Glossary: C

24 terms.

• Cadet
  A trainee officer serving aboard ship as part of an approved maritime academy programme to gain sea service for certification.
• Call Sign
  An ITU-assigned alphanumeric identifier used to identify a vessel during radio communications.
• Capstan
  A vertical-axis powered drum on deck used to heave in mooring lines or warping lines.
• Cargo Control Room Operator
  An officer or rating on a tanker or bulk carrier who monitors and controls cargo loading, discharging, and ballasting operations from a centralised control room.
• Cargo Pump
  A large-capacity pump on a tanker used to discharge liquid cargo from cargo tanks to shore or to another vessel.
• Celestial Navigation
  The art and science of determining a vessel's position by measuring the altitudes of celestial bodies with a sextant.
• Certificate of Registry
  An official document issued by the flag state confirming the vessel's registration, nationality, and ownership details.
• Charter Party
  A contract between a shipowner and a charterer for the hire of a vessel or cargo space, setting out terms and conditions of the voyage.
• Chemical Tanker
  A tanker built to carry noxious liquid substances in bulk, constructed to IBC Code standards for cargo containment.
• Chief Engineer
  The senior engineer officer responsible for the operation, maintenance, and safety of all machinery and technical systems aboard.
• Chief Mate
  The officer second in command to the master, responsible for cargo operations, stability, deck maintenance, and crew safety.
• Chronometer
  A precision timekeeping instrument used in celestial navigation to provide accurate GMT for the calculation of longitude.
• Classification Society
  A non-governmental organisation that establishes and verifies structural and mechanical standards for ship construction and maintenance.
• Clearing Line
  A bearing or line on the chart that, when maintained, keeps a vessel clear of a specific hazard such as a shoal or reef.
• 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.
• Company Security Officer
  The shore-based person designated by a company to be responsible for developing and implementing its Ship Security Plans under the ISPS Code.
• Compass
  Instrument indicating direction relative to magnetic north or true north, fundamental to ship navigation.
• Compass Bearing
  A bearing measured by a ship's compass, requiring correction for both variation and deviation to obtain a true bearing.
• Container Ship
  A cargo vessel designed to carry ISO standard intermodal containers stacked in cells below deck and in tiers on deck.
• Controllable Pitch Propeller
  A propeller whose blade pitch can be varied in service, allowing speed and thrust control without changing engine rotation direction.
• Crankcase
  The lower enclosed section of an engine housing the crankshaft, connecting rods, and bearing lubrication system.
• Crude Oil Washing
  A tank cleaning method using crude oil cargo as the washing medium to dissolve and remove waxy residue from tank surfaces.
• Cruise Ship
  A large passenger vessel offering multi-day voyages with onboard leisure facilities as the primary commercial product.