Glossary
-
TermDefinition
- General Nautical Terminology SOLAS
An international maritime treaty that sets minimum safety standards for ship construction, equipment, and operation. Its primary goal is to...
More Details - General Nautical Terminology, Safety SOLAS V
Chapter V of SOLAS (Safety of life at Sea) refers to the Safety of Navigation for all vessels at sea.
SOLAS V for pleasure craft
SOLAS V...
More Details - General Nautical Terminology Sole
Sea area of the Met Office Shipping Forecast. Covers Sole Bank in the eastern Bay of Biscay off the French coast.
From the Sole Bank, famed...
More Details - General Nautical Terminology, Parts of a Boat Sole boards
The flat, horizontal planks or panels that form the flooring of a boat's interior, typically installed over the bilge area to provide a stable...
More Details - General Nautical Terminology, Morse Code, Safety, Signals & Communication SOS
The universally recognised distress signal used in maritime communication to indicate an emergency requiring immediate assistance.
The German...
More Details - General Nautical Terminology SoundTo measure the depth of water
- General Nautical Terminology SoundingThe depth of water below chart datum
- General Nautical Terminology, Weather (Meteorology) Southeast Iceland
Sea area of the Met Office Shipping Forecast. Located southeast of Iceland in the North Atlantic.
Southeast Iceland covers waters renamed from...
More Details - General Nautical Terminology, Weather (Meteorology) South Utsire
Sea area of the Met Office Shipping Forecast. Situated in the North Sea, south of Utsira Island off the west coast of Norway.
Also named for...
More Details - General Nautical Terminology Sou’westerA waterproof oilskin hat with a broad brim
- Flag Semaphore Space (Flag Semaphore)

This shape indicates a space, usually between words. The same shape is also used for Rest (Flag Semaphore) & Ready (Flag Semaphore).
More Details - General Nautical Terminology Spar
Any long, sturdy pole or beam used on a ship to support sails, rigging, or other equipment. Spars are typically made of wood, metal, or composite...
More Details - General Nautical Terminology Speed Made GoodThe speed made good over the ground; that is , the boat speed corrected for tidal stream and leeway
- General Nautical Terminology, Navigation Speed Over Ground (SOG)
The actual velocity of a vessel relative to the Earth's surface, accounting for the effects of currents, tides, and other environmental...
More Details - General Nautical Terminology, Navigation Speed Through Water (STW)
The velocity at which a vessel moves relative to the water it is travelling through, excluding the effects of current or tidal flow.
Speed...
More Details - General Nautical Terminology Spill WindTo ease the sheets so that the sail is only partly filled by the wind, the rest being spilt
- General Nautical Terminology Spinnaker
A large, lightweight, and often colourful sail designed for use when sailing downwind, typically set forward of the mainsail to maximise speed...
More Details - General Nautical Terminology, Parts of a Boat Spinnaker Pole
A spar used on sailing vessels to control one clew of a spinnaker sail when sailing downwind.
A spinnaker pole is a key piece of equipment...
More Details - General Nautical Terminology SpitA projecting shoal or strip of land connected to the shore
- General Nautical Terminology Splice
A method of joining two ropes or lines by interweaving their strands to form a strong, secure connection.
A splice is a fundamental technique...
More Details

