Nautical Terms
Common maritime terms used to describe and operate a ship.
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Ship Classification Abbreviations
FV = Fishing Vessel
MS = Motor Ship
MV = Motor Vessel
RMS = Royal Mail Ship
RV = Research Vessel
SS = Steam Ship
SV = Sailing Vessel
home > advice > Nautical Terms
Learn some cruise ship lingo before your leave on your vacation.
Aft
Towards the back.
Amidships
The middle of the ship.
Astern
The very back of the ship.
Ballast
Pumps carry water to the ballast tanks to help stabilize the ship.
Beam
The widest part of the ship.
Berth
A space needed to move a ship around; the dock or pier; your cabin.
Bow
The front of the ship.
Bridge
The area at the front of the ship with the big glass windows where the crew go to command the ship.
Bulkhead
A wall or walls dividing the ship into compartments and can be sealed to contain a fire or flood.
Companionway
The interior stairways.
Course
The direction in which the ship is headed.
Debark
Leave the ship.
Draft
How far down the ship sits in the water when it's loaded with people and supplies.
Embark
Get on the ship.
Fathom
Used to measure water depth (6ft equal 1 fathom).
Forward
Move toward the front of the ship.
Even Keel
When the ship is balanced in the water.
Galley
Where the food is prepared.
Gangway
The opening by which a ship is boarded.
Heel
A tilt to the side, also know as a list.
Hull
The Shell of the ship.
Keel
The bottom middle of the ship.
Knot
One (1 ) knot equals 1.15 land miles, or one (1) nautical mile.
Leeward
Go with the wind.
List
Tilt to the side as in sudden list .
Mast
the poles that support the sails and the equipment to raise and lower them.
Midships
Middle of the ship. See Amidships
Nautical Mile
1.15 land miles.
Pitch
The way the ship goes up and down over the waves in the water.
Port
The left side of the ship facing forward.
Roll
The movement that makes you stumble side to side through the hallways on a rough day at sea.
Stabilizers
when working properly, they help keep the ship from rocking in the water.
Starboard
The right side of the ship facing forward.
Stem
The very front of the ship.
Stern
The back of the ship.
Tender
The small boats that take you back and forth to the dock when the ship is anchored in the water just outside the port.
Wake
The waves off to the side of the ship and the white foamy trail at the back of the ship
Waterline
How high up the water reaches when the ship is in the water.
Windward
Against the wind.
