Glossary Flashcards
Knot
1 nautical mph
Nautical mile
Travelling 1’ of latitude (e.g. if you travel 60nm north or south, your latitude will change by 1 full degree)
Mercator projection
The most common map projection, created by wrapping a cylindar of paper around a globe; this shows compass directions correctly but distorts sizing
Admiralty charts
Offical charts created by hydrographic bodies; their use is required under SOLAS
Neap tides
Least extreme tidal ranges (when the sun’s and moon’s gravitational pull is at a right angle to one another)
Spring tides
Most extreme tidal ranges (when the sun and moon’s gravity pulls together) - happens ~2x a month
Tide tables
Published times/depths of tides, used to calculate when vessels can enter ports without running aground
Enclosed docks
Basins cut into the land sealed by docks; used to control water depths avoiding tidal constraints
Locks
Short sections of waterway wirh watertight gates at each end (sluice gates); used to control the depth of water, e.g. when entering enclosed docks or lifting ships over higher ground in calal systems
Flights
A series of locks
Tropical storms
High winds/rough sea conditions frequent in tropical climates at certain times of year; hurricanes (USG/Caribs, June-Nov), typhoons (FE, May-Dec), cyclones (Indian Ocean, mid/end year)
Hurricane
Tropical storms in the USG/Caribs, seasonally June-Nov with Aug-Oct most extreme
Typhoons
Tropical storms in the FE, seasonally May-Dec with Jul-Sep most extreme
Cyclones
Tropical storms in the Indian Ocean, seasonally middle/end of year depending on location
Willy-willies/Williwaws
Tropical storms/cyclones reaching NW Aus
Beaufort wind scale
Describes the state of the sea at varying wind strengths
Ice breakers
Vessels designed to break through ice in ports, most common in northern hemisphere timber ports (Scandinavia, Russia) - may be nuclear powered
Comparitive advantage
One country can export a commodity comparitively cheaper than another; key factors are land (usually static; natural factors, such as climate, geography, physical avalibility in the case of natural resources), labour (avalibility, efficency and cost), capital (things driven by money, e.g. infrastructure developments, equipment - linked to labour as higher skilled labour can lead to greater technilogical advancements re: machinery etc) and entiprise (willingness to take risk, can also be driven by policy e.g. subsidies)
Absolute advantage
One country possesses a commodity in an exportable quantity whereas another has none
Liners
A shipping sector that trades basis a set schedule of ports/dates/times (usually a specific day of the week per port) and at a published rate of freight/rules of carriage
Tramps
Dry bulk cargo ships that trade wherever they can find cargoes (the oppisite of liners)
Charterer
Entity employing a ship; could be the actual importer or exporter, or may be a trader acting between them
Principles
The shipowner and charterer involved in a specific fixture
Charterer’s broker
Arranges fixtures, not to be confused with charterer’s agent
Freight forwarder
(AKA forwarding agent) An independent company that makes arrangements on behalf of a shipper for the movement of their goods from the shipper’s premesis to the point where the ship owner takes responsibility - see also NVOC (non vessel operating carrier) which is similar but offers door-to-door service
Bareboat charter
Lease of a vessel without any of crewing/bunkering etc provided - useful to avoid the large upfront capital outlay of buying ships
Dispondent owner
Deemed to be the owner but not actually the owner’ - take on all legal responsibilities of an owner without actual ownership, as in bareboat charters
Sale and purchase broking
One of the six diciplines - acting as an agent on behalf of buyers or sellers of marine property (AKA S&P broker). Typically extremely specialised, requires a high level of euntreprenureal skill and stress tolerance. Commision varies from 2.5-1%. Sale brokers must present the vessel to the most number of buyers to achieve the best price, purcahse brokers must intimately understand the technical requirements before sourcing the most cost efficient ship. Note the role of recycling/scrap yards
Ship management
One of the six diciplines, refering to general running of the ship, covering crewing, storing, technical, insurance, operations and commercial aspects
Independent liner agents
One of the six diciplines, refering to general running of a liner; includes marketing their services, documenting cargoes, making load/disch arrangements (this may also be done by a liner operating company rather than an independent agent)
Dry cargo chartering
One of the six diciplines; finding a dry bulk ship for a cargo or visa versa
Tanker chartering
One of the six diciplines; finding a tanker for bulk liquids or visa versa
Port agent
An entity carrying out work on behalf of a principle at a port, required to exercise due dilligence is preforming their duties, apply any special skill they profess to have, to render account and to not make a secret profit (e.g. convincing a stevedore to inflate tehir bill to increase the agent’s % commision). In return the principle agrees to pay the agrent and protect them against liabilities incurred in carryong out the principle’s orders, including legal action and repaying expenses (cont. 3.35). These are paid via a tarrif, scaled depending on size of ship
Profession
A form of employment you must pass qualifying exams for and become a member of a professional body, e.g. chartered accounting
Trade
A form of employment that doesn’t require qualifying exams e.g. banking
Crewing
Providing crew for a ship; often subcontracted to offshore companies (particularly in the Philippines), especially in martitime countries which allow owners to flag their ship out to open registaries to take advantage of more relaxed regulations of the nationality of the ship’s personel (e.g. UK owners using Isle of Man, Gibraltar or Bemuda). Crewing departments are resonsible for checking certifications/references, arranging leave, carrying out crew changes without causing delays (and the associated travel arrangements for crew), correct wages and allotments
Allotments
A proportion of a seafarer’s wage which is sent directly to relitives back home
Storing
Split into two; provisions for crew and technical supplies (deck stores and engine room stores)
Provisions
Includes food/drink, cooking and cleaning supplies etc; usually provided by the ship’s command via an allocated budget to allow for cultural/religious needs to be met
Deck stores
Materials needed for cargo operations, e.g. ropes for lashing, timber for dunnage (responsibility of the technical department)
Engine room stores
Materials needed for engine maintenance, e.g. lubes, spare parts (responsibility of the technical department)
Dunnage
Material used to keep cargo in position within a ship’s hold, e.g. wood, rubber matting
Technical department
Manages the technical running of a ship
Marine superintendent
Manages the maintenance of the fabric of the ship itself, including ensuring classification surveys are up to date. Responds in person internationally in case of a physical accident involving one of their ships
Master mariner
Captain of a merchant ship
Engineering superintendant
Manages the ship’s machinery, including cargo handling equipment and electronic navigational devices. Responds in person internationally in case of a physical accident involving one of their ships