SMCP glossary

Abandon vessel

Abandon vessel

To evacuate crew and passengers from a vessel following a distress

Accommodation ladder

Ladder attached to platform at vessel's side with flat steps and handrails enabling persons to embark / disembark from water or shore

Adrift

Uncontrolled movement at sea under the influence of current, tide or wind

Air draft

The height from the waterline to the highest point of the vessel

Assembly station

Place on deck, in mess rooms, etc., assigned to crew and passengers where they have to meet according to the muster list when the corresponding alarm is released or announcement made

Backing (of wind)

Shift of wind direction in an anticlockwise manner, for example from north to west (opposite of veering)

Beach (to)

To run a vessel up on a beach to prevent its sinking in deep water

Berth

1: A sea room to be kept for safety around a vessel, rock, platform, etc..
2: The place assigned to a vessel when anchored or lying alongside a pier, etc.

Blast

A sound signal made with the whistle of the vessel

Blind sectors

Areas which cannot be scanned by the radar of the vessel because they are shielded by parts of its superstructure, masts, etc

Boarding arrangements

All equipment, such as pilot ladder, accommodation ladder, hoist, etc., necessary for a safe transfer of the pilot

Boarding speed

The speed of a vessel adjusted to that of a pilot boat at which the pilot can safely embark / disembark

Bob-cat

A mini-caterpillar with push-blade used for the careful distribution of loose goods in cargo holds of bulk carriers

Briefing

Concise explanatory information to crew and/or passengers

Cable

1. Chain connecting a vessel to the anchor(s)

2. Wire or rope primarily used for mooring a ship

3. (Measurement) one hundred fathoms or one tenth of a nautical mile

Capsize (to)

To turn over

Cardinal buoy

A seamark, i.e. a buoy, indicating the North, East, South or West, i.e. the cardinal points from a fixed point. such as a wreck, shallow water, banks, etc.

Cardinal points

The four main points of the compass: north, east, south and west

Casualty

Here: Case of death in an accident or shipping disaster

Check (to)

1: To make sure that equipment etc. is in proper condition or that everything is correct and safe
2: To regulate motion of a cable, rope or wire when it is running out too fast

Close-coupled towing

A method of towing vessels through polar ice by means of icebreaking tugs with a special stern notch suited to receive and hold the bow of the vessel to be towed

Close up (to)

To decrease the distance to the vessel ahead by increasing one`s own speed

Compatibility (of goods)

Indicates whether different goods can be safely stowed together in one cargo space or in an adjacent hold.

Convoy

A group of vessels which sail together, e.g. through a canal or ice

Course

The intended direction of movement of a vessel through the water

Course made good

That course which a vessel makes good over ground, after allowing for the effect of currents, tidal streams, and leeway caused by wind and sea

COW

Crude Oil Washing: a system of cleaning the cargo tanks by washing them with the cargo of crude oil during discharged

CPA/TCPA

Closest Point of Approach /Time to Closest Point of Approach: limit as defined by the observer to give warning when a tracked target or targets will close to within these limits

Crash-stop

An emergency reversal operation of the main engine(s) to avoid a collision

Damage control team

A group of crew members trained for fighting flooding in the vessel

Datum

1. The most probable position of a search target at a given time
2. The plane of reference to which all data as to the depth on charts are referenced.

Derelict

Vessel still afloat, abandoned at sea

Destination

Port which a vessel is bound for

Disabled

A vessel damaged or impaired in such a manner as to be incapable of proceeding on its voyage

Disembark (to)

To go from a vessel

Distress alert (GMDSS)

A radio signal from a distressed vessel automatically directed to an MRCC giving position, identification, course and speed of the vessel as well as the nature of distress

Distress/Urgency traffic

Here: The verbal exchange of information on radio from ship to shore and/or ship to ship/ air craft about a distress / urgency situation as defined in the relevant ITU Radio Regulations

Draught (or draft)

Depth in water at which a vessel floats

Dragging (of anchor)

Moving of an anchor over the sea bottom involuntarily because it is no longer preventing the movement of the vessel

Dredging (of anchor)

Moving of an anchor over the sea bottom to control the movement of the vessel

Drifting

Being driven along by the wind, tide or current

Drop back (to)

To increase the distance from the vessel ahead by reducing one's own speed

DSC

Digital Selective Calling (in the GMDSS system)

Embark (to)

To go aboard a vessel

EPIRB

Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon

Escape route

A clearly marked way in the vessel which has to be followed in case of an emergency

Escort

Attending a vessel, to be available in case of need, e.g. ice-breaker, tug, etc..

ETA

Estimated Time of Arrival

ETD

Estimated Time of Departure

Fathom

A measure of 6 feet

Fire patrol

A crew member of the watch going around the vessel at certain intervals so that an outbreak of fire may be promptly detected; mandatory in vessels carrying more than 36 passengers

Flooding

Major flow of seawater into the vessel

Fire monitor

Fixed foam/powder/water cannon shooting fire-extinguishing agents on tank
deck, manifold etc.

Foul (of anchor)

Anchor has its own cable twisted around it or has fouled an obstruction

Foul (of propeller)

A line, wire, net, etc., is wound round the propeller

Full speed

Highest possible speed of a vessel

Fumes

Often harmful gas produced by fires, chemicals, fuel, etc.

General emergency alarm

A sound signal of seven short blasts and one prolonged blast given with the vessel´s sound system

Give way

To keep out of the way of another vessel

GMDSS

Global Maritime Distress and Safety System

(D) GPS

(Differential) Global (satellite) Positioning System

Half cardinal points

The four main points lying between the cardinal points: north east, south east, south west and north west

Hampered vessel

A vessel restricted by her ability to manoeuvre by the nature of her work

Hatchrails

Ropes supported by stanchions around an open hatch to prevent persons from falling into a hold

Heading

The horizontal direction the vessel's bows at a given moment measured in degrees clockwise from north

Hoist

Here: a cable used by helicopters for lifting or lowering persons in a pick-up operation

Icing

Coating of ice on an object, e.g. the mast or superstructure of a vessel

IMO Class

Group of dangerous or hazardous goods, harmful substances or marine pollutants in sea transport as classified in the International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code (IMDG Code)

Inert (to)

To reduce the oxygen in an oil tank by inert gas to avoid an explosive atmosphere

Initial course

Course directed by the OSC or other authorized person to be steered at the beginning of a search

Inoperative

Not functioning

Jettison (to) (of cargo)

Throwing overboard of goods in order to lighten the vessel or improve its stability in case of an emergency

Launch (to)

To lower, e.g. lifeboats to the water

Leaking

Escape of liquids such as water, oil, etc., out of pipes, boilers, tanks, etc., or a minor inflow of seawater into the vessel due to damage to the hull

Leeward

On or towards the sheltered side of a ship; opposite of windward

Leeway

Vessel’s sideways drift leeward of the desired course

Let go (to)

To set free, let loose, or cast off (of anchors, lines, etc.)

Lifeboat station

Place assigned to crew and passengers where they must gather before being ordered into the lifeboats

List

Here: inclination of the vessel to port side or starboard side

Located

In navigational warnings: Position of object confirmed

Make water (to)

To have seawater flowing into the vessel due to hull damage, or hatches awash and not properly closed

MMSI

Maritime Mobile Service Identity number

Moor (to)

To secure a vessel in a particular place by means of wires or ropes made fast to the shore, to anchors, or to anchored mooring buoys, or to ride with both anchors down

MRCC

Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre: Land-based authority responsible for promoting efficient organization of maritime search and rescue and for co-ordinating the conduct of search and rescue operations within a search and rescue region

Muster (to)

To assemble crew, passengers or both in a special place for purposes of checking

Muster list

List of crew, passengers and all on board and their functions in a distress or drill

Not under command

(abbr. NUC): a vessel which through exceptional circumstances is unable to manoeuvre as required by the COLREGs

Obstruction

An object such as a wreck, net, etc., which blocks a fairway, route, etc.

Off air

When the transmissions of a radio station etc., have broken down, been switched off or suspended

Off station (of buoys)

Not in charted position

Oil clearance

Oil skimming from the surface of the water

Operational

Ready for immediate use

Ordnance exercise

Naval firing practice

OSC

On-Scene Co-ordinator: a person designed to co-ordinate search and
rescue operations within a specified area

Overflow

Escape of oil or liquid from a tank because of a twofold condition as a result of overflowing, thermal expansion, change in vessel trim or vessel movement

Polluter

A vessel emitting harmful substances into the air or spilling oil into the sea

Preventers

Ropes or wires attached to derricks to prevent them from swinging during cargo handling operations

Proceed (to)

To sail or head for a certain position or to continue with the voyage

PA-system

Public address system: loudspeakers in the vessel's cabins, mess rooms, etc., and on deck through which important information can be broadcast from a central point, mostly from the navigation bridge

Recover (to)

Here: to pick up shipwrecked persons