32 terms in this category.
- Anchorage
A designated area with suitable holding ground where a vessel anchors to wait for a berth, tide, or clearance.
- Annual Survey
A classification inspection conducted each year to confirm that a vessel's hull and equipment remain in a satisfactory condition.
- Berth
A designated position at a wharf or quay where a vessel moors to load or discharge cargo or embark passengers.
- Bunkering
The operation of taking fuel oil aboard a vessel, requiring careful monitoring of quantities, trim, and pollution prevention measures.
- Cold Lay-up
A long-term idling of a vessel with systems shut down and crew reduced to a minimum, used when reactivation is uncertain.
- Combination Ladder
A pilot boarding arrangement combining a pilot ladder below with an accommodation ladder above to accommodate height differences.
- Deep Water Route
A route within defined limits, surveyed and confirmed to have sufficient depth, designated for use by vessels requiring deep draught.
- Dispatch
A payment made by the shipowner to the charterer for completing loading or discharging operations before the agreed laytime expires.
- Docking Survey
An in-water or drydock inspection of the hull, rudder, propeller, and sea valves required by classification societies every two to five years.
- Drydock
A scheduled period when a vessel is taken out of service and placed in a dry facility for hull inspection, maintenance, and repairs.
- Flag State Inspection
An official inspection of a vessel carried out by or on behalf of the flag administration to verify compliance with its regulations.
- Floating Dock
A pontoon structure that can be submerged to receive a vessel then raised to lift it clear of the water for repair work.
- Graving Dock
A watertight basin into which a vessel is floated, then dewatered, allowing access to the entire underwater hull for inspection and repair.
- Hot Lay-up
A temporary idling of a vessel with full crew and systems maintained, enabling rapid return to service when market conditions improve.
- Hull Cleaning
Removal of fouling organisms and paint buildup from the underwater hull to restore vessel speed and fuel efficiency.
- Inshore Traffic Zone
The water between a traffic separation scheme and the adjacent coast, normally reserved for local and small craft traffic.
- Intermediate Survey
A classification survey conducted midway through the five-year special survey cycle, typically around the second or third year.
- Laid Up
The status of a vessel taken out of active trading and moored or anchored in a sheltered location while awaiting employment.
- Laytime
The agreed time allowed in a charter party for loading or discharging cargo; excess time results in demurrage charges.
- Mandatory Pilotage
A legal requirement in certain ports or waterways that a licensed pilot must be employed to navigate a vessel through that area.
- Notice of Readiness
A formal written notice given by the master to the charterer or shipper that the vessel has arrived and is ready to load or discharge.
- Pilot Boarding Point
A designated position at sea where a pilot boards or disembarks a vessel before proceeding to or after leaving a port.
- Pilotage
The navigational service provided by a licensed pilot who boards a vessel to guide it through a port or restricted waterway.
- Port State Control Inspection
An examination of a foreign-flagged vessel in port by officers of the port state to verify compliance with international conventions.
- Precautionary Area
A routing measure where vessels must navigate with caution due to converging traffic lanes or hazardous conditions.
- Recommended Track
A route of undefined width for the convenience of vessels in transit, indicated on charts but not mandatory.
- Renewal Survey
A statutory survey conducted to renew a SOLAS or MARPOL certificate for a further period, typically five years.
- Ship-to-Ship Transfer
The transfer of cargo between two vessels moored alongside each other at sea or in an anchorage.
- Special Survey
A comprehensive five-yearly classification survey requiring drydocking and full structural inspection to renew class for a further five years.
- Tailshaft Survey
A classification survey of the propeller shaft withdrawn from the stern tube to inspect for corrosion, cracking, and bearing wear.
- Traffic Separation Scheme
An IMO-adopted routing measure separating opposing traffic into lanes to reduce collision risk in congested waters.
- Vessel Traffic Service
A shore-based radar and communications service that monitors and manages vessel movements in a port or busy waterway.