL WAVE: Name given, erroneously, to an unusually large wave - that is generally due to anything but tidal action. The Japanese Tsunami is an example.

TIGHT: Taut; not slack or loose; as, tight lashings. Not leaky; staunch and sound; water-tight; as, a tight ship. Difficult to accomplish or maintain; as, a tight schedule; a tight run.

TIME SHEET: A document in which are recorded daily all particulars relating to the loading or discharging of cargo. It indicates the duration of and reason for any stoppage of work and is used as basis for the calculation of demurrage or despatch money.

TONNAGE COEFFICIENT: The decimal by which the product of length, breadth and depth of a ship must be multiplied to obtain the gross tonnage.

TORRID ZONE: That area of the Earth's surface that lies between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn.

TOWAGE LIEN: A maritime lien for services rendered in towing a ship.

TRADE ULLAGE: Natural loss to cargo, e.g., evaporation.

TRADE WINDS: One of the great aerial currents which form part of the general circulation of the atmosphere, and are governed by the distribution of pressure. The word "trade" in this term means "track" as the trade winds are those which keep to a fixed track.

TRANSVERSE: Across a ship at right angles to a line drawn from bow to stern.

TREAD:The length of a ship.

TRIMMING: Essentially trimming is just another word for ADJUSTING. "Applied to cargo", it denotes placing it in its proper position and, if necessary, winging it out. "Applied to a ship", it denotes placing and arranging cargo so that there is a desired relationship between the forward and aft drafts. In other words a properly loaded and trimmed ship is on an even keel.

TROPOSPHERE: The lowest layer of the atmosphere surrounding the Earth. It varies in height between 6 miles at the temperate zone and 10 miles in the tropics.

TRUE BEARING: The direction of an object with relation to that of the meridian; a compass bearing corrected for deviation and variation; a bearing taken with an accurate gyroscope compass. See "Gyroscope Compass" above.

TURNING CIRCLE: Nearly circular path made by a powered ship with the helm hard over and engines turning at constant speed (usually full or cruising speed). Diameter of circle, which is very little affected in a wide variation of ship's speed, is about 6 times the length of a single-screw ship and about 4 times the length of twin-screw ship's length.

UBERRIMAE FIDEI: Utmost good faith.

UNCTAD: United Nations Conference on Trade and Developments.

UNEARNED PREMIUM: Premium already paid to the underwriters which is in respect of a period when he was not at risk.

UNDERSET:The seaward setting current that moves under the surface water that is being driven shoreward by wind. Undertow.

UNSEAWORTHINESS: The converse of seaworthiness. Where questions of the state or the condition of the ship arises, as in the maritime insurance field, unless a particular case shows a flagrant disregard of requirements and responsibilities of the insured owner in maintaining a seaworthy ship, it is recognized that unseaworthiness in fact is difficult to establish in an arbitration or a court of law. Generally, the presumption is held that the ship was or is seaworthy until the contrary is proved. In other words the onus of proof is with the insurer/underwriter.

UNSTABLE EQUILIBRIUM: A ship which, when forcibly inclined, heels still further, and may capsize, is in unstable equilibrium.

UPPER WORKS: All erections above the freeboard mark.

VALUATION CLAUSE: Inserted in a policy of maritime insurance to cover cases when the ship becomes a constructive total loss. It stipulates that the insured value of a ship shall be considered to be her value if repaired. If costs repairing exceeded the insured value the latter would be paid by the insurer.

VALUED POLICY: A valued policy in maritime insurance is one which specifies the agreed  value of the subject matter insured. This statement of value is conclusive between the parties in a case in case of total or partial loss even though it is in excess of the actual value of the subject matter. Ships and freight are generally insured under valued policies.

VARIATIONS: Angle between magnetic and true meridians at any given position.

VASCO DA GAMA (1469-1524):Considered the second greatest explorer of all time. Although another Portuguese Sea Captain, Bartolomeu Diaz discovered the Cape of Good Hope at the southern tip of Africa, it was da Gama who in 1497 was asked by King Manuel I of Portugal to find a sea route via the Cape to India. Da Gama sailed from Lisbon, Portugal on July 8, 1497 with four ships and a crew of 170 men. He rounded the Cape of Good Hope, after 137 days at sea, on November 22,1497, headed north and stopped at trading centers that are now Mozambique; Mombasa and Malindi, Kenya. The expedition generally received an unfriendly reception en route, except for the people of Malindi who were friendlier and arranged for a guide to lead the fleet to India. On May 20, 1498 Vasco da Gama reached Calicut, India (about 1200 miles south of Bombay), which was also founded by the Portuguese. Bom Bai in Portuguese meaning Good Bay. The Indian Ruler of Calicut felt insulted because he thought the gifts da Gama brought were if little value. In addtion the Muslim merchants controlled trade in Calicut and resented European interference. In August 1498, da Gama sailed for home with only samples of Indian goods. Many of the sailors died of disease while homeward bound, and only 55 survided. Da Gama arrived in Lisbon in September, 20 1499. The round voyage had taken one year and 94 days. King Manuel I rewarded him and gave him the title Admiral of the Sea of India.

In 1502 da Gama made a second voyage to India and this time succeeded to establish and exxpand trade there, After returning to Portugal in 1503, da Gama retired from the sea. In 1524, King John III named him Viceroy of India and urged him to undertake another voyage to India. Vasco da Gama sailed that same year to India, where he died the same year. The total distances covered at sea by da Gama where only superseded by the great Maghellan.

VEGA: Brightest star in the northern heavens, excepting, sometimes the variable "Betelgeuse." "Which see in our page Universe (Distances)"

VELOCITY OF LIGHT AND RADIO WAVES: 186,285 miles per second. It's about 45 miles per second less in air. Approximately 11 million miles per minute.161,800 sea miles per second. 328 yards per microsecond. 300 million meters per second.

VIA MEDIA: The middle path.

VICE PROPRE: Means the same as inherent vice.

VIGIA: Uncharted navigational danger that has been reported but has not been verified

by survey.

.

VISIBILITY SCALE:

0-Dense fog = Objects not visible at 50 yards

1-Thick fog = Object not visible at 200 yeards

2-Fog = Objects not visible at 400 yards

3-Moderate fog = Objects not visible at 800 yards

4-Thin fog or mist = Objects not visible at 1 mile

5-Visibility poor = Objects not visible at 2 miles

6-Visibility moderate = Objects not visible at 5 miles

7-Visibility good = Objects not visible at 10 miles

8-Visibility very good = Objects not visible at 30 miles

9-Visibility exceptional = Objects visible for more than 30 miles.

VOLTAGE: Electromotive force or potential difference, usually expressed in volts. Named after the inventor of the first electric battery, Italian physicist Alessandro Volta (1745-1827).

VOLUNTARY STRANDING: Stranding which occurs when, in an emergency, a ship is voluntarily headed for the shore to avoid impending damage or shipwreck; or to save the lives of the crew; or so that the cargo may be better salvaged by choosing the place of running aground, According to the maritime laws of some counties (i.e. the Netherland, Germany, Chile, Argentina, Sweden and Norway) the damage caused by voluntary stranding is admiited in general average,.

WALE: A thick plate on a ship designed to withstand maximum impact.

WAGER POLICY: A maritime insurance policy where the interest of the insured, although actually existing, would be difficult to define. Also called honor policy, policy proof of interest. These policies contain such clauses as "Full interest admitted" (F.I.A.} or "Policy Proof of interest" (P.P.I.), thus exempting the insured from the necessity of proving his interest in the event of a loss. In the United States, France, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands wager policies are enforceable in a court of law.

WAIVER CLAUSE: A clause found in all maritime policies whereby it is agreed that either party to the contract may take such step or incur such expenses as to minimize the loss without prejudice to the rights of the insured or insurer under the contract.

WARPING: Using ropes or cable to manoeuver a ship.

WARRANTY: A warranty in a contract of maritime insurance is a condition which must be exactly complied with, whether it be material to the risk or not. If not so complied with, the insurer is discharged from liability as from the date of the breach of the warranty. There are two forms of warranty, implied and express warranty.

WASHING DOWN: Said of a ship when she is shipping water on deck and it is running off through scuppers and freeing ports.

WATER BALLAST: Water carried by an unloaded ship to increase her stability and give greater submersion to her propeller. Usually carried in double-bottom, deep, and peak tanks.

WATERBORNE AGREEMENT: An understanding in the maritime insurance market whereby underwriters will cover cargo(es) against war risks only while they are on board an overseas ship. Limited cover is allowed while cargoes are in craft or barge between ship and shore and, also, during transshipment.

WATERTIGHT BULKHEAD: One of the main vertical partitions in a ship. It is strongly built, with joints which are tight enough to withstand the pressure of the hydrostatic head and prevent water escaping into adjoining spaces if the compartment fills with water.

WEATHERLY QUALITIES: Easy behavior of the ship at sea, with a sufficient amount of freeboard, so as not to be readily swept by the waves.

WET DOCK: An enclosed dock into which ships are admitted at high water and kept afloat if necessary by pumping to maintain the desired level of water. Particularly, basins at places with a large range of tide in which in which water is maintained at a fairly uniform level by gates which are closed when the tide begins to fall. Also called wet basin, closed dock The port of Antwerp is an example, which is protected by the King-Baudouin-Locks.

WHARFAGE: The exact meaning of this term varies in different ports. It can be defined in a general way as a charge assessed against all cargo conveyed on, over, or through a wharf, quay or pier. Sometimes called transfer charge tolls, port tolls.

WHOLE GALE: See our page "Beaufort's Scale."

WIBON: Whether in Berth or Not.

WIFPON: Whether in Free Pratique or Not.

WILFUL MISCONDUCT: Insurance term meaning the fraudulant action by the assured to the detriment of the underwriters.

WILLIWAWS: Sudden and violent squalls met with in the Straits of Magellan.

WILLIE WILLIE: Local name for violent cyclone storms off the coast of N.W. Australia, and in the Arafua Sea.

WINDAGE: Surface of a ship exposed to the wind. What is termed wind drag is the force exerted by wind pressure against a ship lying at anchor with the head to the wind, or stress borne by the anchor cable due to such force, which depends upon ship's windage.

WIND DRIFT: The general movement of the wind disregarding minor deflections. The general movement of clouds, or flotsam carried along by the wind.

WIND SHEAR: Instantaneous directional condition of the wind in relation to the airflow and velocity from sea level to a maximum level of about 50,000 feet.

WIND TAUT: Said of an anchored ship when straining at her cable and heeled by the force of the wind.

WINDWARD: Towards the wind. Nearer to the wind. The direction from which the wind blows.

WINGING: The placing of weights or cargo toward the sides. It increases the transverse moment of inertia and tends to lengthen the period of roll of the ship without decreasing stability.

WING TANK: Ballast tanks sometimes located outboard and usually just under the weather deck. Sometimes formed by fitting a longitudinal bulkhead between the two uppermost decks and sometimes by working diagonal plating between the ship's side and the weather deck.

WIPON: Whether in Port or Not.

WITHIN REACH OF TACKLE: The ship is only bound to receive or deliver cargo within reach of ship's tackle or shore crane's tackle.

WITHOUT BENEFIT OF SALVAGE: A term in a maritime insurance policy whereby the underwriter foregoes his subrogation rights.

WITHOUT PREJUDICE: Words used when a statement, comment, or action is not to be taken as implying agreement or disagreement, or affecting in any way a matter in dispute, or under consideration.

WORKAWAY: Slang term to denote a person who works his passage on a ship, as distinguished from a stowaway. The workaway is a seaman and a member of the ship's crew. He signs the ship's articles, as formally required.

WRECKAGE: Goods cast ashore after a wreck. It's commonly. jetsam, flotsam, lagan and derelict.

YARD AND STAY: Name sometimes given to "union purchase" method of rigging to derricks for loading and discharge overside.

YAW: To lurch, or swing, to either side of intended course.

YELLOW FEVER: An infectious, mosquito-borne disease of tropical climates which spreads from place to place. The WHO provides that a ship shall be regarded as infected by yellow fever if there is a case on board or if there was one at the time of departure or during the voyage. The ship is regarded as suspect if, having no case of yellow fever, it arrives after a voyage of less than 6 days from an infected port or from a port in close relation with an endemic center of yellow fever, or of it arrives after a voyage of more than 6 days and there is reason to believe that it may transport germs emanating from said port. A ship is regarded as healthy notwithstanding its having come from an infected port, if on arriving after a voyage of more than 6 days, it has no case of yellow fever on board and, therefore, there is no reason to believe that it transports adult Stegomya mosquito, or it is proved to the satisfaction of the health authorities on the time of arrival, that: 1. The ship during its stay in the port of departure was moored at least 600 feet from the infected shore, or 2. That the ship, at the time of departure was effectively fumigated in order to destroy mosquitoes.

YIELD POINT: In testing strength of new material, e.g., tensile strength of steel plate, the stress at which permanent deformation, strain, or set is produced in a test-piece, or that exceeding the elastic limit of the material.

YORK-ANTWERP-RULES: Codified rules for the adjustment of claims under General Average. First issued 1890 and revised and extended several times since then. Name derives from the cities in which the initial conferences were held. See our page "G.A. & Salvage" for complete details.

ZENITH: The point in the celestical sphere vertically overhead.

ZIGZAG SAILING: Sailing on alternate tacks.

ZINC PROTECTOR: Slab of zinc attached to underwater body of a ship to prevent steel hull becoming electro positive to copper or copper alloy fittings exposed to salt water.

BlStne