Glossary

An opening in the side of a ship or boat, designed to allow water on deck to drain overboard.

In maritime terminology, a scupper is an...

A device, typically a canvas or synthetic fabric drogue, deployed in the water to stabilise a vessel by creating drag and reducing drift in rough...

A cooling wind that blows from the sea towards the land, typically occurring during the daytime due to temperature differences between the land...

The ability of a person to maintain balance and move steadily on a vessel in motion, particularly in rough seas.

Sealegs is a term deeply...

The coordinated efforts undertaken to locate and assist individuals in distress or imminent danger, typically at sea, and to bring them to...

An emergency device that responds to radar signals by transmitting a series of pulses to help rescuers locate a vessel or liferaft in...

A location where tidal information is derived by applying corrections to data from a nearby Standard Port. 

A secondary port is a coastal...

Substitute or repeater flags allow messages with duplicate characters to be signalled without requiring multiple sets of flags.

Occasionally a light may not be visible through 360 degrees, or it may shine different colours depending on where it is viewed from. In this...

A maritime safety message broadcast over radio to convey important but non-urgent navigational or weather-related information.

Sécurité is a...

A signalling system used to convey information at a distance by means of visual signals, typically using flags or lights.

Semaphore is a...

A type of boat or ship designed to operate efficiently in both displacement and planing modes, offering a balance between speed and fuel...

The upward movement of water or swell against a fixed object or shoreline.

This is often noticed where waves lift against a harbour wall,...

The direction which a current flows in a body of water.

In marine navigation, understanding the set of a current is crucial for plotting an...

The process of securing a boat in a stationary position by deploying and embedding an anchor into the seabed.

When a mariner 'sets anchor',...

To begin a voyage or journey by sea, typically by hoisting the sails of a sailboat or ship to catch the wind and propel the vessel forward.

A U-shaped metal fitting with a pin or bolt across the opening, used in marine applications to connect ropes, chains, or other fittings...