Marine Navigation Terms Quiz

Study Notes

Denotes Direction and Location

Abaft: behind or further aft, astern or toward the stern.
Abeam: at right angle to the centerline of the ship.
Aft: in or near toward the stern.
Alongside: on side a pier or berth.
Amidships: the middle portion of the ship.
Astern: toward the stern, an object or vessel that is abaft another vessel or object.
Bridge: raised platform from which a ship is navigated.
Bow: the forward part of the ship.
Broadside: at right angle to the fore and aft line of the ship.
Centerline: imaginary line running from the ships bow to stern: divides the ship lengthwise vertically.
Dead ahead: directly ahead of the ship’s bow in line of the centerline.
Dead astern: directly aft of the ship in line of the centerline.
Draft: depth of the water from the surface waterline to the ships keel.
Fantail: main deck section in the after part of the ship.
Freeboard: height of ships side from the waterline to the main deck.
Leeward: direction away from the wind.
Port Bow: bearing 315 degrees relative to the bow of the ship.
Portside: left hand side of the ship facing forward.
Starboard Bow: bearing 45 degrees relative to the bow.
Starboardside: right hand side of the ship facing forward.
Waterline: the line which makes the surface with the hull
Windward: direction toward the wind.

Denotes Nomenclature of Fittings

Bitts: strong iron post on a ships deck for working of fastening lines almost invariably in pairs.
Bulkhead: one of the vertical wall like structures enclosing a compartment.
Brig: a prison on a ship or a shore base.
Bollard: wooden or iron post on a pier or wharf for securing mooring lines.
Cleat: a small deck fittings or metal with horns used for securing lines.
Deck: on a ship, it corresponds to a floor in a building.
Compartment: it corresponds to a room in a building.
Overhead: equivalent to a ceiling of a building ashore.
Head: compartment of a ship having toilet facilities.
Superstructure: all equipment and fittings except armament extending above the hull.
Mast: upright spar supporting signal halyard and antennas in a naval ship.
Wardroom: officers mess and lounge room aboard ship.
Yardarm: a spar attached to the of a mast running athwart ship.
Rudder: flat movable structure and vertically attached to the stern used for steering the ship.
Lazarette: storage compartment of the stern below deck.
Galley: the ship kitchen.
Cabin: the captains living quarter.

Other Terms

Adrift: loose from mooring or out of place.
Aye-Aye: a reply to an order to indicate that it is understood and will be carried out.
Billet: allotted sleeping place: also a man’s location in the ships organization.
Avast: a command to desist for whatever is being done.
Black Gang: slang for the engineering force.
Bear Hand: cooperation among the ship’s company.
All Hands: entire ship’s company.
Binnacle list: sick list: list of men excuse for duty.
Boot: slang for new recruit.
Coxswain: enlisted men in charge of a boat.
Crossing the line: crossing the earth equator.
Dolphin: cluster of piles at the corner or edge of a pier.
Dead in the water: said of a ship when she has neither headway nor steerway in the water.
Fathom: six (6) feet unit of length.
Field day: general cleaning day aboard ship, usually a day before inspection.
Flag Officer: an officer with the rank of COMMODORE and above.
Gangway: opening in the bulwarks: order to stand a while and get out of way.
General Quarters: battle station for all hands.
Gig: ships boat designated for the use of the Commanding Officer.
Java: slang for coffee time.
Jump ship: slang for leaving the ship without authority/permission.
Irish pennant: untidy loose end of a line.
Lucky bag: stowage of article found adrift.
Landlubbers: seaman’s term for one that has never been at sea.
Passageway: corridor.
Pipe down: an order to keep silent
Pass the word: to repeat an order or information to the crew.
Pollywog: a person who has never cross the equator.
Sea dog: an old sailor.
Sea lawyer: an enlisted men who likes to argue; usually one who thinks he can twist the regulations and standing order to favor his personal inclinations.
Shell back: a man who has cross the equator and has been initiated.
Skag: slang for cigarettes.
Ship-shape: term for a neat and orderly condition.
Sickbay: ships hospital or dispensary.
Skippy: slang for undershirt.
Secure: to make fast; to tie; an order given in completion of a drill or exercise meaning to withdraw from drill station and duties.