THE SEAFARER’S WORD - A Maritime Dictionary

Sep 28, 2026

Maritime dictionary entries explain nautical terminology and navigation concepts, using an alphabetical A–Z structure. The content defines terms related to ships, seamanship, cargo handling, propulsion and currents, weather and sea conditions, oceanographic phenomena, and maritime administration and regulations. Example entries cover commands and vessel states, anchoring and bearings, onboard equipment, technical physics terms, and international classification or authority references, serving as a compact reference for maritime vocabulary.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages134

Reading Time5 h 38 min

AccessFree to download

A: Code flag; Diver below, keep well clear at slow speed.

Aa.: Always afloat.

Aaaa.: Always accessible-always afloat.

A flag + three numerals: Code flags; Azimuth or bearing.

Aback: When a wind hits the front of the sails forcing the vessel astern.

Abaft: Toward the stern.

Abaft of the beam: Bearings over the beam to the stern, the ships after sections.

Abandon: To jettison cargo.

Abandon ship: To forsake a vessel in favour of the life rafts, life boats.

Abate: Diminish, stop.

Able bodied seaman: Certificated and experienced seaman, called an AB.

Abeam: On the side of the vessel, amidships or at right angles.

Aboard: Within or on the vessel.

About, go: To manoeuvre to the opposite sailing tack.

THE SEAFARER’S WORD A Maritime Dictionary A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X YZ Ranger Hope © 2007-All rights reserved | A ● ▬ | | | --- | --- | | A: | Code flag; Diver below , keep well clear at slow speed. | | Aa.: | Always afloat. | | Aaaa.: | Always accessible-always afloat. | | A flag + three numerals: | Code flags; Azimuth or bearing. | | Aback: | When a wind hits the front of the sails forcing the vessel astern. | | Abaft: | Toward the stern. | | Abaft of the beam: | Bearings over the beam to the stern, the ships after sections. | | Abandon: | To jettison cargo. | | Abandon ship: | To forsake a vessel in favour of the life rafts, life boats. | | Abate: | Diminish, stop. | | Able bodied seaman: | Certificated and experienced seaman, called an AB. | | Abeam: | On the side of the vessel, amidships or at right angles. | | Aboard: | Within or on the vessel. | | About, go: | To manoeuvre to the opposite sailing tack. | | Above board: | Genuine. | | Able bodied seaman: | Advanced deckhand ranked above ordinary seaman. | | Abreast: | Alongside. Side by side | | Abrid: | A plate reinforcing the top of a drilled hole that accepts a pintle. | | Abrolhos: | A violent wind blowing off the South East Brazilian coast between May and August. | | A.B.S.: | American Bureau of Shipping classification society.
Able bodied seaman | | Absorption: | The dissipation of energy in the medium through which the energy passes, which is one cause of radio wave attenuation. | | Abt.: | About | | Abyss: | A deep chasm. | | Abyssal, abysmal: | The greatest depth of the ocean | | Abyssal gap: | A narrow break in a sea floor rise or between two abyssal plains. | | Abyssal plain: | A level region at great depth in the ocean. | | Access holes: | Holes cut in a structure to facilitate entry and exit. | | A.C. M.A.: | Australian Communication & Media Authority | | Acid rain: | The acidification of rain (largely resulting from atmospheric pollution from burning sulphur rich coal) causing forest die back and reduction of quality of water habitats. | | Ack.: | Acknowledge. | | A. class: | Australian vessel survey class, unlimited offshore. | | --- | --- | | A. class division: | Divisions made of steel or equivalent material, suitably stiffened and capable of preventing the passage of smoke and flame up to the end of the first 1 hour of the standard fire test. | | Accommodation: | The living quarters of a vessel. | | Accommodation ladder: | Portable steps providing access from the vessel’s entry deck to the waterline. | | Accumulator: | A tank that smooths out pressure variability in a fresh water system. A trap to remove water within a refrigeration system. | | A-cock-bill | A term used to indicate that the anchor is clear of the hawse pipe and suspended above the water, ready for letting go. | | A.C. current: | Alternating current is a form of pulsing electricity supplied by alternators. The voltage cycles between positive and negative at a regulated frequency (cycles per second measured in Hertz) . | | Accretion: | The process of deposition of material at the bottom of the oceans. Build up of matter over a surface ([e.g. ice](e.g. ice) on rigging, fouling on hulls) . | | Aces: | Hooks for the chains. | | Acorn: | Decorative finial for a post. | | Adams, Joe | Australian prolific fast cruising yacht designer tragically murdered in his late years of life in New Guinea. | | ADCOM: | Address commission. | | Added mass: | An effective increase in hull mass caused by the dragged waterflow during motion. | | Added weight method: | A method used to determine a ship’s damaged stability by calculating a partial flooding as added weight rather than as lost buoyancy. | | Adiabatic: | Occurring without heat. | | Adj.: | Adjust, adjustment. | | Admiral: | First or highest commander. | | Admiralty brass: | Alloy of approximately 70% copper, 29% zinc. See Naval brass. | | Adrift: | A vessel not attached to the wharf or an anchor. | | Ad valorum:

FAQs

What is the document’s structure for finding terms?

Terms are arranged alphabetically (A–Z) with each entry giving a definition for the corresponding maritime word or abbreviation.

What kinds of topics do the definitions cover?

The entries cover nautical operations and vessel states, navigation and bearings, onboard equipment, ocean and weather phenomena, and maritime classification or authority references.

Are abbreviations and code flags included?

Yes. The dictionary includes entries that define code flags, abbreviations, and formal maritime terms such as classification or authority-related items.

Sep 28, 2026

Upload by Mafia Boss