Glossary
Nautical chart abbreviations are like the secret code of the seas—except instead of buried treasure, they lead to rocks, buoys, and mysterious dashed lines that scream, 'Don’t sail here.' Learning them can feel like cracking a pirate’s encrypted diary, but don’t worry, matey! With clever tools, quirky mnemonics, and a splash of humour, we’ll help you go from 'What’s "FOUL" mean? to confidently navigating the “Wk” wrecks and “Fl G” flashes like a salty sea captain. Think of it as Rosetta Stone, but for avoiding sandbanks!
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TermDefinition
- Organisation Commissioners of Irish Lights
Irish Lights is responsible for maintaining lighthouses, buoys, beacons, and other navigation aids along the entire coast of Ireland, including...
More Details - Navigation Compass Add East for True (CADET)
The CADET mnemonic can help remember the corrections needed when converting between True North and Compass North bearings. It assists in...
More Details - General Nautical Terminology, Weather (Meteorology) Cyclone
A cyclone is a large-scale atmospheric circulation system characterised by inward-spiralling winds around a low-pressure centre. In marine...
More Details - General Nautical Terminology, Weather (Meteorology) Cyclonic
Cyclonic refers to a weather system characterised by air rotation around a low-pressure centre, typically in a counterclockwise direction in the...
More Details - General Nautical Terminology Deck Officer
A licensed mariner responsible for the safe navigation, operation, and management of a vessel's deck department.
Deck Officers, also known as...
More Details - Phonetic Alphabet Delta
Phonetic alphabet letter D or a type of anchor. A delta refers to a landform created at the mouth of a river where it flows into an ocean, sea,...
More Details - General Nautical Terminology Deviation
Deviation refers to the difference between a vessel's actual compass heading and the magnetic heading indicated by the compass. Deviation is...
More Details - General Nautical Terminology Deviation card
A deviation card is produced for a steering compass once it has been swung. The card provides the details necessary to correct the compass for...
More Details - General Nautical Terminology Downhaul
A downhaul is a line or tackle to apply downward tension on a sail or spar to control its shape and optimise performance.
The downhaul is an...
More Details - General Nautical Terminology Dyneema
Dyneema is a high-performance synthetic fibre known for its exceptional strength-to-weight ratio. It is often used in marine applications for...
More Details - Phonetic Alphabet Echo
Phonetic alphabet letter E. In marine terminology, "echo" typically refers to the reflection of sound waves off of a surface or object...
More Details - Flag Semaphore, Signals & Communication Error (Flag Semaphore)
Waving both flags up and down indicates an error in the communication.
- Flag Semaphore, Signals & Communication Error (Flag Semaphore)
Repeated eight times, Letter E (Flag Signal) indicates an error.
- General Nautical Terminology Fathom
Fathoms are units of measurement used in the maritime context to measure water depth. One fathom is equal to six feet or approximately 1.83...
More Details - Did you know?, General Nautical Terminology Feeling Blue
The phrase "feeling blue" is commonly used to describe sadness or melancholy, and its origins are often linked to nautical traditions.
More Details - Did you know?, Flag Semaphore, Signals & Communication Flag Semaphore Signals
Flag semaphore is a system for conveying information at a distance through visual signals using hand-held flags. The position of the flags...
More Details - General Nautical Terminology Flake More Details
- General Nautical Terminology Flaking a Line More Details
- General Nautical Terminology Flaking a Sail
Flaking a sail is neatly folding or arranging it in parallel or accordion-like folds. This is typically done to store or stow the sail properly...
More Details - Phonetic Alphabet Foxtrot
Phonetic alphabet letter F. In marine terminology, "Foxtrot" refers to the letter "F" in the NATO phonetic alphabet. This alphabet is used to...
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