Glossary Archive

A Harbour or docking facility where vessels load and unload cargo or passengers.  A port is a designated location along a coast, river, or other navigable waterway where vessels can berth for commercial, logistical, or passenger operations. Ports vary in size and function, with some serving as major international trade hubs while others cater to...

The side of a vessel that is perpendicular to its centreline and located on the left-hand side when facing forward towards the bow. The term port beam is a critical concept in nautical terminology, used to describe a specific area or direction relative to a vessel's orientation. Port refers to the left-hand side of a...

The forward left-hand side of a vessel when facing the bow (front). The term "port bow" is a specific designation used in nautical contexts to describe a particular section of a vessel. It combines two key directional terms: "port," which is the left-hand side of a vessel when facing forward towards the bow, and "bow,"...

An aperture on the hull of a vessel that admits light and, sometimes, air

Sea area of the Met Office Shipping Forecast. Located off the south coast of England, near Portland Bill in Dorset. Named for Portland Bill on Dorset’s coast, Portland has west to southwest winds of Force 4–6 and moderate seas, occasionally rough in winter. Strong currents around the Bill expose historic wrecks, making it a popular...

A navigational tool used in marine chartwork to measure and plot courses, bearings, and distances on nautical charts. The Portland Plotter is an essential instrument in the toolkit of any navigator, particularly in traditional maritime navigation. It is a flat, rectangular piece of transparent plastic, typically marked with a compass rose, parallel lines, and a...

The port listed in a vessel’s registration documents and lettered on her stern

The aft-left section of a vessel when facing forward, located between the port beam and the stern. The term "port quarter" is a specific navigational reference used to describe a particular area of a vessel. In maritime terminology, the vessel is divided into sections to aid in communication and orientation. "Port" refers to the left-hand...

The situation in sailing where the wind is coming over the port (left) side of the vessel, and the boom is positioned on the starboard (right) side. Port Tack is a fundamental concept in sailing that describes the orientation of a vessel relative to the wind. When a sailboat is on a port tack, the...

Measurement of the geometric strength of satellite configuration in a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receiver. It quantifies the effect of satellite geometry on the accuracy of the position calculation. A lower PDOP value indicates better satellite geometry and results in more accurate position fixes. PDOP is calculated based on the positions of the satellites...