Abaft: Toward the stern of a ship;
back; behind; back of; further aft than.
Aboard: On or in a ship.
Abreast: Side by side.
Accommodation Ladder: Stairs slung
at the gangway, leading down, the vessel's side to a point near
the water, for ship access from small boats.
Aft: Near the stern; toward the
stern.
After Body: That portion of a ship's
body aft of the midship section.
After Frames: Frames aft of amidships,
or frames near the stern of the ship.
After Peak: The aftermost tank
or compartment forward of the stern post.
After Perpendicular: A line
perpendicular to the base line intersecting the after-edge of the
stern post at the designed water line. On submarines or ships having
a similar stern, it is a vertical line passing through the point
where the designed water line intersects the stern of the ship.
Air Port: An opening in the side
or deck house of a vessel, usually round in shape and fitted with
a hinged frame in which a thick glass is secured.
Aloft: In the upper rigging; above
the decks.
Amidships: In the vicinity of the
middle portion of a vessel as distinguished from her ends. The term
is used to convey the idea of general locality but not that of definite
extent.
Anchor: A heavy iron or steel implement
attached to a vessel by means of a rope or chain cable for holding
it at rest in the water. When an anchor is lowered to the bottom,
the drag on the cable causes one or more of the prongs, called flukes,
to sink into the ground which provides holding power.
Anchor, Bower: The large anchors
carried in the bow of a vessel. Three are usually carried, two (the
main bowers) in the hawsepipes, or on bill boards, and a third (spare)
lashed on deck or elsewhere about the vessel for use ,in the event
either of the main bowers is lost. The weight varies with the size
and service of the ship.
Anchor, Kedge: A small anchor used
for warping or kedging. It is usually planted from a small boat,
the vessel being hauled up toward it. The weight varies, being usually
from 900 to 1,200 pounds.
Anchor, Sea: This is not a true
anchor as it does not sink to the bottom. It is a conical shaped
canvas bag required by the Bureau of Marine Inspection to be carried
in each lifeboat. When placed overboard it serves a double purpose
in keeping the boat head on into the sea and in spreading a vegetable
or animal oil from a container placed inside the bag. It is sometimes
called an oil spreader.
Anchor, Stream: An anchor weighing
from about one-fourth to one-third the weight of the main bowers
and used when mooring in a narrow channel or harbor to prevent the
vessel's stern from swinging with the current or the tide.
Angle: Same as angle bar.
Angle Bar: A bar of angle-shaped
section used as a stiffener and for attachment of one plate or shape
to another.
Angle Bulb: A structural
shape having a bulb on one flange of the, angle, used as a frame,
beam, or stiffener.
Angle Collar: A collar or band
made of one or more pieces of angle bar and fitted tightly around
a pipe, trunk, frame, longitudinal, or stiffener intersecting or
projecting through a bulkhead or deck for the purposes of making
a watertight or oiltight joint. See Stapling.
Appendages: Relatively small portions
of a vessel extending beyond its main outline as shown by transverse
and water plane sections, including such items as shafting, struts,
bossings, docking and bilge keels, propellers, rudder, and any,
other feature, extraneous to the hull and generally immersed.
Area of Sections: The area of any
cross section of the immersed portion of a vessel, the cross section
being taken at right angles to the fore and aft centerline of the
vessel.
Astern: Signifying position, in
the rear of or abaft the stern; as regards motion, the opposite
of going ahead; backwards.
Athwart: Across, from side to side,
transverse, across the line of a vessel's course.
Athwartship: Reaching across a
vessel, from side to side.
Auxiliaries: Various winches, pumps,
motors, engines, etc., required on a ship, as distinguished from
main propulsive machinery (boilers and engines on a steam installation).
Awning: A roof like canopy of canvas
suspended above a vessel's decks, bridges, etc., for protection
against sun and weather.
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Back Stay: Stays which extend from
all mast levels, except the lower, to the ship's side at some distance
abaft the mast. They serve as additional supports to prevent the
masts going forward. And also contribute to the lateral support,
thereby assisting the shrouds.
Balanced Rudder: A rudder with
its axis between the forward and after edge.
Ballast: Any weight carried solely
for the purpose of making the vessel more seaworthy. Ballast may
be either portable or fixed, depending upon the condition of the
ship. Fixed or permanent ballast in the form of sand, concrete,
lead, scrap, or pig iron is usually fitted to overcome an inherent
defect in stability or trim due to faulty design or changed character
of service. Portable ballast, usually in the form of water pumped
into or out of the bottom, peak, or wing ballast tanks, is utilized
to overcome a temporary defect in stability or trim due to faulty
loading, damage, etc., and to submerge submarines.
Ballast Tanks: Tanks provided in
various parts of a ship for introduction of water ballast when necessary
to add weight to produce a change in trim or in stability of the
ship, and for submerging submarines.
Ballast Water: Sea water, confined
to double bottom tanks, peak tanks, and other designated compartments,
for use in obtaining satisfactory draft, trim, or stability.
Ballasted Condition: A condition
of loading in which it becomes necessary to fill all or part of
the ballast tanks in order to secure proper immersion, stability,
and steering qualities brought about by consumption of fuel, stores,
and water or lack of part or all of the designed cargo.
Barge: A craft of full body and
heavy construction designed for the carriage of cargo but having
no machinery for self-propulsion.
Batten: Long, thin, strips of wood,
steel, or plastic, usually of uniform rectangular section used in
the drafting room and mold loft to lay down the lines of a vessel,
but sometimes thinned down in the middle or at the ends to take
sharp curves. A strip of wood or steel used in securing tarpaulins
in place. To secure by means of battens, as to "batten down
a hatch."
Battens, Cargo: A term applied
to the wood planks or steel shapes that are fitted to the inside
of the frames in a hold to keep the cargo away from the shell plating;
the strips of wood or steel used to prevent shifting of cargo.
Beam: The extreme width of a ship.
Also an Athwartship or longitudinal member of the ship's structure
supporting the deck.
Beam Knee: A bracket between a
frame or stiffener and the end of a beam; a beam arm.
Beam Line: A line showing the points
of intersection between the top edge of the beam and the molded
frame line, also called it molded deck line.”
Beam, Transom: A strong deck beam
situated in the after end of the vessel connected at each end to
the transom frame. The cant beams which support the deck plating
in the overhang of the stern are attached to and radiate from it.
Bearer: A term applied to foundations,
particularly those having vertical web plates as principal members.
The vertical web plates of foundations are also called bearers.
Bearing: A block on or in which
a journal rotates; a bearing block.
Bell Mouthed: A term used to signify
the open end of a pipe when it expands or spreads out with an increasing
diameter.
Below: Underneath the surface
of the water. Underneath a deck or decks.
Bending Rolls: A large machine
used to give curvature to plates by passage in contact with three
rolls.
Bending Slab: Heavy cast-iron blocks
with square or round holes for “dogging down” arranged to form a
large solid floor on which frames and structural members are bent
and formed.
Berth: A term applied to a bed
or a place to sleep. Berths, as a rule, are, permanently built into
the structure of the staterooms or compartments. They are constructed
singly and one above the other. Also, a place for a ship.
Between Decks: The space between
any two, not necessarily adjacent decks. Frequently expressed as
“'tween decks”.
Bevel: A term for a plane having
any other angle than 90 degrees to a given reference plane.
Bevel, Closed: A term applied where
one flange of a bar is bent to form an acute angle with the other
flange.
Bevel, Open: A term applied where
one flange of a bar is bent to form an obtuse angle with the other
flange. Frame bars in the bow and the stern of a vessel are given
an open bevel to permit access for riveting to shell and to keep
the standing flange parallel to the deck beams.
Bight: A loop or bend in a rope;
strictly, any part between the two ends may be termed the bight.
Bilge: The rounded portion of a
vessel's shell which connects the bottom with side. To open a vessel's
lower body to the sea.
Bilge Plates: The curved shell
plates that fit the bilge.
Bilges: The lowest portion of a
ship inside the hull, considering the inner bottom where fitted
as the bottom hull limit.
Bill Board: An inclined platform,
fitted at the intersection of the forward weather deck and the shell,
for stowing an anchor. It may be fitted with a tripping device for
dropping the anchor overboard. Seldom fitted since the stockless
anchor has come into general use.
Bitter End: The inboard end of
a vessel's anchor chain which is made fast in the chain locker.
Bitts: A term applied to short
metal or wood columns extending up from a base plate secured to
a deck or bulwark rail or placed on a pier and to timbers extended
up through and a short distance above a deck for the purpose of
securing and belaying ropes, hawsers, cables', etc. Also called
bollards.
Bitumastic: A black tarlike' composition
largely of bitumen or asphalt and containing such other ingredients
as rosin, Portland cement, slaked lime, petroleum, etc. It is used
as a protective coating in ballast and trimming tanks, chain lockers,
shaft alleys, etc.
Bleeder: A small cock, valve, or
plug to drain off small quantities of fluids from a container or
system.
Blind Pulley: A circular block
of hard wood with rounded edges perforated by several holes having
grooves running from them to one side of the block. One of these
blocks is secured to an end of a part of the standing rigging, as
a shroud, and another to the chain plate or to some part of the
ship and the two are connected to one another by a lashing passing
through the holes. Commonly called "dead eyes."
Block: The name given to a pulley
or sheave, or a system of pulleys or sheaves, mounted in a frame
or shell and used for moving objects by means of ropes run over
the pulleys or sheaves. The prefixes single, double, triple, etc.,
indicate the number of pulleys or sheaves in the block. The five
principal parts of a block are (a) the shell, or outside frame,
(b) the sheave, on which the rope runs, (c) the pin, on which the
sheave turns, (d) the strap, by which the hook is held in position
and which provides bearing for the pin, and (e) the hook, which
may be open, sister, or shackle and fixed or swivel. The opening
between the top of the sheave and the shell is called the swallow,
that between the bottom of the sheave and the shell is called the
breech, and, the device attached to the bottom of the block opposite
the hook for securing the standing part of the fall to the block
is called the Becket.
Block, Cheek: A half shell block
with a single sheave bolted to a mast or other object which serves
as the other half shell or cheek. Usually used in connection with
halyards.
Block, Fiddle: A block having two
sheaves of different diameters, placed in the same plane one above
the other.
Block, Snatch: A single sheave
block having one side of the frame hinged so that it can be opened
to allow the bight of a rope to be placed on the sheave; thus avoiding
the necessity of threading the end of the rope through the swallow
of the block. Usually employed as a fair lead around obstructions.
Blower: A mechanical device used
to supply air under low pressure for artificial ventilation and
forced draft, usually of the centrifugal type.
Boarding: The act of going on board
a ship.
Bobstays: The chains or ropes attached
underneath the outer end of the bowsprit and led aft to the sten
to prevent the bowsprit from jumping up. Where two are fitted they
are called the inner and the cap bobstays; when three are fitted
they are called the inner, the middle, and the cap bobstays.
Body Plan: A plan consisting of
two half transverse elevations or end views of a ship, both having
a common vertical center line, so that the right-hand side represents
the ship as seen from ahead, and the left-hand side as seen from
astern. On the body plan appear the forms of the various cross sections,
the curvature of the deck lines at the side, and the projections,
as straight lines of the water lines, the bow and buttock lines,
and the diagonal lines.
Boiler: Any vessel, container,
or receptacle that is capable of generating steam by the internal
or external application of heat. The two general classes are fire
tube and water tube.
Boiler Casing: Walls fanning a
trunk leading from the boiler room to the boiler hatch, which protect
the different deck spaces from the heat of the boiler room, etc.
Boiler Room: A compartment in the
hold, in the middle or after section of a vessel where the boilers
are placed.
Bollards: See "bitts."
Bolster Plate: A piece of plate
adjoining the hawse hole, to prevent the chafing of the hawser against
the cheek of a ship's bow. A plate for support like a pillow or
cushion.
Bolt: A metal rod used as a fastening.
With few exceptions, such as drift bolts, a head or shoulder is
made on one end and a screw thread to carry a nut is cut on, the
other.
Bolting Up: Securing by means of
bolts and nuts parts of a structure in proper position for permanent
attachment by riveting or welding. A workman employed on this work
is called a "bolter up."
Bonjean Curves: Curves of areas
of transverse sections of a ship. The curves of the moments of these
areas above the base line are sometimes included.
Booby Hatch: An access hatch from
a weather deck protected by a hood from sea and weather. The hood
is often fitted with a sliding cover to facilitate access.
Boom: A term applied to a spar
used in handling cargo, or to which the lower edge of, a fore-and
-aft sail is attached.
Boom Table: A structure built up
around a mast from the deck to support the heel bearings of booms
and to provide proper working clearances when a number of booms
are installed on or around one mast.
Boot topping: An outside area on
a vessel's hull from bow to stern between certain waterlines to
which special air, water, and grease-resisting paint is applied;
also the paint applied to such areas.
Bosom: The inside of an angle bar.
Bosom Bar: An angle fitted inside
another.
Bosom Plate: A plate bar or angle
fitted in the bosoms of two angle bars to connect the ends of the
two angles as if by a butt strap.
Boss: The curved, swelling portion
of the ship's underwater hull around the propeller shaft .
Boss Plate: The plate that covers
the boss.
Bottom: That portion of a vessel's
shell between the keel and the lower turn of the bilge.
Bottom, Outer: A term applied to
the bottom shell plating in a double bottom ship.
Bottom Plating: That part of the
shell plating which is below the water line. More specifically,
the immersed shell plating from bilge to bilge.
Bow: The forward end of the ship.
The sides of the vessel at and for some distance abaft the stem,
designated as the right-hand or starboard bow and the left-hand,
or port-bow.
Bow Lines: Curves representing
vertical sections parallel to the central longitudinal vertical
plane of the bow end of a ship. Similar curves in the aft part of
a hull are called buttock lines. Also, a rope leading from the vessel's
bow to another vessel or to a wharf for the purpose of hauling her
ahead or for securing her.
Bowsprit: A spar projecting forward
over the bow for the purpose of holding the lower ends of the head
sails.
Brace: A rope attached to the yard
arm, used to alter the position of the yard arm in a horizontal
plane. The operation is known as trimming the sail.
Bracket: A steel plate, commonly
of triangular shape with a reinforcing flange, on its free edge,
used to connect two parts such as deck beam to frame, frame to ,margin
plate, 'etc.; also used to stiffen or tie beam angles to bulkheads,
frames to longitudinals, etc.
Breadth, Extreme: The maximum breadth
measured over plating or planking, including beading or fenders.
Breadth, Molded: The greatest breadth
of the vessel measured from heel of frame on one side to heel of
frame on other side.
Breadth, Registered: Measured at
amidships at its greatest breadth to outside of plating.
Break of Forecastle or Poop: The
point at which the partial decks known as the forecastle and poop
are discontinued.
Breakwater: A term applied to plates
or timbers fitted on a forward weather deck to form a V -shaped
shield against water that is shipped over the bow.
Breast Hook: A triangular-shaped
plate fitted parallel to and between decks or side stringers in
the bow for the purpose of rigidly fastening together the peak frames,
stem, and outside plating; also used, in conjunction with the above
duties, to fasten the ends of side stringers firmly together.
Bridge: A high transverse platform,
often fanning the top of a bridge house, extending from side to
side of the ship, and from which a good view of the weather deck
may be had. An enclosed space called the pilot house is erected
on the bridge in which are installed the navigating instruments,
such as the compass and binnacle, the control for the steering apparatus,
and the signals to the engine room. While the pilot house is generally
extended to include a chartroom and sometimes staterooms, a clear
passageway should be left around it. As the operation of the ship
is directed from the bridge or flying bridge above it, there should
also be a clear, open passage from one side of the vessel to the
other. The term is also applied to the narrow walkways, called connecting
bridges, which connect the bridge deck with the poop and forecastle
decks. This type of bridge is usually found on tankers and is desirable
whenever bulwarks are not fitted.
Bridge House: A term applied to
an erection or superstructure fitted about amidships on the upper
deck of a ship.
Bridge, Navigating, or Flying:
The uppermost platform erected at the level of the top of the pilot
house. I t generally consists of a narrow walkway supported by stanchions,
running from one side of the ship to the other and the space over
the top of the pilot house. A duplicate set of navigating instruments
and controls for the steering gear and engine room signals are installed
on the flying bridge so that the ship may be navigated in good weather
from this platform. Awnings erected on stanchions and weather cloths
fitted to the railing give protection against sun and wind.
Broken Backed: Said of a vessel
when, owing to insufficient longitudinal strength, grounding, or
other accident, her sheer is reduced or lost, thereby producing
a drooping effect at both ends.
Brow: A gangplank usually fitted
with rollers at the end resting on the wharf to allow for the movement
of the vessel with the tide. See watershed.
Buckle: A distortion, such as a
bulge; to become distorted; to bend out of its own plane.
Buckler: Generally, but not exclusively,
applied to various devices used to prevent water from entering hawse
and chain pipes, etc.
Buckling: The departure of a plate,
shape, or stanchion from its designed plane or axis when subjected
to load.
Building Slip: An inclined launching
berth where the ship is built.
Bulkhead: A term applied to anyone
of the partition walls which subdivide the interior of a ship into
compartments or rooms. The various types of bulkheads are distinguished
by the addition of a word or words, explaining the location, use,
kind of material or method of fabrication, such as fore peak, longitudinal,
transverse, watertight, wire mesh, etc. Bulkheads which contribute
to the strength and seaworthiness of a vessel are called strength
bulkheads, those which are essential to the watertight subdivision
are watertight or oiltight bulkheads.
Bulkhead, After Peak: A term applied
to the first transverse bulkhead forward of the stern post. This
bulkhead forms the forward boundary of the afterpeak tank and should
be made watertight.
Bulkhead, Collision: The foremost
transverse watertight bulkhead in a ship which extends from the
bottom of the hold to the freeboard deck. It is designed to keep
water out of the forward hold in case of collision damage. Usually,
this is the fore peak bulkhead at the after end of the fore peak
tank.
Bulkhead, Joiner: Wood or light
metal bulkheads serving to bound staterooms, offices, etc., and
not contributing to the ship's strength.
Bulkhead Stiffener: Members attached
to the plating of a bulkhead for the purpose of holding it in a
plane when pressure is applied to one side. The stiffener is generally
vertical, but horizontal stiffeners are used and both are found
on same bulkheads. The most efficient stiffener is a T section;
flat bars, angles, channels, zees, H and I sections are commonly
used.
Bulkhead, Swash: A strongly built,
nontight bulkhead placed in oil or water tanks to slow down the
motion of the fluid set up by the motion of the ship.
Bulkhead, Wire Mesh: A partition
or enclosure bulkhead, used largely in store rooms, shops, etc.,
made of wire mesh panels.
Bulldozer - A machine, usually
hydraulic or electric, for bending bars, shapes or plates while
cold.
Bulwark: A term applied to the
strake of shell plating or the side planking above a weather deck.
It helps to keep the deck dry and also serves as a guard against
losing deck cargo or men overboard. Where bulwarks are fitted, it
is customary to provide openings in them which are called freeing
ports, to allow the water that breaks over to clear itself.
Bulwark Stay: A brace extending
from the deck to a point near the top of the bulwark, to keep it
rigid.
Bumped: A term applied to a plate
which has been pressed or otherwise formed to a concave or convex
shape. Used for heads of tanks, boilers, etc.
Bunk: A built-in berth or bed.
Bunker: A compartment used for
the stowage of coal or oil fuel.
Buoyancy: Ability to float; the
supporting effort exerted by a liquid (usually water) upon the surface
of body, wholly or partially immersed in it.
Buoyancy, Reserve: The floating
or buoyant power of the un submerged portion of the hull of a vessel.
Usually referred to a specific condition of loading.
Butt: That end or edge of a plate
or timber where it comes squarely against another piece; or, the
joint thus formed.
Buttock: The rounded-in overhanging
part on each side of the stern in front of the rudder, merging underneath
in the run.
Buttock Lines: The curves shown
by taking vertical longitudinal sections of the after part of a
ship's hull parallel to the ship's keel. Similar curves in forward
part of hull are "bow lines."
Butt Strap:
A term applied to a strip of plate serving as a connecting strap
between the butted ends of the plating. The strap connections at
the edges are called seam straps.
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Cabin: The interior of a deck house,
usually the space set aside for the use of officers and passengers.
Caisson: A watertight structure
used for raising sunken vessels by means of compressed air. Also
the floating gate to close the entrance to a dry dock.
Calking: The operation of jamming
material into the contact area to make a joint watertight or oiltight.
Camber, Round of Beam: The weather
decks of ships are rounded up or arched in an Athwartship direction
for the purpose of draining any water that may fall on them to the
sides of the ship where it can be led overboard through scuppers.
The arching or rounding up is called the camber or round of the
beam and is expressed in inches in connection with the greatest
molded breadth of the ship in feet, thus, "the main deck has
a camber of 10 inches in 40 feet." In is measured at the center
line of the ship at the greatest molded breadth and is the distance
from the chord to the top of the arch.
Cant: A term signifying an inclination
of an object from a perpendicular; to turn anything so that it does
not stand perpendicularly or square to a given object.
Cant Frame: A frame the plane of
which is not square to the keel.
Capstan, Steam: A vertical drum
or barrel operated by a steam engine and used for handling heavy
anchor chains, heavy hawsers, etc. The engine is usually non-reversing
and transmits its power to the capstan shaft through a worm wheel.
The drum is fitted with pawls to prevent overhauling under the strain
of the hawser or chain when the power is shut off. The engine may
be disconnected and the capstan operated by hand through the medium
of capstan bars.
Cargo: Merchandise or goods accepted
for transportation by ship.
Cargo Boom: A heavy boom used in
loading cargo. See "boom."
Cargo Hatch: A large opening in
the deck to permit loading of cargo.
Cargo Mat: A mat, usually square
and made of manila rope, used to protect the deck covering while
taking stores, etc., on board.
Cargo Net: A square net, made in
various sizes of manila rope or chain, and used in connection with
the ship's hoisting appliances to load cargo, etc., aboard the vessel.
Cargo Port: An opening, provided
with a watertight cover or door, in the side of a vessel of two
or more decks, through which cargo is received and discharged.
Carlings: Short beams forming a
portion of the framing above deck openings. Also called headers
when they support the ends of interrupted deck beams.
Casings, Engine and Boiler Rooms:
The walls or partitions forming trunks above the engine and boiler
spaces, providing air and ventilation and enclosing the uptakes.
They extend somewhat above the weather deck, or superstructure deck
if fitted, and are of sufficient size to permit installation and
removal of engines and boilers. / Doors are fitted at the several
deck levels to permit access to the gratings and ladders.
Cavil: A heavy timber fastened
to the forward or after bitts about midway between the base and
top to form a cleat. The bitt so built.
Ceiling: A term applied to the
planking with which the inside of a vessel is sheathed. Also applied
to the sheet metal or wood sheathing in quarters and storerooms.
Ceiling, Floor: Planking fitted
on top of the floors or double bottom in the cargo holds.
Ceiling, Hold: Thick strakes of
planking fastened to the inside flanges or edges of the framing
in the cargo holds.
Centerline: The middle line of
the ship from stem to stern as shown in any waterline view.
Center of Buoyancy: The geometric
center of gravity of the immersed volume of the displacement or
of the displaced water, determined solely by the shape of the underwater
body of the ship. It is calculated for both the longitudinal location,
forward or aft of the middle perpendicular, and the vertical location
above the base line or below the designed waterline.
Center of Flotation: The geometric
center of gravity of the water plane at which the vessel floats,
forward or aft of the middle perpendicular. It is that point about
which a vessel rotates longitudinally when actuated by an external
force without change in displacement.
Center of Gravity: The point at
which the combined height of all the individual items going to make
up the total weight of the vessel may be considered as concentrated;
generally located longitudinally forward or aft of the middle perpendicular
and vertically above bottom of keel or below a stated waterline.
Center of Lateral Resistance: The
point through which a single force could act and produce an effort
equal to the lateral resistance of the vessel. It is ordinarily
assumed to be coincident with the center of gravity of the immersed
central longitudinal plane.
Center of Pressure: The point in
a sail or an immersed plane surface at which the resultant of the
combined pressure forces acts.
Central Lateral Plane: The
immersed longitudinal vertical middle plane of a vessel.
Chafing Plate: A plate fitted to
take the wear due to dragging moving gear or to protect ropes from
wearing where they rub on sharp edges. Also fitted on decks under
anchor chains.
Chain Locker: Compartment in forward
lower portion of ship in which anchor chain is stowed.
Chain Locker Pipe: Chain Pipe:
The iron-bound opening or section of pipe leading from the chain
locker to the deck, through which the chain cable passes.
Chain Plate: A bar or plate secured
to the shell of a vessel to which the standing rigging is attached
..
Chains: Usually refers to heavy
chains attached to the anchor. Also applied to the lower parts of
standing rigging which are attached to the chain plates.
Chain Stopper: A device used to
secure the chain cable when riding at anchor, thereby relieving
the strain on the windlass, and also for securing the anchor in
the housing position in the hawsepipe.
Chamfer: A bevel surface formed
by cutting away the angle of two intersecting faces of a piece of
material.
Chart House: A small room adjacent
to the bridge for charts and navigating instruments.
Chine: The line formed by the intersection
of side and bottom in ships having straight or slightly curved frames.
Chock: A term applied to oval-shaped
castings, either open or closed on top, and fitted with or without
rollers, through which hawsers and lines are passed. Also applied
to blocks of wood used as connecting or reinforcing pieces, filling
pieces, and supports for life boats. Also applied to the brackets
fitted to boiler saddles to prevent fore and aft motion and to small
brackets on the webs of frames, beams and stiffeners to prevent
tipping of the member.
Clamp: A metal fitting used to
grip and hold wire ropes. Two or more may be used to connect two
ropes in lieu of a short splice or in turning in an eye. Also a
device generally operated by hand, for holding two or more pieces
of material together, usually called a “C“clamp.
Cleats: Pieces of wood or metal,
of various shapes according to their uses, usually having two projecting
arms or horns upon which to belay ropes. The term Cavil is sometimes
applied to a cleat of extra size and strength.
CIinometer: An instrument used
for indicating the angle of roll or pitch of a vessel.
Cup: A four- to six-inch angle
bar welded temporarily to floors, plates, webs, etc. It is used
as a hold-fast which, with the aid of a bolt, pulls objects up close
in fitting. Also, short lengths of bar, generally angle, used to
attach and connect the various members of the ship structure.
Close Butt: A riveted joint in
which the ends of the connected members are brought into metal-to-metal
contact by grinding and pulling tight by clips or other means before
the rivets are driven.
Club-Foot: A fore foot in which
displacement or volume is placed near the keel and close to the
forward perpendicular, resulting in full water lines below water
and fine lines at and near the designed waterline, the transverse
sections being bulbshaped. Also called a bulb or bulbous bow.
Coaming, Bulkhead: A term applied
to the top and bottom strakes of bulkheads, which are usually made
thicker than the remainder of the plating and which act as girder
web plates in helping to support the adjacent structure.
Coaming, Hatch: A frame bounding
a hatch for the purpose of stiffening the edges of the opening and
forming the support for the covers. In a steel ship it generally
consists of a strake of strong vertical plating completely bounding
the edges of a deck opening.
Cofferdams: Empty spaces separating
two or more compartments for the purpose of insulation, or to prevent
the liquid contents of one compartment from entering another in
the event of the failure of the walls of one to retain their tightness.
Collar: A piece of plate or a shape
fitted around an opening for the passage of a continuous member
through a deck, bulkhead, or other structure to secure tightness
against oil, water, air, dust, etc.
Collier: A vessel designed for
the carrying of coal, which may or may not be fitted with special
appliances for coal handling.
Companion: The cover over a companionway.
Companionway: A hatchway or opening
in a deck provided with a set of steps or ladders leading from one
deck level to another for the use of personnel.
Compartment: A subdivision of space
or room in a ship.
Composite Vessel: A vessel with
a metal frame and a wooden shell and decks.
Cordage: A comprehensive term for
all ropes of whatever size or kind on board a ship.
Counter: That part of a ship's
stern which overhangs the stern post, usually that part above the
water line.
Countersink: A term applied to
the operation of cutting the sides of a drilled or punched hole
into the shape of the frustum of a cone. Also applied to the
tool by which countersinking is done.
Countersunk Hole: A hole tapered
or beveled around its edge to allow a rivet or bolt head or a rivet
point to seat flush with or below the surface of the riveted or
bolted object.
Countersunk Rivet: A rivet driven
flush on one or both sides.
Coupling: A device for securing
together the adjoining ends of piping, shafting, etc., in such a
manner as will permit disassembly whenever necessary. Flanges connected
by bolts and pipe unions are probably the most common forms of couplings.
Cradle: A support of wood or metal
shaped to fit the object which is stowed upon it.
Cradle, Boat: The heavy wood or
metal supports for a ship's boat, cut to fit the shape of the hull
of the boat and usually faced with leather, In which the boat is
stowed.
Cradle, Launching: The structure
of wood, or wood and steel, which is built up from the sliding ways,
closely fitting the shell plating, which supports the weight of
the ship and distributes it to the sliding ways when a ship is being
launched. The extent of the cradle and the number of sections into
which it may be divided depends on the weight and length of the
ship.
Cradle, Marine Railway: The carriage
on which the ship rests when being docked on a marine rail way.
Crane: A machine used for hoisting
and moving pieces of material or portions of structures or machines
that are either too heavy to be handled by hand or cannot be handled
economically by hand. Bridge, gantry, jib, locomotive, and special
purpose cranes are used in shipyards.
Cribbing: Foundations of heavy
blocks and timbers for supporting a vessel during the period of
construction.
Cross Trees: A term applied to
athwart ship pieces fitted over the trees on a mast. They serve
as a foundation for a platform at the top of a mast or as a support
for outriggers.
Crown: Term sometimes used denoting
the round-up or camber of a deck. The crown of an anchor is located
where the arms join the shank.
Crow's Nest: A lookout station
attached to or near the head of a mast.
Crutch: A term applied to a support
for a boom. Also applied to the jaw of a boom or gaff.
Cutwater: The forward edge of the
stem at or near the water line is called the cutwater.
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Davit: A device used to lower and
raise ship's boats and sometimes for other purposes. The rotary,
or most common type, consists of a vertical pillar, generally circular
in section, with the upper portion bent in a fair curve and having
sufficient outreach to clear the side of the ship plus a clearance.
Each ship's boat has two davits, one near its bow and one near its
stern; they both rotate; lifting the boat, by means of blocks and
falls suspended from the overhanging end, from its stowage position
on deck and swinging it clear of the ship's side. This type of davit
is usually stepped in a socket attached to the side of the vessel
or on the deck next below the boat deck near the side and held in
place at the boat deck by a keeper or bearing.
Dead Eye: See Blind Pulley
Dead Flat: The Midship portion
of a vessel throughout the length of which a constant shape of cross
section is maintained. ,
Deadlight: A term applied to a
port lid or cover; a metal shutter fitted to protect the glass in
a fixed or port light. Often incorrectly applied to a fixed light
in a deck, bulkhead or shell.
Dead Rise: The amount which the
straight portion of the bottom of the floor, of the midship section
rises above the base line in the half-beam of the vessel. Usually
expressed in inches.
Deadweight: The difference between
the light displacement and the full load displacement of a vessel;
the total weight of cargo, fuel, water, stores, passengers, and
crew and their effects that a ship can carry when at her maximum
allowable draft.
Deadweight, Cargo: The number of
tons remaining after deducting from the deadweight the weight of
fuel, water, stores, dunnage, and crew and their effects necessary
for use on a voyage. Also called" useful" or "paying"
deadweight.
Deadwood: The vertical surfaces
at the extreme after body of a ship.
Deck: A deck in a ship corresponds
to a floor in a building. It is the plating, planking, or covering
of any tier of beams above the inner bottom forming a floor, either
in the hull or superstructure of a ship. Decks are designated by
their location as upper deck, main deck, etc., and forward lower
deck, after superstructure deck, etc. The after portion of a weather
deck was formerly known as the quarter deck and on warships is allotted
to the use of the officers.
Deck Bolt: A special type of bolt
used to secure the planks of a wood deck to the beams or deck plating.
Deck, Bulkhead: The uppermost continuous
deck to which all main transverse bulkheads are carried. This deck
should be watertight to prevent flooding adjacent compartments if
a compartment is bilged.
Deck, Freeboard: The deck to which
the classification societies require the vessel's freeboard to be
measured. Usually the upper strength deck.
Deck Heights: The vertical distance
between the molded lines of two adjacent decks.
Deck House: A term applied to a
partial superstructure that does not extend from side to side of
a vessel as do the bridge, poop, and forecastle.
Deck Machinery: A term applied
to capstans, windlasses, winches, and miscellaneous machinery located
on the decks of ship.
Deck Planks or Planking: A term
applied to the wood sheathing or covering on a deck. Oregon pine,
yellow pine, and teak are most commonly used. The seams between
the planks should be thoroughly calked.
Deck Plating: A term applied to
the steel plating of a deck.
Deck Stringer: The strip of deck
plating that runs along the outer edge of a deck.
Deep Floors: A term applied to
the floors at the ends of a ship which are deeper than the standard
depth of floor at amidships.
Deep Tanks: Tanks extending from
the bottom or inner bottom of a vessel up to or higher than the
lowest deck. They are fitted with hatches so that they also may
be used for cargo.
Deep Waterline: The waterline at
which the vessel floats when carrying the maximum allowable load.
Depth Molded: The vertical distance
from the molded base line to the top of the uppermost strength deck
beam at side, measured at midlength of the vessel.
Derrick: A device consisting of
a kingpost, boom with topping lift, and necessary rigging for hoisting
heavy weights, cargo, etc.
Diagonal Line: A line cutting the
body plan diagonally from the centerline, representing a plane introduced
for line fairing purposes.
Dished Plates: Plates, generally
of circular shape, which have been furnaced or pressed into a concave
form.
Displacement: The weight of fluid
displaced by a freely floating and unrestrained vessel, the weight
of which exactly equals the weight of the vessel and everything
on board at the time the displacement is recorded. Displacement
is expressed in tons.
Displacement Curves: Curves drawn
to give the displacement of the vessel at varying drafts. Usually
these curves are drawn to show the displacement in either salt or
fresh water, or in both.
Displacement, Designed: The displacement
of a vessel when floating at her designed draft.
Displacement, Full Load: The displacement
of a vessel when floating at her greatest allowable draft as established
by the classification societies.
Displacement, Light: The displacement
of the vessel complete with all items of outfit, equipment, and
machinery on board but excluding all cargo, fuel, water, stores,
passengers, dunnage, and the crew and their effects.
Dock: A basin for the reception
of vessels. Wet docks are utilized for the loading and unloading
of ships. Dry docks are utilized for the construction or repair
of ships.
Dockyard: A shipyard or plant where
ships are constructed or repaired.
Dog: A short metal rod or bar fashioned
to form a clamp or clip ,and used for holding watertight doors,
manholes, or pieces of work in place.
Dog Shores: Diagonal braces placed
to prevent the sliding ways from moving when the shores and keel
blocks are removed before launching. Dog shores are the last timbers
to be knocked away at a launching.
Dolly Bar: A heavy steel bar used
to hold against the heads of rivets while the points are being clinched
when the space is not sufficient to permit the use of a regular
holding-on tool.
Dolphin: A term applied to several
piles that are bound together, situated either at the corner of
a pier or out in the stream and used for docking and warping vessels.
Also applied to single piles and bollards on piers that are used
in docking and warping.
Donkey Engine: A small gas, steam,
or electric auxiliary engine set on deck and used for lifting, etc.
Door, Airtight: A door so constructed
that when dosed it will prevent the passage of air under a small
pressure. Used on air locks to boiler rooms under forced draft and
in similar locations.
Door Frame: The frame surrounding
a door opening on which the door seats.
Door, Joiner: A light door fitted
to staterooms and quarters where air and watertightness is not required.
Made of wood, light metal, and metal-covered wood. Metal joiner
doors with pressed panels are extensively used.
Door, Watertight: A door so constructed
that, when dosed, it will prevent water under pressure from passing
through. A common type consists of a steel plate, around the edges
of which a frame of angle bar is fitted, having a strip of rubber
attached to the reverse side of the flange that is fastened to the
door plate. The strip of rubber is compressed against the toe of
the flange of an angle iron door frame by dogs or clamps.
Door, Weathertight: A term applied
to outside doors on the upper decks which are designed to keep out
the rain and spray.
Double Bottom: A term applied to
the space between the inner and outer skins of a vessel called respectively
the "inner bottom" and "shell," usually extending
from bilge to bilge and for nearly the whole length of the vessel
fore and aft, and subdivided into water or oil tight compartments.
Doubling Plate: An extra plate
secured to the original plating for additional strength or to compensate
for an opening in the structure.
Dowel: A pin of wood or metal inserted
in the edge or face of two boards or pieces to secure them together.
Draft, Draught: The depth of the
vessel below the waterline measured vertically to the lowest part
of the hull, propellers, or other reference point. When measured
to the lowest projecting portion of the vessel, it is called the "draft,
extreme"; when measured at the bow, it is called "draft,
forward"; and when measured at the stern, the "draft,
aft" ; the average of the draft, forward, and the draft, aft,
is the "draft, mean," and the mean draft when in full
load condition is the "draft, load."
Draft Marks: The numbers which
are placed on each side of a vessel near the bow and stern, and
often also amidships, to indicate the distance from the number to
the bottom of the keel or a fixed reference point. These numbers
are six inches high, are spaced twelve inches bottom to bottom vertically,
and are located as close to the bow and stern as possible.
Drag: The designed excess of draft,
aft, over that forward, measured from the designer's waterline.
The drag is constant and should not be confused with trim.
Drift: When erecting the structure
of a ship and rivet holes in the pieces to be connected are not
concentric; the distance that they are out of line is called the
drift. This should be corrected by reaming the holes, but common
practice, which is prohibited, is to drive tapered pins, called "drift
pins," into the unfair holes to force them into line.
Drift Pin: A conical-shaped pin
gradually tapered from a blunt point to a diameter a little larger
than the rivet holes in which it is to be used. The point is inserted
in rivet holes that are not fair, and the other end is hammered
until the holes are forced into line.
Dry Dock, Floating: A hollow floating
structure of L- or U-shaped cross section, so designed that it may
be submerged to permit floating a vessel into it, and that it may
then raise the vessel and itself so that the deck of the dock and
consequently the bottom of the vessel is above the level of the
water. The bottom of a floating dry dock consists of one or more
pontoons or rectangular shaped vessels with high wing structure
erected on one or both sides according to whether the section is
to be L- or U-shaped. The deck of the pontoon is fitted with stationary
keel blocks and movable bilge blocks which can be pulled under a
vessel from the top of the wing structure. Pumps are fitted in the
wings by which the dock can be quickly submerged or raised. Floating
dry docks are used for repairing and painting the underwater portions
of vessels and for docking a damaged vessel.
Dry Dock, Graving: A basin excavated
at a waterway and connected thereto by gates or a caisson which
may be opened to let a vessel in or out and then closed and the
water pumped out. The dock is fitted with stationary keel blocks
and movable bilge blocks, which usually are fitted on rack tracks,
allowing them to be pulled under a vessel before the water is pumped
out. Graving docks are common in navy yards, and although more expensive
to construct than floating dry docks, they are practicality permanent
and supply a more rigid foundation for supporting a ship. The gate
of a graving dry dock is usually a caisson which is a complete vessel
in itself, having a strong rectangular shaped keel and end I posts
which bear against the bottom sill and side, ledges at the entrance
of the dry dock. The caisson is designed so that its draft may be
adjusted by water ballast until it bears against the sill and ledges
and is equipped with flood valves and power pumps to make this adjustment.
When a ship is to be docked, sluice valves in the caisson or in
the dock structure are opened until the water in the dock reaches
the same level as the water outside. The caisson is then floated
to one side, allowing a vessel to enter the dock. The caisson is
then floated back to close the entrance, completely separating the
basin from the waterway, and after the vessel is lined up over the
keel blocks the water is pumped out of the dry dock.
Dry Dock, Railway: A railway dock
consists of tracks built on an incline on a strong foundation and
extending from a distance in-shore sufficient to allow docking a
vessel of the maximum size for which the dock is built, to a distance
under water sufficient to allow the same vessel to enter the cradle.
The cradle running on the tracks may be of wood or steel fitted
with keel and bilge blocks and sufficiently weighted to keep it
on the track when in the water. A hoisting engine with a winding
drum or wildcat is fitted at the in-shore end of the railway which
operates the cradle by a cable or chain. This type of dry dock is
used for docking small ships. It is commonly called a "marine
railway."
Dunnage: Any material, such as
blocks, boards, paper, burlap, etc., necessary for the safe stowage
of stores and cargo.
Dutchman: A piece of wood or steel
fitted into an opening to cover up poor joints or crevices caused
by poor workmanship.
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Edge, Sight: That edge of
a strake of plating which laps outside another strake and is, therefore,
in plain sight.
Elbow-EIl: A pipe fitting
that makes an angle between adjacent pipes, always 90 degrees unless
another angle is stated.
Electrode: Either a positive
or negative pole or terminal in an electric circuit; rod used to
make an electric weld.
Engine Room: Space where
the main engines of a ship are located.
Entrance: The
forward underwater portion of a vessel at or near the bow. The angle
formed between the center line of the ship and the tangent to the
designed waterline is called the angle of entrance.
Equilibrium, Neutral:
The state of equilibrium in which a vessel inclined from its original
position of rest by an external force tends to maintain the inclined
position assumed after that force has ceased to act.
Equilibrium, Stable: The
state of equilibrium in which a vessel inclined from its original
position of rest by an external force tends to return to its original
position after that force has ceased to act.
Equilibrium, Unstable: The
state of equilibrium in which a vessel inclined from its original
position of rest by an external force tends to depart farther from
the inclined position assumed after that force has ceased to act.
Erection: The process of
hoisting into place and joining the various parts of a ship's hull,
machinery, etc.
Evaporator:
An auxiliary for supplying fresh water, consisting of a salt water
chamber heated by coils or nests of tubing through which live steam
is circulated, converting the water into steam which is passed to
a condenser or distiller to make up loss of boiler feed water or
for other purposes requiring fresh water.
Even Keel: When
a boat rides on an even keel, its plane of flotation is either coincident
with or parallel to the designed waterline.
Expansion Joint: A term applied
to a joint which permits linear movement to take up the expansion
and contraction due to changing temperature or ship movement.
Expansion Tanks: Overflow
tanks used to provide for expansion, overflow, and replenishment
of oil in stowage or cargo tanks.
Expansion Trunk: A trunk
extending above a hold which is intended for stowage of liquid cargo.
The surface of the cargo liquid is kept sufficiently high in the
trunk to permit of expansion' of the liquid without danger of excessive
strain on the hull or of overflowing, and of contraction of the
liquid without increase of the free surface and its accompanying
effect upon the stability of the vessel.
Extra Strong: The correct
term or name applied to a certain class of pipe which is heavier
than standard pipe and not as heavy as double extra strong pipe.
Often, but less correctly, called extra heavy pipe.
Eye: A hole through the head
of a pin, bolt, etc., or a loop forming a hole or opening through
which something is intended to pass, such as a hook, pin, shaft,
or rope.
Eye Bolt: A bolt having either
a head looped to form a worked eye or a solid head with a hole drilled
through it forming a shackle eye.
Eyes: The forward end of
the space below the upper deck of a ship which lies next abaft the
stem where the sides of the ship approach very near to each other.
The hawsepipes are usually run down through the eyes of a ship.
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Fabricate: To shape, assemble,
and secure in place the component parts in order to form a complete
whole. To manufacture.
Face Plate: A flat plate
fitted perpendicular to the web and welded to the web plate, or
welded or riveted to the flange or flanges of a frame, beam stiffener,
or girder to balance the continuous plating attached to the opposite
flange of the member.
Fair Curves: Curves which
do not in any portions of their entire lengths show such changes
of direction as to mark those portions as out of harmony in any
respect with the curves as a whole or with the other portions of
the curves.
Fair or Fair Up: To so draw
the lines of a vessel that the defined surfaces will show no irregularities
throughout their entire extent. To line up the frames of a vessel
under construction to their proper position. Rivet holes are said
to be fair when corresponding holes in the members joined are concentric.
Fairleader: A fitting or
device used to preserve or to change the direction of a rope, chain,
or wire so that it will be delivered fairly or on a straight lead
to a sheave or drum without the introduction of extensive friction.
Fairleaders, or fairleads, are fixtures as distinguished from temporary
block rigs.
Fairwater: A term applied
to plating fitted to form a shape similar to a frustum of a cone
around the ends of shaft tubes and strut barrels to prevent an abrupt
change in the streamlines. Also applied to any casting or plating
fitted to the hull of a vessel for the purpose of preserving a smooth
flow of water.
Fall: The entire length of
rope used in a tackle. The end secured to the block is called the
standing part, the opposite end, the hauling part.
Fantail: The overhanging
stern section of vessels which have round or elliptical after endings
to uppermost decks and which extend well abaft the after perpendicular.
Fast: A rope or chain used
to moor a vessel to a wharf, designated in accordance with the end
of the boat with which it is used as bow-fast or stern-fast. See
Painter.
Fathom: A nautical
unit of length used in measuring cordage, chains, depths, etc. The
length varies in different countries, being six feet in the United
States and in Great Britain.
Fender: The
term applied to various devices fastened to or hung over the sides
of a vessel to prevent rubbing or chafing against other vessels
or piers. On small craft, as tug boats fenders of timber faced with
hardwood or flat steel plate, or of steel structure run fore and
aft on the outside of the vessel above the waterline and are firmly
secured to the hull. Wood spars, bundles of rope, woven cane, or
rope covered cork are hung over the sides by lines when permanent
fenders are not fitted.
Fid: A wood
or metal bar used to support the weight of a topmast or a top gallant
mast when in position, being passed through a hole or mortise at
its heel and resting on the trestle trees or other support. Also
a hardwood tapering pin or tool, used by sail makers and riggers
to open the strands of a rope, eye, grommet, etc. A "hand fid"
is rounded at the end; a "standing or cringle fid" is
larger than a hand fid and has a flat base.
Fidley: Framework
built around a weather deck hatch through which the smoke pipe passes.
Fidley Dee:
A partially raised deck over the engine and boiler rooms, usually
around the smokestack.
Fidley Hatch:
Hatch around smokestack and uptake.
Fife Rail; Pin Rail: A term
applied to a rail worked around a mast and fitted with holes to
take belaying pins for securing the running gears.
Fillet: A term applied to
the l1letal filling in the bosom or concave corners where abrupt
changes in direction occur in the surface of a casting, forging,
or weldment.
Fin: A projecting keel. A
thin plane of metal projecting from the hull, etc.
Fixed Light: A thick glass,
usually circular in shape, fitted in a frame fixed in an opening
in a ship's side, deck house, or bulkhead to provide access for light.
The fixed light is not hinged. Often incorrectly called a dead light.
Flagstaff: Flag pole, usually
at the stern of a ship; carries the ensign.
Flange: The turned edge of
a plate or girder which acts to resist bending. The turned edge
of a plate or shape for tying in intersecting structural members.
A casting or forging attached to or worked integral with a pipe
to form a disk, normal to the axis of an exterior to the pipe, for
connecting lengths of pipe.
Flare: The spreading out
from the central vertical plane of the body of a ship with increasing
rapidity as the section rises from the water line to the rail. Also
a night distress signal.
Flat: A small partial deck,
built without camber.
Floating Power: The sum of
the utilized and the reserve buoyancy of a vessel, or the displacement
of the completely watertight portion of the vessel when fully submerged.
The utilized buoyancy is that buoyancy required to support the weight
of the vessel.
Floodable Length: The length
of vessel which may be flooded without sinking her below her safety
or margin line. The value of the floodable length of a given vessel
varies from point to point throughout her length due to change in
form. Similarly at a given point it varies from time to time, depending
upon the condition of loading and the permeability of the cargo.
Floor: A plate used vertically
in the bottom of a ship running athwartship from bilge to bilge
usually on every frame to deepen it., In wood ships the lowest frame
timber or the one crossing the keel is called the floor.
Flukes: The palms or broad
holding portions at the arm extremities of an anchor, which penetrate
the ground.
Fore: A term used in indicating
portions or that part of a ship at or adjacent to the bow. Also
applied to that portion and parts of the ship lying between the
midship section and stem; as, fore body, fore hold, and foremast.
Fore and Aft: Lengthwise
of a ship.
Forecastle: A short structure
at the forward end of a vessel formed by carrying up the ship's
shell plating a deck height above the level of her uppermost complete
deck and fitting a deck over the length of this structure. The name
applied to the crew's quarters on a merchant ship when they are
in the fore part of the vessel.
Forefoot: The lower end of
a vessel's stem which is stepped on the keel. That point in the
forward end of the keel about which the boat pivots in an endwise
launching.
Fore Peak: The extreme forward
end of the vessel below decks. The forward trimming tank.
Forward: In the direction
of the stem.
Forward Perpendicular: A
line perpendicular to the base line and intersecting the forward
side of the stem at the designed waterline.
Foul: A term applied to the
underwater portion of the outside of a vessel's shell when it is
more or less covered with sea growth or foreign matter. It has been
found that even an oily film over the vessel's bottom will retard
the speed, while sea growth will reduce a vessel's propulsive efficiency
to a large extent. Also, obstructed or impeded by an interference,
etc.
Found: To fit and bed firmly.
Also, equipped.
Founder: To sink as the result
of entrance of water.
Frame: A term
generally used to designate one of the transverse ribs that make
up the skeleton of a ship. The frames act as stiffeners, holding
the outside plating in shape and maintaining the transverse form
of the ship.
Frame, Boss: A frame that
is bent to fit around the boss in the way of a stern tube or shaft.
Frame Lines: Molded lines
of a vessel as laid out on the mold loft floor for each frame, showing
the form and position of the frames.
Frame Spacing: The fore-and-aft
distances between, frames, heel to heel.
Freeboard: The
vertical distance from the waterline to the top of the weather deck
at side.
Freeing Ports:
Holes in the lower portion of a bulwark, which allow deck wash to
drain off into the sea. Some freeing ports have swinging gates which
allow water to drain off but which are automatically closed by sea-water
pressure.
Furnaced Plate: A plate that
requires heating in order to shape it as required.
Furrings: Strips of timber,
metal, or boards fastened to frames, joists, etc., in order to bring
their faces to the required shape or level, for attachment of sheathing,
ceiling, flooring, etc.
Futtocks: The pieces of timber
of which a frame in a wood ship is composed. Starting at the keel
they are called the first futtock, second futtock, third futtock,
and so on.
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Gaff: A spar to which the
top of a fore-and-aft sail is attached. It is usually fitted with
a jaw at the mast end to clasp the mast.
Gage, Draft: An installation
comprising a graduated glass tube, connected at the bottom end with
the sea and with the top end open to the air, on which the draft
of the vessel is shown by the level of the water in the tube.
Galley: The space on a vessel
in which the food is prepared and cooked.
Gangboard, Gangplank: A term
applied to boards or a movable platform used in transferring passengers
or cargo from a vessel to or from a dock.
Gangway: The term applied
to a place of exit from a vessel. Gangways are fitted in the sides
of a vessel in the shape of ports requiring means of closure or
may be movable portions of bulwarks or railing on the weather decks.
Gantline or GirtIine: A rope
reeving through a single block aloft and used for hoisting or lowering,
rigging, drying clothing and hammocks, etc.
Garboard: The
strakes of outside plating next to the keel. These strakes act in
conjunction with the keel and are usually thicker than the other
bottom strakes.
Gear: A comprehensive term
in general use on shipboard signifying the total of all implements,
apparatus, mechanism, machinery, etc., appertaining to and employed
in the performance of any given operation, as " cleaning gear," "
steering gear," " anchor gear ," etc.
Gib: A metal fitting
to hold a member in place or press two members together, to afford
a wearing or bearing surface, or to provide a means of taking up
wear.
Gimbals: A device by which
a ships compass, chronometer, etc, is suspended so as to remain
in a constant horizontal position irrespective of the rolling or
pitching of the vessel. It consists of two
concentric brass hoops or rings whose
diameters are pivoted at right angles to each other on knife-edge
bearings.
Girders: On
ships this term is used to define a structural member which provides
support for more closely spaced members, such as beams, frames,
stiffeners, etc., which are at right angles to it and which either
rest upon it or are attached to its web. It may be longitudinal
or transverse, continuous, or intercoastal, and is usually supported
by bulkheads and stanchions. The term is also used to designate
the longitudinal members in the double bottom.
Girth: The distance measured
on any frame line, from the intersection of the upper deck with
the side, around the body of the vessel to the corresponding point
on the opposite side.
Gooseneck: A swiveling fitting
on the heel or mast end of a boom for connecting the boom to the
mast.
Grab, Hand: A metal bar fastened
to a bulkhead, house side, or elsewhere, to provide means of steadying
a person when the ship rolls or pitches.
Grapnel: An implement having
from four to six hooks or prongs, usually four, arranged in a circular
manner around one end of a shank having a ring at its other end.
Used as an anchor for small boats, for recovering small articles
dropped overboard, to hook on to lines, and for similar purposes.
Also known as a Grappling Hook.
Gratings: A structure of
wood or metal bars so arranged as to give a support or footing over
an opening, while still providing spaces between the members for
the passage of light and the circulation of air.
Gripe: The sharp forward
end of the dished keel on which the stem is fixed. A curved piece
of timber joining the forward end of the keel and the lower end
of the cutwater. A lashing, chain, or the like, used to secure small
boats in the chocks and in sea positions in the davits.
Grommet: A wreath or ring
of rope. Fiber, usually soaked in red lead or some such substance,
and used under the heads and nuts of bolts to secure tightness.
A worked eye in canvas.
Ground Tackle: A general
term for all anchors, cables, ropes, etc., used in the operation
of mooring and unmooring a ship.
Groundways: Timbers fixed
to the ground and extending fore and aft under the hull on each
side of the keel, to form a broad surface track on which the ship
is end-launched. "Groundways" for a side launching embody
similar basic features.
Gudgeons: Lugs cast or forged
on the stern post for the purpose of hanging and hinging the rudder.
Each is bored to form a bearing for a rudder pintle and is usually
bushed with lignum vitae or white bearing metal.
Gunwale: A term applied to
the line where a weather deck stringer intersects the shell. The
upper edge of the side of an open boat.
Gunwale Bar: A term applied
to the bar connecting a stringer plate on a weather deck to the
sheer strake.
Gusset Plate: A bracket plate
lying in a horizontal, or nearly horizontal, plane. The term is
often applied to bracket plates.
Gutter Ledge: A bar laid
across a hatchway to support the hatch cover.
Guys: Wire or hemp ropes
or chains to support booms, davits, etc., laterally, employed in
pairs. Guys to booms that carry sails are also known as backropes.
Gypsy: A small auxiliary
drum usually fitted on one or both ends of a winch or windless.
The usual method of hauling in or slacking off on ropes with the
aid of a gypsy is to take one or more turns with the bight of a
rope around the drum and to take in or pay out the slack of the
free end.
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Half-Breadth Plan: A plan
or top view of one half of a ship divided by the middle vertical
plane. It shows the waterlines, cross section lines, bow and buttock
lines, and diagonal lines of the ship's form projected on the horizontal
base plane of the ship.
Half Model: A model of one-half
of a ship divided along the middle vertical plane.
Halyards: Light lines used
in hoisting signals, flags, etc. Also applied to the ropes used
in hoisting gaffs, sails, or yards.
Hamper, Top Hamper: Articles
of outfit, especially spars, rigging, etc., above the deck, which,
while ordinarily indispensable, may become in certain emergencies
both a source of danger and an inconvenience.
Hard Patch: A plate riveted
over another plate to cover a hole or break.
Harpings; Harpins: the fore
parts of the wales of a vessel which encompass her bows and are
fastened to the stem, thickened to withstand plunging. The ribbands
bent around a vessel under construction to which the cant frames
are temporarily secured to hold them in their proper position.
Hatch, Hatchway: An opening
in a deck through which cargo may be handled, machinery or boilers
installed or removed, and access obtained to the decks and holds
below. Hatch is properly a cover to a hatchway but is often used
as a synonym for hatchway.
Hatch Bar: A term applied
to flat bars used for securing and locking hatch covers. A bar over
the hatch for rigging a tackle.
Hatch Battens: A term applied
to flat bars used to fasten and make tight the edges of the tarpaulins
that are placed over hatches. The batten and the edge of the tarpaulin
are wedged tightly in closely-spaced cleats.
Hatch Beams: A term applied
to the portable beams fitted to the coamings for the purpose of
supporting the hatch covers.
Hatch, Booby: An access hatchway
leading from the weather deck to the quarters. A small companion
which is readily removable in one piece. A wooden, hoodlike covering
for a hatchway, fitted with a sliding top.
Hatch Carrier: The supports
which are attached to· the inside of the coaming to take the ends
of the hatch beams.
Hatch Cleats: A term applied
to the clips attached to the outside of the hatch coaming for the
purpose of holding the hatch battens and wedges which fasten the
edges of the tarpaulin covers.
Hatch Covers or Hatches:
Covers for closing the hatchway, in cargo ships usually made of
wood planks in sections that can be handled by the crew. In naval
ships, steel hatch covers. The wood cover is made tight against
rain and the sea by stretching one or more tarpaulins over them,
secured at the edges by the hatch battens.
Hatch Rests:
A term applied to the shelf fitted inside and just below the top
of the coaming for the purpose of supporting the hatch covers.
Hatchway Trunk:
A term applied to the space between a lower deck hatchway and the
hatchway or hatchways immediately above it when enclosed by a casing.
A trunk may be either watertight or nonwatertight.
Hawse: The hawse
hole; also the part of a ship's bow in which the hawse holes for
the anchor chains are located.
Hawse Bag: A
conical-shaped canvas bag, stuffed with sawdust, oakum, or similar
material, and fitted with a lanyard at apex and base, used for closing
the hawse pipes around the chain to prevent shipping water through
the pipes; also called a "jackass," " hawse plug,"
or " hawse block."
Hawse Bolster:
A timber or metal bossing at the ends of a hawse pipe to ease the
cable over the edges and to take the wear.
Hawse Hole:
A hole in the bow through which a cable or chain passes.
Hawse Pipes:
Tubes leading the anchor chain from the deck on which the windlass
is located down and forward through the vessel's bow plating. Also
a term used to describe the advancement of a merchant seaman as
in coming up the Hawsepipe as opposed to academy training.
Hawser: A large
rope or a cable used in warping, towing, and mooing.
Head of a Ship: The fore
end of a ship which was formerly fitted up for the accommodation
of the crew. A term applied to a toilet on board of a ship. A ship
is trimmed by the head when drawing more water forward and less
aft than contemplated in her design.
Heel: The convex intersecting
point or corner of the web and flange of a bar. The inclination
of a ship to one side, caused by wind or wave action or by shifting
weights on board.
Heel Piece, Heel Bar: A bar
that serves as a connecting piece between two bars which butt end-to-end.
The flange of the heel bar is reversed from those of the bars it
connects.
Helm: The term applied to
the tiller, wheel, or steering gear, and also the rudder.
Hog Frame: A fore-and-aft
frame, forming a truss for the main frames of a vessel to prevent
bending.
Hogging: A term applied to
the distortion of a vessel's hull when her ends drop below their
normal position relative to her midship portion.
Hoist: To raise or elevate
by manpower or by the employment of mechanical appliances; any device
employed for lifting weights.
Hold: The space or compartment
between the lowermost deck and the bottom of the ship, or top of
the inner bottom if one is fitted. The space below decks allotted
for the stowage of cargo.
Hold Beams: Beams in a hold
similar to deck beams but having no decking or planking on them.
Home: Close up; snugly in
place; as, to drive home a bolt.
Hood: A shelter over a companionway,
scuttle, etc. It is generally built of canvas spread over an iron
frame. It may also be constructed of light metal plating.
Horsing: Calking planking
with oakum with a large maul or beetle and a wedge-shaped iron.
Housing: A term applied to
an enclosure partially or wholly worked around fittings or equipment.
That portion of the mast below the surface of the weather deck.
Applied to topmasts, that portion overlapping the mast below.
Hull: The framework of a
vessel, together with all decks, deck houses, and the inside and
outside plating or planking, but exclusive of masts, yards, rigging,
and all outfit or equipment.
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Inboard: Toward the center.
Inboard Profile: A plan representing
a longitudinal section through the center of the ship, showing deck
heights, transverse bulkheads, assignment of space, machinery, etc.,
located on the center plane or between the center and the shell
on the far side.
Initial Stability: The stability
of a vessel in the upright position or at small angles of inclination.
It is measured by the metacentric height.
Inner Bottom: A term applied
to the inner skin or tank top plating. The plating over the double
bottom.
Intercostal: Occurring between
ribs, frames, etc. The term is broadly applied, where two members
of a ship intersect, to the one that is cut.
Isherwood System: A system
of building ships which employs close spaced, relatively light,
longitudinal main framing supported on widespread transverse members
of comparatively great strength instead of transverse main framing.
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Jack Ladder:
A ladder with wooden steps and side ropes.
Jack rod -
A term applied to a pipe or rod to which the edges of awnings or
weather cloths are secured.
Jack staff:
Flagpole at the bow of a ship.
Jacob's Ladder: A ladder
having either fiber or wire rope or chain sides with wood or metal
rungs attached at regular intervals. One end is usually fitted with
sister hooks or shackles for hooking on.
Joggled:
A term applied where a plate or bar is offset in the way of a lapped
joint. The object of the joggle is to permit a close fit of the
attached member without the use of liners under alternate strakes
of plating.
Joint, Butt:
A term applied where a connection between two pieces of material
is made by bringing their ends or edges together (no overlap) and
by welding alone, or by welding, riveting, or bolting each to a
strip or strap that overlaps both pieces.
Joint, Lapped:
A term applied where a connection between two pieces of material
is made by overlapping the end or edge of one over the end or edge
of the other and by fastening the same by bolts, rivets, or welding.
Journal:
That portion of a shaft or other revolving member which transmits
weight directly to and is in immediate contact with the bearing
in which it turns.
Jury:
A term applied to temporary structures, such as masts, rudders,
etc., used in an emergency.
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Keel: A center-line strength
member running fore and aft along the bottom of a ship and often
referred to as the backbone. It is composed either of long bars
or timbers scarfed at their ends or by flat plates connected together
by riveting or welding.
Keel, Bilge:
A fin fitted on the bottom of a ship at the turn of the bilge to
reduce rolling. It commonly consists of a plate running fore and
aft and attached to the shell plating by angle bars. It materially
helps in steadying a ship and does not add much to the resistance
to propulsion when properly located.
Keel, Blocks: Heavy timber
blocks piled one above the other on which the keel of a vessel is
supported when being built, or when she is in a dry dock. They are
placed under the keel from bow to stern and a sufficient distance
apart to allow working between them.
Keel, Docking: In dry docking,
the weight of a ship is usually carried almost entirely on the keel
blocks. The keel and keelson provide the means of distributing the
pressure on the center line, and docking keels composed of doubling
strips of plate or a heavier plate or built-up girders are sometimes
fitted on the bottom at a distance from the center line corresponding
to the best position for the side keel blocks. The docking keels
are fitted in the fore and aft direction, generally parallel or
nearly so to the keel.
Keelson, Vertical Center:
The lower centerline girder which, in conjunction with a flat plate
keel on the bottom and a rider plate on top, forms the principal
fore-and-aft strength member in the bottom of a ship. In addition
to its importance as a “backbone" or longitudinal strength
member, it serves to distribute and equalize the pressure on the
transverse frames and bottom of the ship when grounding or docking
occurs. In steel ships this keelson usually consists of a vertical
plate with two angles running along the top and two along the bottom.
The girder, however, may be made up of various combinations of plates
and shapes. This member should continue as far forward and aft as
possible. Usually called the Vertical Keel.
King Post: A strong vertical
post used to support a derrick boom. See Samson Post.
Knee: A block of wood having
a natural angular shape or one cut to a bracket shape and used to
fasten and strengthen the corners of deck openings and the intersections
of timbers, and to connect deck beams to the frames of wood vessels.
The term is also applied to the ends of steel deck beams that are
split, having one leg turned down and a piece of plate fitted between
the split portion, thus forming a bracket or knee.
Knot: A unit of speed, equaling
one nautical mile (6,080.20 feet) an hour, as when a ship goes ten
nautical miles per hour, her speed is ten knots.
Knuckle: An abrupt change
in direction of the plating, frames, keel, deck, or other structure
of a vessel.
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Ladder: A framework consisting
of two parallel sides connected by bars or steps which are spaced
at intervals suitable for ascending or descending. On shipboard
the term ladder is also applied to staircases and to other contrivances
used in ascending or descending to or from a higher or lower level.
Ladder, Accommodation: A
staircase suspended over the side of a vessel from a gangway to
a point near the water to provide easy access to the deck from a
small boat alongside.
Ladder, Companion: A staircase
fitted as a means of access from a deck to the quarters.
Ladder, Sea: Rungs secured
to the side of a vessel to form a ladder from the weather deck to
the water.
Lagging: A term applied to
the insulating material that it fitted on the outside of boilers,
piping, etc.
Landing, Landing Edge: That
portion of the edge or end of a plate over which another plate laps.
The covered-up edge.
Lanyard: The present use
of this term is generally limited to a piece of rope or line having
one end free and the other attached to any object for the purpose
of either near or remote control.
Lap: A term applied to the
distance that one piece of material is laid over another; the amount
of overlap, as in a lapped joint.
Launching: A term applied
to the operation of transferring a vessel from the building ways
into the water. End launching and side launching methods are employed;
the former method is used when the vessel is built at an angle,
usually at right angles, to the waterfront and the vessel is launched
stern first, while in side launching the vessel is built parallel
to the waterfront and launched sidewise. In preparing for an end
launching, usually groundways made of heavy timbers are laid with
an inclination of about 1/2" to 5/8" to the foot parallel
to the center line of the ship one on either side of the keel, and
spaced about one-third of the beam of the vessel apart. These groundways
run the length of the vessel and for some distance out under the
water. On top of the groundways are placed the sliding ways, also
heavy timbers, and between these two ways is placed a coating of
launching grease. The sliding ways are prevented from sliding on
the greased groundways by a trigger or similar device and dog or
dagger shores. Cradles are built up to fit the form of the vessel,
and between the sliding ways and the cradle, wedges are driven and
the weight of the ship thus transferred from the building blocks
to the sliding ways. After the building blocks and shores are removed,
the trigger is released and gravity causes the vessel to slide down
the inclined ways. In Some cases hydraulic jacks are set at the
upper end of the groundways to exert pressure on the sliding ways
to assist in overcoming initial friction along the ways. A similar
procedure is followed in the case of side launchings, except that
more than two groundways are usually used, depending on the length
of the ship, and the inclination of the ways is steeper.
Laying Off: Is a term applied
to the work done by a loftsman in laying off the ship's lines to
full size in the mold loft and making templates therefrom. Also
known as laying down.
Laying Out: Placing the necessary
instructions on plates and shapes for shearing, planing, punching,
bending, flanging, beveling, rolling, etc., from templates made
in the mold loft or taken from the ship.
Leading Edge: That edge of
a propeller blade which cuts the water when the screw is revolving
in the ahead direction. That edge of a rudder, diving plane, or
strut arm which faces toward the bow of the ship.
Length between Perpendiculars:
The length of a ship measured from the forward side of the stem
to the aft side of the stern post at the height of the designed
water line. In naval practice, the total length on the designed
water line.
Length Over All: The length
of a ship measured from the foremost point of the stem to the aftermost
part of the stern.
Lift a Template: To construct
a template to the same size and shape as the part of the ship involved,
from either the mold loft lines or from the ship itself, from which
laying out of material for fabrication may be performed.
Lifting: Transferring marks
and measurements from a drawing, model, etc., to a plate or other
object, by templates or other means.
Light, Port: An opening in
a ship's side, provided with a glazed lid or cover.
Lightening Hole: A hole cut
out of any structural member, as in the web, where very little loss
of strength will occur. These holes reduce the weight and in many
cases serve as access holes. This condition is particularly true
in floor plates and longitudinals in double bottom.
Lighter: A full-bodied, heavily-built
craft, usually not self-propelled, used in bringing merchandise
or cargo alongside or m transferring same from a vessel.
Limber Chains: Chains passing
through the limber holes of a vessel, by which they may be cleaned
of dirt.
Limber Hole: A hole or slot
in a frame or plate for the purpose of preventing water from collecting.
Most frequently found in floor plates just above the frames and
near the center line of the ship.
Line: A general term for
a rope of any size used for various purposes: small cords such as
log line, lead line, or small stuff as marlin, ratline, houseline,
etc.
Liner: A piece of metal used
for the purpose of filling up a space between a bar and a plate
or between two plates; filler.
Lines: The plans of a ship
that show its form. From the lines drawn full size on the mold loft
floor are made templates for the various parts of the hull.
List: The deviation of a
vessel from the upright position, due to bilging, shifting of cargo,
or other cause.
Load Line: The line 18 inches
long and 1 inch wide on each side of the ship at the midship section,
which indicates the maximum draft to which the ship may be loaded.
Locker: A storage compartment
on a ship.
Loftsman: A man who lays
off the ship's lines to full size in the mold loft and makes templates
therefrom.
Longitudinals: A term applied
to the fore-and-aft frames in the bottom of a ship. These frames
are usually made up from plates and shapes and are sometimes intercoastal
and sometimes continuous.
Louver: A small opening to
permit the passage of air for the purpose of ventilation, which
may be partially or completely closed by the operation of overlapping
shutters.
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Magazine: Spaces or compartments
devoted to the stowage of ammunition. Often specifically applied
to compartments for the stowage of powder as a distinction from
shell stowage spaces.
Main Body: The hull proper,
without the deck houses, etc.
Main Deck: The principal
deck of the hull, usually the highest extending from stem to stern
and providing strength to the main hull.
Manger: A term applied to
the manger-like space immediately forward of the manger plate which
is fitted just abaft the hawsepipes to prevent water entering through
the pipes from running aft over the deck.
Manhole: A round or oval
hole cut in decks, tanks, boilers, etc., for the purpose of providing
access.
Manifold: A casting or chest
containing several valves. Suction or discharge pipes from or to
the various compartments, tanks, and pumps are led to it, making
it possible for a pump to draw from or deliver to anyone of several
compartments.
Margin Plank: A plank forming
the boundary or margin of the deck planking.
Margin Plate: The outer boundary
of the inner bottom, connecting it to the shell plating at the bilge.
Marine Railway: See dry dock,
railway.
Marline Spike: A pointed
iron or steel tool used to separate the strands in splicing rope,
and as a lever in marling or putting on seizings. The wire rope
spike has a flat, rounded end and the manila rope spike has a sharp
point.
Marlin: A double-threaded,
left-handed tarred cord, about 1/8" diameter, made of a good
grade of American hemp.
Mast: A long pole of steel
or wood, usually circular in section, one or more of which are usually
located, in an upright position, on the center line of a ship. Originally
intended for carrying sails, they are now used more as supports
for the rigging, cargo and boat-handling gear and wireless equipment.
Mast Collar: A piece of wood
or a steel shape formed into a ring and fitted around the mast hole
in a deck.
Mast Hounds: The upper portion
of the mast at which the outrigger or trestle trees are fitted.
Also applied to that portion at which the hound band for attaching
the shrouds is fitted on masts with out outrigger or trestle trees.
Mast Partners: A term applied
to wood planking or steel plating worked around a mast hole to give
side support to the mast.
Mast, Step: A term applied
to the foundation art which a mast is erected.
Mast Table: See Boom Table.
Messroom: A space or compartment
where members of the crew eat their meals; a dining room.
Midship Beam: A deck beam
located at the midpoint between the forward and after perpendiculars.
Also applicable to the transverse dimension of the hull at the same
point.
Midship Frame: The frame
located at the midpoint between the perpendiculars.
Midship Section: The vertical
transverse section located at the midpoint between the forward and
after perpendiculars. Usually this is the largest section of the
ship in area. Also, applied to a drawing showing the contour of
the mid ship frame upon which is depicted all the structural members
at that point with information as to their size and longitudinal
extent.
Midships: Same as Amidships.
Mitered: Cut to an angle
of 45 degrees or two pieces joined to make a right angle.
Mock Up: To build up of wood
or light material to scale or full size a portion of the ship before
actual fabrication of the steel work. Used to study arrangement,
methods of fabrication, workability, etc.
Mold: A pattern or template.
Also a shape of metal or wood over or in which an object may be
hammered or pressed to fit.
Molded Line: A datum line
from which is determined the exact location of the various parts
of a ship. It may be horizontal and straight as the molded base
line, of curved as a molded deck line or a molded frame line. These
lines are determined in the design of a vessel and adhered to throughout
the construction. Molded lines are those laid down in the mold loft.
Molded Edge: The edge of
a ship’s frame which comes in contact with the skin, and is represented
in the drawings.
Mold Loft: A space used for
laying down the lines of a vessel to actual size and making templates
therefrom for laying out the structural work entering into the hull.
Mooring: A term applied to
the operation of anchoring a vessel in a harbor, securing her to
a mooring buoy, or to a wharf or dock by means of chains or ropes.
Mooring Lines: The chains
or ropes used to tie up a ship.
Mooring Pipe: An opening
through which mooring lines pass.
Mortise: A hole cut in any
material to receive the end or tenon of another piece.
Motorship: A ship driven
by some form of internal combustion engine. Not generally applied
to small boats driven by gasoline engines which are usually called
motorboats.
Mushroom Ventilator: A ventilator
whose top is shaped like a mushroom and fitted with baffle plates
so as to permit the passage of air and prevent the entrance of rain
or spray. Located on or above a weather deck to furnish ventilation
to compartments below deck.
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Nautical Mile: See knot.
Nibbing Plank: A margin plank
that is notched to take the ends of regular deck planks and insure
good calking of the joint.
Niggerhead: A small auxiliary
drum on a winch. See Gypsy.
Norman Pin: A metal pin fitted
in a towing post or bitt for belaying the line.
Nosing: The parts of a stair
tread which projects beyond the face of the riser.
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Oakum: A substance made from
soft vegetable fiber such as hemp and jute impregnated with pine
tar. It is principally used for calking the planking on wood decks
of steel vessels and for calking all the planking on wood ships
where watertightness is desired. It is also used for calking around
pipes.
Offsets: A term used by draftsmen
and loftsmen for the coordinates in ship curves. Also applied to
joggles in plates and shapes of structural shapes.
Oiltight: Having the property
of resisting the passage of oil.
Old Man: A heavy bar of iron
or steel bent in the form of a Z used to hold a portable drill.
One leg is bolted or clamped to the work to be drilled and the drill
head is placed under the other leg which holds down the drill to
its work.
On Board: On or in a ship;
aboard.
On Deck: On the weather deck,
in the open air.
Orlop Deck: The term formerly
applied to the lowest deck in a ship; now practically obsolete.
Outboard: Away from the center
toward the outside; outside the hull.
Outboard Profile: A plan
showing the Longitudinal exterior of the starboard side of a vessel,
together with all deck erections, stacks, masts, yards, rigging,
rails, etc.
Outer Bottom: A term applied to the bottom shell plating in
a double-bottom ship.
Overboard: Outside over the
side of a ship into the water.
Overhang: That portion of
a vessel's bow or stern which projects beyond a perpendicular at
the waterline.
Overhaul: To repair or put
in proper condition for operation; to overtake or close up the distance
between one ship and another ship moving in the same direction.
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Packing: A general term applied
to a yielding material employed to affect a tight joint, also called
gasket material.
Pad Eye: A fitting having
one or more eyes integral with a plate or base to provide ample
means of securing and to distribute the strain over a wide area.
The eyes may be either "worked" or "shackle."
Also known as lug pads, hoisting pads, etc.
Painter: A length of rope
secured at the bow of a small boat for use in towing or for making
it fast. Called also a bow-fast.
Palm: The fluke, or more
exactly, the flat inner surface of the fluke of an anchor; a sailmaker's
protector for the hand, used when sewing canvas; a flat surface
at the end of a strut or stanchion for attachment to plating, beams,
or other structural member.
Panting: The pulsation in
and out of the bow and stern plating as the ship alternately rises
and plunges deep into the water.
Panting Beams: The transverse
beams that tie the panting frames together.
Panting Frames: The frames
in the fore peak, usually extra heavy to withstand the panting action
of the shell plating.
Paravane: The Paravane is
a special type of water kite which, when towed with wire rope from
a fitting on the forefoot of a vessel, operates to ride out from
the ship's side and deflect mines which are moored in the path of
the vessel, and to cut them adrift so that they will rise to the
surface where they may be seen and destroyed.
Parcelling: Narrow strips
of canvas which are tarred and wound around ropes, following the
lay and overlapping in order to shed water. The parcelling is applied
after worming, preparatory to serving.
Partners: Similar pieces
of steel plate, angles, or wood timbers used to strengthen and support
the mast where it passes through a deck, or placed between deck
beams under machinery bed plates for added support.
Pawl: A term applied to a
short piece of metal so hinged as to engage in teeth or depressions
of a revolving mechanism for the purpose of preventing recoil. Fitted
to capstans, windlasses, etc. Also called Pall.
Paying: The operation of
filling the seams of a wood deck, after the calking had been inserted,
with pitch, marine glue, etc. Also applied to the operation of slackening
away on a rope or chain.
Peak, fore and after: The
space at the extreme bow or stern of a vessel below the decks.
Peak Tank: Compartments at
the extreme fore and aft ends of the ship for any use either as
void spaces or as trimming tanks. When used for the latter purpose,
water is introduced to change the trim of the vessel.
Peen: To round off or shape
an object, smoothing out burrs and rough edges.
Pelican Hook: A type of quick
releasing hook used at the lower end of shrouds, on boat grips,
and in similar work where fast work may be necessary.
Period of Roll: The time
occupied in performing one double oscillation or roll of a vessel
as from port to starboard and back to port.
Periscope: An instrument
used for observing objects from a point below the object lens. It
consists of a tube fitted with an object lens at the top, an eye
piece at the bottom and a pair of prisms or mirrors which change
the direction of the line of sight. Mounted in such a manner that
it may be rotated to cover all or a part of the horizon or sky and
fitted with a scale graduated to permit of taking bearings, it is
used by submarines to take observations when submerged.
Pillar: A vertical member
or column giving support to a deck. Also called a stanchion.
Pilot House: A house designed
for navigational purposes. It is usually located forward of the
midship section and so constructed as to command an unobstructed
view in all directions except directly aft along the center line
of the vessel where the smokestack usually interferes.
Pin, BeIaying: A small iron
or tough wood pin, made with a head, shoulder, and shank. It is
fitted in holes in a rail and is used in belaying or making fast
the hauling parts of light running gear, signal halyards, etc.
Pintles: A term applied to
the pins or bolts which hinge the rudder to the gudgeons on the
stern post.
Pitch: A term applied to
the distance a propeller will advance during one revolution, the
distance between the centers of the teeth of a gear wheel, the axial
advance of one convolution of the thread on a screw, the spacing
of rivets, etc. Also applied to pine tar, asphalt and coal pitch
used in paying seam of a deck.
Pitching: The alternate rising
and falling motion of a vessel's bow in a nearly vertical plane
as she meets the crests and troughs of the waves.
Pitting: The localized corrosion
of iron and steel in spots, usually caused by irregularities in
surface finish, and resulting in small indentations or pits.
Pivoting Point: That point
during the progress of a launching at which the moment of buoyancy
about the fore poppet equals the moment of the vessel's weight.
At this point the stern begins to lift and the vessel pivots about
the fore poppet. Also the point about which the ship appears to
rotate when it is making a turn.
Plan: A drawing prepared
for use in building a ship.
Paneling: Wood covering for
decks, etc. The shell of wood boats.
Platform: A partial deck.
Plating, Shell: The plating
forming the outer skin of a vessel. In addition to constituting
a watertight envelope to the hull, it contributes largely to the
strength of the vessel.
Plimsoll Mark: A mark painted
on the sides of a vessel designating the depth to which the vessel
may, under the maritime laws, be loaded in different bodies of water
during various seasons of the year.
Pontoon: A scow-shaped boat
used in connection with engineering and military operations such
as transporting men and equipment, bridge construction, supports
for temporary bridges, salvage work etc. Also applied to cylindrical
air and watertight tanks or floats used in salvage operations.
Poop, Poop Deck: The structure
or raised deck at the after end of a vessel.
Poppets: Those pieces of
timber which are fixed perpendicularly between the ship's bottom
and the bilgeways at the foremost and aftermost parts of the ship,
to support it when being launched. They are parts of the cradle.
Port: The left-hand side
of a ship when looking from aft forward. Also an opening.
Port, Air: See air port.
Port Gangway: An opening
in the side plating, planking, or bulwark for the purpose of providing
access through which people may board or leave the ship or through
which cargo may be handled.
Porthole: See air port.
Proof Strain: The test load
applied to anchors, chains, or other parts, fittings, or structure
to demonstrate proper design and construction and satisfactory material.
Proof Strength: The proof
strength of a material, part, or structure is the strength which
it has been proved by test to possess.
Propeller: A propulsive
device consisting of a boss or hub carrying, radial blades, from
two to four in number. The rear or driving faces of the blades form
portions of an approximately helical surface, the axis of which
is the center line of the propeller shaft.
Propeller Aperture: The opening
in the stern frame of single-screw ships for the propeller.
Propeller Arch: The arched
section of the stern frame above the propeller.
Propeller Guard: A framework
fitted somewhat below the deck line on narrow, high-speed vessels
with large screws, so designed as to overhang and thus protect,
the tips of the propeller blades.
Propeller Thrust: The effort
delivered by a propeller in pushing a vessel ahead.
Prow: An archaic term for
the bow of a ship.
Puddening, Pudding: Pads
constructed of old rope, canvas, oakum, etc., sometimes leather
covered, in any desired shape and size and used to prevent chafing
of boats, rigging, etc., and on the stem of a boat to lessen the
force of a shock.
Punch: A machine for punching
holes in plates and shapes.
Punch, Prick: A small punch
used to transfer the holes from the template to the plate. Also
called a "center punch."
Purchase: Any mechanical
advantage which increases the power applied.
Quarter: The upper part of
a vessel's sides near the stern; also portions of the vessel's sides
about midway between the stern and midlength and between midlength
and the stern. The part of a yard just outside the slings.
Quarters: Living spaces for
passengers or personnel. It includes staterooms, dining salons,
mess rooms, lounging places, passages connected with the foregoing,
etc.; individual stations for personnel for fire or boat drill,
etc.
Quay: An artificial wall
or bank, usually of stone, made toward the sea or at the side of
a harbor or river for convenience in loading and unloading vessels.
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Rabbet: A groove, depression,
or offset in a member into which the end or edge of another member
is fitted, generally so that the two surfaces are flush. A rabbet
in the stern or keel would take the ends or edges of the planking
or shell plating.
Racking: Deformation of the
section of a ship, generally applied to a transverse section, so
that one set of diagonals in the plane of action is shortened while
those at right angles thereto are lengthened.
Radio Room: A room, usually
sound-proofed, used for sending and receiving radio messages.
Raft, Life: A frame work
fitted with air chambers to support a number of people in case of
accidents. Carried on deck and light enough to be handled without
mechanical means.
Rail: The upper edge of the
bulwarks. Also applied to the tiers of guard rods running between
the top rail and the deck where bulwarks are not fitted.
Rake: A term applied to the
fore and aft inclination from the vertical of a mast, smokestack,
stempost, etc.
Range, Galley: The stove,
situated in the galley, which is used to cook the food. The heat
may be generated by coal, fuel oil, or electricity.
Rat Guard: A dished, circular
piece of metal made in two parts and fitted closely on hawsers and
lines to prevent rats boarding or leaving a ship while at a dock
or wharf. The concave side is placed toward the shore to prevent
boarding and the guard is reversed to prevent rats leaving the ship.
Ratlines: Short lengths of
ratline stuff secured to the shrouds parallel to the waterline and
serving as ladder rungs for the crew to ascend or descend.
Reaming: Enlarging a hole
by the means of revolving in it a cylindrical slightly tapered tool
with cutting edges running along its sides.
Reduction Gear: An arrangement
of shafts and gears such that the number of revolutions of the output
shaft is less than of the input shaft - generally used between a
motor or a steam turbine shaft and the propeller shaft.
Reeving: The act of passing
the end of a rope or chain through an opening, as passing a rope
through a block.
Reverse Frame: An angle bar
or other shape riveted to the inner edge of a transverse frame to
reinforce it.
Ribhand: A fore-and-aft wooden
strip or heavy batten used to support the transverse frames temporarily
after erection.
Ribs: A term applied to the
transverse frames of a boat.
Ride: To float in a
buoyant manner while being towed or lying at anchor.
Rider Plate: A continuous
flat plate attached to the top of a center line vertical keel in
a horizontal position. It’s under side is attached to the floors,
and when an inner bottom is fitted, it forms the center strake.
Rigging: A term used collectively
for all the ropes and chains employed to support the masts, yards,
and booms of a vessel, and to operate the movable parts of same.
Rise of Bottom: See deadrise.
Riser: The upright board
of a stair. A pipe extending vertically and having side branches.
Rivet: A metal pin
used for connecting two or more pieces of material by inserting
it into holes punched or drilled in the pieces and upsetting one
or both ends. The end that bears a finished shape is called the
head and the end upon which some operation is performed after its
insertion is called the point. Small rivets are "driven cold,"
i.e., without heating, and large ones are heated so that points
may be formed by hammering.
Riveting: The art of fastening
two pieces of material together by means of rivets.
Riveting, Chain: A term applied
to an arrangement of the rivets in adjoining rows where the centers
of the rivets are opposite each other and on a line perpendicular
to the joint.
Riveting, Staggered or Zig-Zag:
A term applied to an arrangement of the rivets in adjoining rows
where the rivets in alternate rows are one-half the pitch or spacing
ahead of those in the other rows.
Rivets, Line of: A term applied
to a continuous line of rivets whose centers fall on a line perpendicular
to the joint.
Rivets, Row of: A term applied
to a continuous row of rivets whose centers fall on a line parallel
to the joint. Joints made by one row of rivets are known as single-riveted
joints; by two rows, as double-riveted joints; by three rows, as
treble-riveted joints; by four rows, as quadruple-riveted joints;
etc.
Roll: Motion of the ship
from side to side, alternately raising and lowering each side of
the deck.
Rolling Chocks: Same as keel,
bilge.
Rope: The product resulting
from twisting a fibrous material, such as manila, hemp, flax, cotton,
coir, etc., into yarns or threads which in turn are twisted into
strands and several of these are laid up together. Fiber rope is
designated as to size by its circumference. Wire rope is made of
iron, steel, or bronze wires, with or without a fiber core or heart,
twisted like yarns to form strands which are laid up to form the
rope. Wire rope is designated as to size both by its diameter and
by its circumference.
Rope Lay: The direction in
which a rope is twisted up.
Rope, Ridge: A rope running
through the eyes at the heads of the awning stanchions to which
the edge of an awning is hauled out and stopped. The term “center
ridge rope” is applied to the rope supporting the center of an awning.
Rope Worming: Filling in
the contlines of a rope with marline. The marline should run with
the lay of the rope.
Rubbing Strip: A plate riveted
to the bottom of the keel to afford protection in docking and grounding.
A strip fastened to the face of a fender or to the shell plating
where contact is likely to occur.
Rudder: A device used
in steering or maneuvering a vessel. The most common type consists
of a flat slab of metal or wood, hinged at the forward end to the
stern or rudder post. When made of metal, it may be built up from
plates, shapes, and castings, with or without wood filling, or it
may be a casting. The rudder is attached to a vertical shaft called
the rudder stock, by which it is turned from side to side.
Rudder, Balanced: A rudder
having the leading edge of a whole or a part of its area forward
of the center line of the rudder stock thus reducing the torque
required to turn the rudder.
Rudder Bands: The bands that
are placed on each side of a rudder to help brace it and tie it
into the pintles.
Rudder Chains: The chains
whereby a rudder is sometimes fastened to the stern. They are shackled
to the rudder by bolts just above the water line, and hang slack
enough to permit free motion of the rudder. They are used as a precaution
against losing a rudder at sea. These chains are also called "rudder
pendants.”
Rudder Frame: A term applied
to a vertical main piece and the arms that project from it which
forms the frame of the rudder. It may be a casting, a forging, or
a weldment.
Rudder PintIes: See pintles.
Rudder Post - See Stern post.
Rudder Stock: A vertical
shaft having a rudder attached to its lower end and having a yoke,
quadrant or tiller fitted to its upper portion by which it may be
turned.
Rudder Stops: Fittings attached
to the ship structure or to shoulders on the rudder post to limit
the swing of the rudder.
Rudder Trunk: A watertight
casing fitted around a rudder stock between the counter shell plating
and a platform or deck, usually fitted with a stuffing box at the
upper end.
Rudder, Underhung: A rudder
that is not hinged to or stepped on the stern post but is supported
entirely by the rudder stock and the rudder stock bearings.
Run: The underwater portion
of a vessel aft of the midship section or flat of the bottom. That
portion of the after hull that tapers to the stern post.
Running Rigging: Ropes which
are hauled upon at times in order to handle and adjust sails, yards,
cargo, etc., as distinguished from standing rigging which is fixed
in place.
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Sagging: The deformation
or yielding caused when the middle portion of a structure or ship
settles or sinks below its designed or accustomed position. The
reverse of hogging.
Sail Tracks: A device fitted
on the after side of a mast in which slides, secured to the forward
edge of a fore-and -aft sail, travel up and down the mast as the
sail is hoisted or lowered; used in lieu of mast hoops.
Samson Post: A strong vertical
post that supports cargo booms. See king post.
Scantlings: A term applied
to the dimensions of the frames, girders, plating, etc., that enter
into a ship's structure.
Scarf: An end connection
made between two pieces of material by tapering them so that they
will fit together in a joint of the same breadth and depth as the
pieces.
Screen Bulkhead: A light
bulkhead used as a shelter from an excess of heat, cold, or light,
or to conceal something from sight.
Scrieve Board: A large board
made of soft, clear, planed lumber, sometimes a section of the mold
loft floor, on which a full-sized body plan of a ship is drawn.
The lines were formerly cut in by the use of a scriving knife, which
made a small U-shaped groove to prevent them from being obliterated.
Pencil lines have taken the place of cutting to a large extent.
It is used in making templates of frames, beams, floors, etc., and
in taking off dimensions. It is sanded smooth after it has served
its purpose.
Scupper Pipe: A pipe conducting
the water from a deck scupper to a' position where it is discharged
overboard.
Scupper: Drains from decks
to carry off accumulations of rain water or sea water. The scuppers
are placed in the gutters or waterways on open decks and in corners
of enclosed decks and connect to pipes leading overboard.
Scuttle: A small opening,
usually circular in shape and generally fitted in decks to provide
access. Often termed escape scuttles, and when fitted with means
whereby the covers can be removed quickly to permit exit are called
quick acting scuttles.
Scuttle Butt: The designation
for a container of the supply of drinking water for the use of the
crew.
Sea Chest: An arrangement
for supplying seawater to condensers and pumps, and for discharging
waste water from the ship to the sea. It is a cast fitting or a
built-up structure located below the waterline of the vessel and
having means for attachment of the piping. Suction sea chests are
fitted with strainers or gratings.
Sea Cock, Sea Connection:
A sea valve secured to the plating of the vessel below the waterline
for use in flooding tanks, magazines, etc., to supply water to pumps,
and for similar purposes.
Seam: A term applied to an
edge joint.
Seamstrap: A term applied
to a strip of plate serving as a connecting strap between the butted
edges of plating. Strap connections at the ends are called buttstraps.
Set Iron: A bar of soft iron
used on the bending slab as a form to which to bend frames into
the desired shapes.
Serve: To wrap any small
stuff tightly around a rope which has been previously wormed and
parcelled. Very small ropes are not wormed.
Set Up: To tighten the nut
on a bolt or stud; to bring the shrouds of a mast to a uniform and
proper tension by adjusting the rigging screws or the lanyards through
the dead eyes.
Shackle Bolt: A pin or bolt
that passes through both eyes of a shackle and completes the link.
The bolt may be secured by a pin through each end, or a pin through
one end and through the eye, or by having one end and one eye threaded,
or one end headed and a pin through the other.
Shaft, Shafting: The cylindrical
forging, solid or tubular, used for transmission of rotary motion
from the source of power, the engine, to the propellers.
Shaft Angle: The angle between
the center line of the shaft and the center line of the ship is
the horizontal angle and the angle between the center line of the
shaft and either the base line or the designed waterline is the
vertical angle.
Shaft Alley: A watertight
passage, housing the propeller shafting from the engine room to
the bulkhead at which the stern tube commences. It provides access
to the shafting and its bearings and also prevents any damage to
the same from the cargo in the spaces through which it passes.
Shaft Coupling: The means
of joining together two sections of a shaft, usually by means of
bolts through flanges on the ends of the sections of the shafts.
Shaft Pipe: See Stern Tube.
Shaft Strut: A term applied
to a bracket supporting the outboard after end of the propeller
shaft and the propeller in twin or multiple-screwed vessels having
propeller shafts fitted off the center line. It usually consists
of a hub or boss, fitted with a bushing, to form a bearing for the
shaft, and two streamlined arms connecting it to the side of the
ship. The inboard ends of the arms are fitted with palms for attachment
to the shell or to interior framing.
Shape: A bar of constant
cross section such as a channel, T-bar, angle bar, etc., either
rolled or extruded.
Shaping: Cutting, bending,
and fanning a structural member.
Shears: Large machines for
cutting plates or shapes.
Shear Legs: A rig for handling
heavy weights, consisting of an A-frame of timber or steel with
the top overhanging the base, having the lower ends fixed or pivoted
and the top ends held either by fixed stays or by topping lifts
which permit change of slope of the legs. Tackles are secured at
the top of the frame through which the hoisting rope or cable is
run. Sometimes called sheers.
Sheathing: A term applied
to the wood planking fitted over a steel deck, to the planking fitted
over the underwater portion of a steel hull, and to the copper or
alloy sheets with which the bottom of a wood ship, or a steel ship
sheathed with wood, is covered.
Sheave: A wood or metal disk,
having a groove around its cylindrical surface to permit a rope
or chain to run over it without slipping off and a bushing for bearing
on the pin or bolt on which it revolves.
Sheave Holes: A term applied
to apertures in masts, booms, and spars in which sheaves are installed.
Sheer: The longitudinal curve
of a vessel's rails, decks, etc., the usual reference being to the
ship's side; however, in the case of a deck having a camber, its
center line may also have a sheer. The amount by which the height
of the weather deck at the after or forward perpendicular exceeds
that at its lowest point.
Sheer Plan: A side elevation
of the ship's form.
Sheer Strafe: The topmost
continuous strake of the shell plating usually made thicker than
the side plating below it.
Shelf: A wood ship term applied
to the fore and aft timber that is fastened to the frames to form
a support for the ends of the beams. See clamp.
Shell Expansion: A plan showing
the shapes, sizes, and weights of all plates comprising the shell
plating, and details of their connections.
Shell Landings: Points marked
on the frames to show where the edges of the shell plates are to
be located.
Shelter Deck: A term applied
to a deck fitted from stem to stern on a relatively light superstructure.
Shift of Butts: An arrangement
of butts in longitudinal or transverse structural members whereby
the butts of adjacent members are located a specified distance from
one another, measured in the line of the members.
Shim: A piece of wood or
iron let into a slack place in a frame, plank, or plate to fill
out a fair surface or line. Also applied to thin layers of metal
or other material used to true up a bed plate or machine or inserted
in bearings to permit adjustment after wear of the bearing.
Shipshape: A nautical term
used to signify that the whole vessel, or the portion under discussion,
is neat in, appearance and in good order.
Shores: Pieces of timber
placed in a vertical or inclined position to support some part of
a ship, or the ship itself during construction or while in dry dock.
Shore, Spur or Side: A piece
of timber placed in a nearby horizontal position with one end against
the side of the ship and the other against the side of a dry dock
or dock to keep the vessel at a desired distance from the face of
the dock.
Shroud: A principal member
of the standing rigging, consisting of hemp or wire ropes which
extend from or near a masthead to the vessel's side, or to the rim
of a top, to afford lateral support for the mast.
Sick Bay: A name applied
to the space on board a ship where members of the crew and passengers
are given medical service and includes the dispensary, operating
room, wards, etc.
Side Plating: A term applied
to the plating above the bilge in the main body of a vessel. Also
to the sides of deck houses, or to the vertical sides of enclosed
plated structures.
Siding of a Frame: The fore
and aft dimension of a frame.
Sister Hook: A hook made
in halves and set on eyes facing each other in such a manner that
it may be made to function as a link.
Skeg: The extreme after part
of the keel of a vessel, the portion that supports the rudder post
and stern post.
Skin: The term usually applied
to the outside planking or plating forming the watertight envelope
over the framework. It is also applied to the inner bottom plating
when it is called an inner skin.
Skylight: An erection built
on a deck, having glass lights in its top and fitted over an opening
in the deck for the purpose of admitting light and air to a compartment
below.
Slack: The opposite of taut;
not fully extended as applied to a rope; to "slack away"
means to payout a rope or cable by carefully releasing the tension
while still retaining control; to “slack off " means to ease
up, or lessen the degree of tautness.
Sleepers: Timbers placed
upon the ground or on top of piling to support the cribbing, keel,
and bilge blocks.
Sleeve: A casing, usually
of brass, fitted over line or other shafting for protection against
wear or corrosion, or as a bearing surface.
Sliding Ways: See launching.
Sling: A length of chain
or rope employed in handling weights with a crane or davit. The
rods, chains, or ropes attached near the bow and stern of a small
boat into which the davit or crane tackle is hooked. The chain or
rope supporting the yard at the masthead.
Slip: The difference between
the pitch of a propeller, or the mean circumference of a paddle
wheel, and the advance of the ship through the water corresponding
to one revolution. An inclined launching berth. A space between
two piers for berthing a vessel.
Slipway: The space in a shipyard
where a foundation for launching ways and keel blocks exists and
which is occupied by a ship while under construction.
Sluice: An opening in the
lower part: of a bulkhead fitted with a sliding watertight gate,
or small door, having an operating rod extending to the upper deck
or decks. It is used to permit liquid in one compartment to flow
into the adjoining compartment.
Smokestack: A metal chimney
or passage through which the smoke and gases are led from the uptakes
to the open air.
Snubbing: drawing in the
waterlines and diagonals of a vessel abruptly at their ends. The
checking of a vessel's headway by means of an anchor and a short
cable. The checking of a line or cable from running out: by taking
a turn about a cleat, bitts, or similar fitting.
Soft Patch: A temporary plate
put on over a break or hole and secured with tap bolts. It is made
watertight with a gasket such as canvas saturated in red lead.
Solo Piece: The piece of
steel or wood by which the sliding ways are bolted to the ground
ways at the upper end. See Launching.
Sole Plate: A plate fitted
to the top of a foundation to which the base of a machine is bolted.
Also a small plate fitted at the end of a stanchion.
Sounding Pipe: A vertical
pipe in an oil or water tank, used to guide a sounding device when
measuring the depth of liquid in the tank. Also called a Sounding
tube.
Span: The distance between
any two similar members, as the span of the frames. The length of
a member between its supports, as the span of a girder. A rope whose
ends are both made fast some distance apart, the bight having attached
to it a topping lift, tackle, etc. A line connecting two davit heads
so that when one davit is turned the other follows.
Spanner: A form of open-head
wrench for use with special fittings whose character is such as
to preclude the use of the ordinary type wrench.
Spar: A term applied to a
pole serving as a mast, boom, gaff, yard, bowsprit, etc. Spars are
made of both steel and wood.
Spectacle Frame: A single
casting containing the bearings for and furnishing support for the
ends or the propeller shafts in a twin screw vessel. The shell plating
is worked outboard so as to enclose the shafts and is attached at
the after end to the spectacle frame. Used in place of shaft struts.
Spike: A stout metal pin
headed on one end and pointed at the other, made of either square
or round bar, and used for securing heavy planks and timbers together.
Splice: A method of uniting
the ends of two ropes by first unlaying the strands, then interweaving
them so as to form a continuous rope.
Spot Face: To finish off
the surface around a bolt hole in a plane normal to the axis of
the hole to provide a neat seat for the nut or washer.
Spring: The deviation from
a straight line or the amount of curvature of a sheer line, deck
line, beam camber, etc., an elastic body or device which recovers
its original shape when released after being distorted.
Squatting: The increase in
draft assumed by a vessel when running over that existing when she
is at rest.
Stability: The tendency which
a vessel has to return to the upright position after the removal
of an external force which inclined her away from that position.
To have stability, a vessel must be in a state of stable equilibrium.
Stability, Range of: The
number of degrees through which a vessel rolls or lists before losing
stability.
Stage: A floor or platform
of planks supporting workmen during the construction or the cleaning
and painting of a vessel, located either inside or outside the vessel.
Staging: Upright supports
fastened together with horizontal and diagonal braces forming supports
for planks which form a working platform or stage.
Stagger: To zigzag rivet
holes in adjacent rows.
Stanchions: Short columns
or supports for decks, hand rails, etc. Stanchions are made of pipe,
steel shapes, or rods, according to the location and purpose they
serve.
Standing Rigging: Rigging
that is permanently secured and that is not hauled upon, as shrouds,
stays, etc.
Stapling: Plates or angles
fitted closely around or against continuous members passing through
a watertight or Oiltight member and calked or welded to maintain
the water or oil tightness of the structure.
Starboard: The right-hand
side of the ship when looking from aft forward. Opposite to port.
Stateroom: A private room
or cabin for the accommodation of passengers or officers.
Stays: The ropes, whether
hemp or wire, that support the lower masts, topmasts, top-gallant
masts, etc., in a fore and aft direction.
Stealer: A strake of shell
plating that does not extend completely to the bow or stern.
Steering Gear: A term applied
to the steering wheels, leads, steering engine, and fittings by
which the rudder is turned.
Stem: The bow frame forming
the apex of the intersection of the forward sides of a ship. It
is rigidly connected at its lower end to the keel.
Stern: The after end of a
vessel; the farthest distant part from the bow.
Stern Chock: A round or oval
casting, or frame, inserted in the bulwark plating at the stern
of the vessel through which the mooring hawser or warping lines
are passed. Also called Stern Pipe.
Stern Frame: A large casting
or forging attached to the after end of the keel to form the ship's
stern. Includes rudder post, propeller post, and aperture for the
propeller in single-screw vessels.
Stern Post: The main vertical
post in the stern frame upon which the rudder is hung. Also called
the Rudder Post.
Stern Tube: The bearing supporting
the propeller shaft where it emerges from the ship. It consists
of a hollow cast-iron or steel cylinder fitted with brass bushings,
which in turn are lined with lignum vitae, white metal, etc., bearing
surfaces Upon which the propeller shaft, enclosed in a sleeve, rotates.
Stiff, Stiffness: The tendency
of a vessel to remain in the upright position, or a measure of the
rapidity with which she returns to that position after having been
inclined from it by an external force.
Stiffener: An angle bar,
T-bar, channel, etc., used to stiffen plating of a bulkhead, etc.
Stocks: A general term applied
to the keel blocks, bilge blocks, and timbers upon which a vessel
is constructed.
Stop Water: A term, applied
to canvas and red lead, or other suitable material placed between
the faying surfaces of plates and shapes to stop the passage of
oil or water. Also applied to a wooden plug driven through a scarp joint
between timbers to insure water tightness.
Strain: The measure of the
alteration of form which a solid body undergoes when under the influence
of a given stress.
Strand: An element of a rope,
consisting, in a fiber rope, of a number of rope yarns twisted together
and, in a wire rope, of a primary assemblage of wires.
Strake: A term applied to
a continuous row of plates. The strakes of shell plating are usually
lettered, starting with A at the bottom row or garboard strake.
Strake, Bilge: A term applied
to a strake of outside plating running in the way of the bilge.
Strake, Bottom: Any strake
of plating on the bottom, of a ship that lies between the keel and
the bilge strakes.
Strength Member: Any plate
or shape which contributes to the strength of the vessel. Some members
may be strength members when considering longitudinal strength but
not when considering transverse strength and vice versa.
Stress: The intensity of
the force which tends to alter the form of a solid body; also the
equal and opposite resistance offered by the body to a change of
form.
Stringer: A term applied
to a fore-and-aft girder running along the side of a ship and also
to the outboard strake of plating on any deck. The side pieces of
a ladder or staircase into which the treads and risers are fastened.
Stringer Plates: A term applied
to the outboard plates on any deck, or to the plates attached to
the top flanges of a tier of beams at the side of a vessel.
Strut: A heavy arm or brace.
Studding: The vertical timbers
or framing of a wooden deck house, fitted between the sill and the
plate.
Stuffing Box: A fitting designed
to permit the free passage or revolution of a rod or a pipe while
controlling or preventing the passage by it of water, steam, etc.
Superstructure: A structure
built above the uppermost complete deck; a pilot house, bridge,
galley house, etc.
Swallow: A term applied to,
the oval or round opening in a chock or mooring ring. See Block.
Swash Bulkheads: Longitudinal
or transverse nontight bulkheads fitted in a tank to decrease the
swashing action of the liquid contents. Their function is greatest
when the tanks are partially filled. Without them the unrestricted
action of the liquid against the sides of the tank would be severe.
A plate serving this purpose is called a swash plate.
Swivel: A special link constructed
in two parts which revolve in each other, used to prevent fouling
due to turns or twists in chain, etc.
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Tackle: Any combination of
ropes and blocks that multiplies power. Also applied to a single
whip which does not multiply power but simply changes direction.
Taft Rail: The rail around
the top of the bulwark or rail stanchions on the after end of the
weather deck, be it upper, main, raised, quarter, or poop.
Tail Shaft: The aft section
of the shaft which receives the propeller.
Tanks: Compartments for liquids
or gases. They may be formed by the ship's structure as double bottom
tanks, peak tanks, deep tanks, etc., or may be independent of the
ship's structure and installed on special supports.
Tank Top: The plating laid
on the bottom floors of a ship, which forms the top side of the
tank sections or double bottom; the inner bottom.
Tarpaulin: A canvas covering.
Taut: The condition of a
rope, wire, or chain when under sufficient tension to cause it to
assume a straight line, or to prevent sagging to any appreciable
amount.
Tee Bar: A rolled or extruded
structural shape having a cross section shaped like the letter T.
Telegraph: An apparatus,
either electrical or mechanical, for transmitting orders, as from
a ship's bridge to the engine room, steering gear room, or elsewhere
about the ship.
TeIemotor: A device for operating
the valves of the steering engine from the pilot house by means
of either fluid pressure or electricity.
Template: A mold or pattern
made to the exact size of a piece of work that is to be laid out
or formed, and on which such information as the position of rivet
holes, size of laps, etc., is indicated.
Test Head: The head or height
of a column of water which will give a prescribed pressure on the
vertical or horizontal sides of a compartment or tank in order to
test its tightness or strength or both.
Tie-Plate: A single fore-and-aft
or diagonal course of plating attached to deck beams under a wood
deck to give extra strength.
Tiller: An arm attached to
the rudder head for operating the rudder.
Toe: The edge of a flange
on a bar.
Toggle Pin: A pin having
a shoulder and an eye worked on one end, called the head, and whose
other end, called the point, has its extremity hinged in an unbalanced
manner so that after being placed through a hole it forms a T -shaped
locking device to keep the pin from working out or being withdrawn
without first bringing the hinged portion into line with the shaft
of the pin.
Tonnage, Gross: The entire
internal cubic capacity of a vessel expressed in "tons"
taken at 100 cubic feet each. The peculiarities of design and construction
of the various types of vessels and their parts necessitate certain
explanatory rulings in connection with this term.
Tonnage, Net: The internal
cubic capacity of a vessel which remains after the capacities of
certain specified non-revenue spaces have been deducted from the
gross tonnage. Tonnage should not be confused with displacement.
Topping Lift: A rope or chain
extending from the head of a boom or gaff to a mast, or to the vessel's
structure, for the purpose of supporting the weight of the boom
or gaff and its loads, and permitting the gaff or boom to be raised
or lowered.,
Topside: That portion of
the side of the hull which is above the designed waterline. On or
above the weather deck.
Transom: A seat or couch
built at the side of a stateroom or cabin, having lockers (transom
lookers) or drawers underneath.
Transom, Transom Board: The
board forming the stern of a square-ended row boat or small yacht.
Transom Frame: The last transverse
Frame of a ship's structure. The cant frames, usually normal to
the round of the stern, connect to it.
Transverse: At right angles
to the ship's fore-and-after center line.
Transverse Frames: Vertical
athwartship members forming the ribs.
Treads: The steps or horizontal
portions of a ladder or staircase upon which the foot is placed.
Treenails: Wooden pins employed
instead of nails or spikes to secure the planking of a wooden vessel
to the frames.
Trim: The difference between
the drafts forward and aft. The angle of trim is the angle between
the plane of flotation and the mean water-line plane. A vessel “trims
by the head" or “trims by the stern" when the vessel inclines
forward or aft so that her plane of flotation is not coincident
with her mean water-line plane. See Drag.
Tripping Brackets: Flat bars
or plates placed at various points on deck girders, stiffeners,
or beams as a reinforcement to prevent their free flanges from turning.
Trunk: A vertical or inclined
shaft formed by bulkheads or casings, extending one or more deck
heights, around openings in the decks, through which access can
he obtained, cargo, stores, etc., handled, or ventilation provided
without disturbing or interfering with the contents or arrangements
of the adjoining spaces.
Tumble Home: The decreasing
of a vessel's beam above the waterline as it approaches the rail.
Opposite of flare.
Turnbuckles: Used to pull
objects together. A link into whose opposite ends two threaded bars,
one left-handed, the other right-handed are inserted.
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Umbrella: A metal shield
in the form of a frustum of a cone, secured to the outer casing
of the smokestack over the air casing to keep out the weather.
Upper Deck: Generally applied
to the uppermost continuous weather deck.
Upper Works: Superstructures
or deck erections located on or above the weather deck. Sometimes
applied to the entire structure above the waterline.
Unship: To remove anything
from its accustomed or stowage place; to take apart.
Uptake: A metal conduit connecting
the boiler Combustion space with the base of the smokestack. It
conveys the smoke and hot gases from the boiler to the stack and
is usllal1y made with double walls, with an air space between to
prevent radiation of heat into adjacent spaces.
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Vang: Ropes secured to the
outer end of a cargo boom, the lower ends being fastened to tackles
secured to the deck, used for guiding and swinging and for holding
the boom in a desired position. Also applied to ropes secured to
the after end of a gaff and led to each side of the vessel to steady
the gaff when the sail is not set.
Ventilation: The process
of providing fresh air to the various spaces and removing foul or
heated air, gases, etc., from them. This may be accomplished
by natural, draft or by mechanical means.
Ventilators, Bell-Mouthed or Cowl:
Terminals on open decks in the form of a 90-degree elbow with enlarged
or bell-shaped openings, so formed as to obtain an increase of air
supply when facing the wind and to increase the velocity of air
down the ventilation pipe.
Visor: A small inclined awning
running around the pilot house over the windows or air ports to
exclude the glare of the sun or to prevent rain or spray from coming
in the openings when the glazed frames are dropped or opened. They
may be of canvas or metal.
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Warp: A light hawser or tow
rope; to move a vessel by means of lines or warps secured to some
fixed object.
Wash Plates: Plates fitted
fore and aft between floors to check the rush of bilge water from
side to side when the ship is rolling.
Waterline: A term used to
describe a line drawn parallel to the molded base line and at a
certain height above it, as the 10-foot waterline. It represents
a plane parallel to the surface of the water when the vessel is
floating on an even keel, i.e., without trim. In the body plan and
the sheer plan it is a straight line, but in the plan view of the
lines it shows the contour of the hull line at the given distance
above the base line. Used also to describe the line of intersection
of the surface of the water with the hull of the ship at any draft
and any condition of trim.
Watershed: A fitting on the
outside of the shell of a ship over an air port, a door, or a window
to prevent water which runs down the ship's side from entering the
opening. One over an air port is also called a Brow or Port Flange.
Watertight Compartment: A
space or compartment within a ship having its top, bottom, and sides
constructed in such a manner as to prevent the leakage of water
into or from the space unless the compartment is ruptured.
Waterway: A narrow channel along
the edge of the deck for the collection and disposal of water occurring
on the deck.
Waterway Bar: An angle or
flat bar attached to a deck stringer plate fanning the inboard boundary
of a waterway and serving as an abutment for the wood deck planking.
Ways: See launching.
Weather Deck: A term applied
to the upper, awning, shade, or shelter deck, or to the uppermost
continuous deck, exclusive of forecastle, bridge, or poop, that
is exposed to the weather.
Web: The vertical portion
of a beam; the athwartship portion of a frame; the portion of a
girder between the flanges.
Web Frame: A built-up frame
to provide extra strength consisting of a web plate with flanges
all its edges placed several frame spaces apart, with the smaller,
regular frames in between.
Wedges: Wood or metal pieces
shaped in the form a sharp V, used for driving up or for separating
work. They are used in launching to raise the vessel from the keel
blocks and thus transfer the load to the cradle and the sliding
ways.
Whip: A term loosely applied
to any tackle used for hoisting light weights and serves to designate
the use to which a tackle is put rather than to the method of receiving
the tackle.
Wildcat: A special type of
drum whose faces are so fanned as to fit the links of a chain of
given size.
Winch: A hoisting or pulling
machine fitted with a horizontal single or double drum. A small
drum is generally fitted on one or both ends of the shaft supporting
the hoisting drum. These drums are called gypsies, niggerheads,
or winch heads. The hoisting drums either are fitted with a friction
brake or are directly keyed to the shaft. The driving power is usually
steam or electricity, but hand power is also used. A winch is used
principally for the purpose of handling, hoisting, and lowering
cargo from a dock or lighter to the hold of a ship and vice versa.
Windlass: An apparatus in
which horizontal or vertical drums or gypsies and wildcats are operated
by means of a steam engine or motor for the purpose of handling
heavy anchor chains, hawsers, etc.
Wind Scoop: A scoop-shaped
fitting of sheet metal which is placed in an open air port with
the open side forward for the purpose of catching air and forcing
it into a cabin, stateroom, or compartment.
Wing, Winging: A term used
to designate structural members, compartments, sails, and objects
on a ship that are located a considerable distance off the fore-and-aft
center line.
Worming: Filling the contlines
of a rope with tarred small stuff preparatory to serving, to give
the rope a smoother surface and to aid in excluding moisture from
the interior of the rope.
Wrinkling: Slight corrugations
or ridges and furrows in a flat plate due to the action of compressive
or shear forces.
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Yard: A term applied to a
spar attached at its middle portion to a mast and running athwartship
across a vessel as a support for a square sail, signal halyards,
lights; etc.
Yardarm: A term applied to
the outer end of a yard.
Yoke: A frame or bar having
its center portion bored and keyed or otherwise constructed for
attachment to the rudder stock. Steering leads to the steering
gear are connected to each end of the yoke for the purpose of turning
the rudder. Yoke lanyards are lines extending from the ends of the
yoke
to the stern sheets of a small boat for use in steering.
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