Definitions Flashcards
Abaft
A position towards the stern or rear of the
vessel in relation to another object on the
vessel. Not behind the vessel. For example,
the stern is abaft the beam
Abeam
Abreast of, or at right angles to, the fore and aft
line of the vessel.
Adrift
Loose, not on moorings or a towline, or
underway
Aft
Towards the stern or rear of the vessel.
Astern
Behind or at the rear of the vessel.
Astern propulsion
Put the engine in reverse, to slow the vessel or
go backwards.
Australian Builders Plate (ABP)
The Australian Builders Plate (ABP) has been
adopted nationally to reduce the number of
incidents caused by overloading vessels.
Unless exempted by the Harbors and
Navigation Regulations 2009 recreational
vessels built after 4 February 2008 must have
an ABP affixed at the time of original sale (refer
chapter 3, Safety on the water).
Authorised person
A person appointed by the Chief Executive
Officer of the Department for Infrastructure
and Transport (DIT) to enforce the Harbors
and Navigation Act 1993 and associated
regulations, or a Police Officer.
Bank
The sloping border (edge or shore) of the corse of the lake or river
Bar
A ridge of sand, silt, mud or gravel near the
water’s surface, which is caused by currents
particularly at the entrance to a river, creek, lake
way. (Note: This rule
or harbour. Bars can greatly change water and
may not always apply
if one or both vessels
wave conditions, so extreme care is necessary
when crossing them.
Basic flotation
A flotation system that meets Australian
Builders Plate (ABP) requirements that means
that the boat will float in some form if swamped.
If the boat has capsized, it will remain afloat for
you to possibly cling to the upturned hull. With
basic flotation the swamped boat may still float.
Beam
Width at the widest point of the vessel.
Berth
1) A place where a vessel is secured alongside
a jetty or wharf.
2) A space or bunk used by passengers or crew
as sleeping accommodation on a vessel.
Bilge
The compartment at the bottom of the hull of a
ship or boat where water collects so that it may
be pumped out.
Bitt/s
A strong post of wood or metal projecting—
usually as a pair—above the deck of a vessel,
which is used to secure cables and towing or
mooring lines.
Blood alcohol concentration (BAC)
A measurement of alcohol in the blood. A BAC
of .05 means there is .05 grams of alcohol in
each 100 millilitres of blood.
Boat
Any type and size of water craft or vessel used
in South Australian waters. For the purposes
of this handbook, a ‘recreational boat’ is one
that is being used for recreational or non-
commercial purposes.
Boat Operator’s Licence
The licence that is required in South Australia to
operate a recreational vessel that is fitted with
an engine, of any type or size, whether or not
the engine is being used.
Bombora
A shallow area where waves may break.
bow
The front end of the vessel.
Capsize
Of a vessel, to overturn.
Cardinal points
The four main points of a compass, that is,
north, south, east and west.
Channel
A navigable route through a body of water, or
marked waterway
Chart datum
The lowest predictable level that the tide is likely
to fall to.
Cleat
A piece of wood or metal consisting of a bar
with horizontal arms, around which ropes are
wound to fasten them.
Coast
In this handbook, for safety equipment carriage
purposes ‘coast’ refers only to the coast of the
mainland or Kangaroo Island. No other island’s
coast in South Australia is used to measure the
distance out to sea, for the requirement to carry
safety equipment or for the operation of a vessel.
COLREGS
International Regulations for the Preventiing
Collision at Sea 1972.
A convention which sets out the “rules of the
road” for operating vessels on the water.
Current
The horizontal movement or flow of water.
Currents can be either tidal or non-tidal.
Dead ahead
Directly or straight in front of a vessel’s bow.
Device
For the purposes of this handbook, a device is
an object that is attached by a rope or by other
means, in or on which up to three people may
sit to be towed directly behind a motorboat.
Examples of devices include ski biscuits and
tyre tubes, but not waterskis or kneeboards.
Devices generally have little or no means of
controlling the direction in which they travel.
Direct supervision
A boat licence holder directly watching over
and accompanying a special permit holder or
unlicensed person while that person operates
a recreational motorboat. The licensed person
must at all times be able to take over the control
of the motorboat should the need arise.
Downstream
in the direction of the flow or current of a stream
or river; towards the sea.
Draught
The minimum depth of water that a vessel
needs to float.
DIT
Department for Infrastructure and Transport
Ebb tide
The falling or run out of the tide.
Fairway
Navigable water in a channel, harbour or river.
EPIRB
An EPIRB (Emergency Position Indicating Radio
Beacon) is a radio distress beacon that, when
activated, transmits a signal via satellite to a
ground station to assist emergency services to
locate a vessel in distress. In Australia, only a
406MHz EPIRB is acceptable.
Flood tide
The rising or run in of the tide.
Following sea
Sea travelling in the approximate direction as
the vessel’s course
Fore
Situated at or towards the bow, or front, of a vessle
Freeboard
The distance between the surface of the water
and the gunwale
Give way
Stop, slow, go astern or change course to keep
clear of another vessel.
Go astern
To move stern-first, or backwards,
through the water
Gulf of St Vincent
The waters in that gulf north of a line drawn
from Troubridge Point on Yorke Peninsula to
Rapid Head on Fleurieu Peninsula.
Gunwale
The top edge of a vessel’s side.
Heading
The direction in which a ship’s bow points at
any given time.
Heave to
To steer into the wind and sea, making
minimum headway.
Headway
The forward motion of a vessel.