Nautical Terms - know these terms to speak like a seasoned cruiser.

• Anchor: a heavy metal device attached to a chain that falls to the sea floor, keeping the ship in place.
• Anchorage: not the place in Alaska, its a designated area in a harbor where ships may anchor.
• Azipod: the ship's main propulsion unit, contained within a pod, that can rotate on its azimuth, providing both propulsion and steering.
• Beam: the width of the ship.
• Berth: the parking spot for the ship at the pier.
• Bow: the front, or pointy-end of the ship.
• Bowthruster: properllers located in the bow, perpendicular to the length of the ship, used to assist in docking.
• Bridge: a windowed structure on the ship where operations, such as steering the ship are conducted.
• Bunk: your bed.
• Companionway: staircases.
• Davit: a crane, especially those used to handle lifeboats.
• Deck: the floors on a ship are known as decks.
• Draft: distance the ship is below the waterline. If the water depth is less than the ship's draft, it will run aground.
• Fathom: Unit of depth. Equal to 6ft, or 1.8 Meters.
• Flotsam: Accumulation of junk floating on the water (wreckage, debris).
• Following seas: when waves of the sea are going in the same direction of the ship.
• Galley: the kitchen.
• Gangplank: a ramp allowing access on and off the ship.
• Head: A toilet. Sgt. Toomey (Biloxi Blues) might have said; "there are no toilets on a ship, only heads".
• Head seas: when waves of the sea are going in the opposite direction (towards) the ship.
• Helm: contains the facilities to steer the ship, usually located in the bridge
• Knot: the measure of speed on a ship. 1 kt = 1.15 Mph. So 20kts is equal to 23mph.
• List: a ship that leans to one side or the other, more or less long term; as opposed to roll.
• Muster: life boat drill.
• Nautical Mile: the measure of distance on a ship. 1 nm = 1.15 statute miles. So 20nm = 23 miles on land.
• Peek-a-boo Bridge: Bridge with an elevated observation deck where passengers can observe bridge operations.
• Pier: that at which the ship docks, or berths at.
• Pitch: periodic front to back motion of the ship while it is underway.
• Promenade deck: An open deck that extends from bow to stern on both sides, usually where the lifeboats are found.
• Port: the left-side of the ship when looking forward.
• Pullman (bed): a rather uncomfortable bed that lowers from the ceiling.
• Purser: officer of the ship that handles all financial matters.
• Roll: periodic side to side motion of the ship while it is underway.
• Ship's time: the time zone aboard the ship, which may differ from the time on the local island.
• SOLAS: internal maritime safety standard (Safety Of Life At Sea). A direct result of the Titanic sinking.
• Stabilizers: winglets under the waterline in the ship's hull that reduce roll.
• Starboard: the right-side of the ship when looking forward.
• Stateroom: the room you sleep in.
• Stern: the rear of the ship.
• Sternthruster: properllers located in the stern, perpendicular to the length of the ship, used to assist in docking.
• Tender: small craft that transports passengers to and from the ship when it is anchored away from shore.

You may hear other patterns as well, such a cruise ships of the same line greeting each other. And on a rare day, you may hear a 5 second blast repeated every two minutes. This is a foghorn pattern and is used whenever fog or low visibility conditions exist. I have heard it on cruise ships even on a hazy day, if visibility is reduced.

Ship's flags.

Depending on where you are, at sea or in port, the ship will display different flags:

• The ship always flys the flag of its registered country (Starboard side).
• The ship may also fly a corporate or other orgainzational flag.
• When in port, the ship flys the flag of the country it is in as a courtesy (Port side).
• When in port, the ship flys the "Q" quarantine (yellow) flag until it is cleared by customs.
• The "H" flag (white and red) indicates the local pilot is on board.