Knowledge category
Maritime Glossary
Plain-English definitions of shipping, engine-room, navigation and regulatory terms.
What Maritime Glossary Covers
The systems and workflows this category answers questions about. Every published answer is listed below.
Engine-room Terms
Machinery, systems, alarms, watchkeeping and maintenance vocabulary.
Deck Terms
Mooring, anchoring, cargo gear, deck maintenance and seamanship terms.
Navigation Terms
Charts, ECDIS, COLREGs, passage planning, lights, marks and bridge terms.
Safety Terms
Fire, enclosed spaces, permits, drills, PPE, risk assessment and emergencies.
Cargo Terms
Bulk, tanker, container, LNG, ballast, loading, discharge and stability terms.
Port Operations
Berthing, pilotage, customs, stevedores, clearance and terminal operations.
Legal & Regulatory Terms
IMO, SOLAS, MARPOL, ISM, ISPS, MLC, PSC and flag-state terms.
Certificates & Documents
CoC, CDC, STCW, logbooks, certificates, plans and statutory records.
Abbreviations
Common maritime abbreviations used in shipboard and office communication.
Rank & Crew Terms
Officer, rating, department, watch, command and company role definitions.
Ship Parts
Hull, deck, bridge, engine-room, tanks, spaces and structural terminology.
Machinery Parts
Valves, pumps, bearings, seals, filters, coolers, sensors and instruments.
Weather & Sea State
Swell, wind, visibility, Beaufort scale, routing and heavy-weather terms.
Communication Terms
GMDSS, VHF, distress calls, reports, logs and standard marine phrases.
Chartering Terms
Laytime, demurrage, fixture, voyage charter, time charter and freight terms.
Emergency Terms
Muster, abandon ship, man overboard, SAR, distress signals and response words.
Current Answers
What does STCW mean?
STCW explained — the international convention that sets minimum training, certification and watchkeeping standards for seafarers worldwide.
What is deadweight tonnage (DWT)?
Deadweight tonnage defined — the total weight a ship can carry — and how it differs from displacement and gross tonnage.
What is a TEU?
TEU explained — the twenty-foot equivalent unit used to measure container-ship capacity and container throughput.
What is SOLAS?
SOLAS explained — the IMO's most important safety convention and the areas of ship safety it governs.
What is ballast water and why is it managed?
What ballast water is, why ships carry it, and why it must now be treated to the D-2 standard under the Ballast Water Management Convention.
