Maritime Glossary
Source-cited definitions for shipping, engineering, navigation, and regulatory terminology. Confidence-scored and verified against primary IMO, IHO, and industry sources.
- Deadweight TonnageDWT · deadweight
- The total mass a ship can carry when loaded to its maximum permitted draught, including cargo, fuel, ballast, and stores.
- vessel-measurementscommercialhigh confidence
- Demurrage
- A penalty payment owed by the charterer when a vessel is detained in port beyond the agreed laytime.
- commercialcharteringlegalhigh confidence
- Dispatchdespatch
- A reward paid by the shipowner to the charterer for completing cargo operations faster than the allowed laytime.
- commercialcharteringhigh confidence
- Draftdraught
- The vertical distance from the waterline to the lowest point of the hull (keel).
- vessel-measurementsnavigationseamanshiphigh confidence
- Dry Dockdrydock · graving dock
- A narrow basin that is flooded to admit a vessel, then pumped dry for hull inspection and underwater repair.
- engineeringmaintenanceregulationhigh confidence