19 terms starting with V.
- Valemax
Vale-built 380,000-400,000 DWT very large ore carriers (VLOC) for the Brazil-China iron ore trade.
- Vapour Recovery System (VRS)
Closed-loop return of cargo vapour from ship to shore (or shore to ship) during loading to prevent atmospheric venting.
- Variation
The angular difference between true north and magnetic north at a given location, shown on navigational charts.
- Veering
A clockwise shift in wind direction in the Northern Hemisphere, typically associated with the passage of a warm front.
- Vertical Centre of Gravity (KG)
Vertical distance from the keel to the ship's centre of gravity. Lower KG = more stable.
- Very High Frequency Radio (VHF)
Marine radio operating in the 156–174 MHz band used for short-range ship-to-ship and ship-to-shore communications.
- Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC)
A crude oil tanker with a deadweight of 200,000 to 320,000 DWT, among the largest vessels operating at sea.
- Very Low Sulfur Fuel Oil (VLSFO)
Fuel oil with a sulfur content of 0.50% m/m or less, required globally under IMO 2020 sulfur cap regulations.
- Vessel Traffic Service (VTS)
A shore-based radar and communications service that monitors and manages vessel movements in a port or busy waterway.
- Vessel Traffic Service (VTS)
Shore-based service that monitors and assists vessel movements in defined waters.
- Vetting Inspection
Pre-fixture or pre-charter inspection by an oil/chemical major or charterer; results determine acceptability for their cargo.
- VHF Channel 13
Bridge-to-bridge channel for navigational coordination, especially in US, Mexican, and some Asian waters.
- VHF Channel 16 (Ch 16)
The international distress, safety, and calling frequency at 156.8 MHz; all SOLAS ships must maintain a continuous watch on this channel.
- VHF Channel 70 / DSC
Dedicated VHF DSC channel (156.525 MHz) used to alert and call other stations before voice contact on ch.16.
- VLCC (VLCC)
Very Large Crude Carrier — single-hull-era 200,000-320,000 DWT crude tanker; today all double-hull post-OPA-90.
- Voith-Schneider Propeller (VSP)
Cycloidal propeller producing thrust in any direction by varying blade pitch as the disc rotates; common on tractor tugs.
- Voyage Charter
Charter party where the shipowner places the vessel at the charterer's disposal for one specified voyage at an agreed freight rate.
- Voyage Data Recorder (VDR)
A tamper-proof device recording bridge audio, radar images, and navigational data onto a protected capsule for post-incident investigation.
- VSAT
Very-Small-Aperture-Terminal satellite communications providing always-on broadband at sea (Ku/Ka band).