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
- General Nautical Terminology Cable More Details
- Navigation CADET
The CADET mnemonic can help remember the corrections needed when converting between True North and Compass North bearings. It assists in...
More Details - Flag Semaphore, Signals & Communication Cancel--Disregard (Flag Semaphore)
Cancel (or Disregard) informs the receiver to disregard the previous message or cancel the signalling. There is no specific attachment to this...
More Details - General Nautical Terminology Cardinal Bearing
Cardinal Bearings are the main points on a compass, expressed by their name. There are four main cardinal points, North, South, East, and West...
More Details - Phonetic Alphabet Charlie
"Charlie" is a term used in military and law enforcement contexts to represent the letter "C" in the NATO phonetic alphabet. This phonetic...
More Details - General Nautical Terminology Chief Mate
The second-in-command on a vessel, responsible for overseeing the ship's day-to-day operations, cargo handling, and the safety of the crew and...
More Details - Did you know?, Nautical Saying Chock-a-block
Chock-a-block is a nautical term describing when two blocks (pulleys) are pulled so close together that they cannot be tightened further. It...
More Details - General Nautical Terminology Clear
Clear weather refers to atmospheric conditions free of significant cloud cover, precipitation, fog, or other weather disturbances. The sky is...
More Details - General Nautical Terminology Clear
To disentangle a line, for example, removing it from a dock cleat when manoeuvring out of a marina.
When departing from a mooring, it is good...
More Details - Knot Clove Hitch
A clove hitch is a versatile, easy-to-tie knot commonly used to secure a rope to a post or pole temporarily. One of its most common uses is...
More Details - Organisation Coastguard (HMCG)
The organisation responsible for search and rescue operations in UK waters.
His Majesty's Coastguard (HMCG) is a section of...
More Details - Flags, Signals & Communication Code Flag Alpha
In international waters, under the International Rules for the Prevention of Collisions at Sea, the Alpha Flag signifies, "I have a diver down;...
More Details - 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...
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