Kazakhstan Maritime Deck Officer key terms

A direction measured clockwise from true north (000° to 360°) to an object, corrected for variation and deviation, and used for plotting position lines on a chart.

The angular difference at a given place and date between true north and magnetic north, shown on the chart as an annual rate of change and applied when converting compass courses.

The error of a ship's magnetic compass caused by the vessel's own iron and electrical fields, varying with heading and recorded on a deviation card checked by swing.

A plotted line on which the vessel is known to lie, derived from a bearing, range, or difference in distance to two objects; two or more intersecting lines fix the position.

The estimated position obtained by advancing the last known fix using course steered and speed through the water over elapsed time, without allowance for current or leeway.

The best position derived from dead reckoning after applying estimated current set and drift and leeway; it is less reliable than a fix but more accurate than raw dead reckoning.

The direction toward which a current flows (set) and its speed in knots (drift), used to calculate the course to steer and speed made good over the ground.

The actual direction of travel over the ground between two fixes, resulting from the course steered combined with current, tidal stream, and leeway.

The volume in cubic metres occupied by one tonne of a cargo in its packed form; used to decide whether a cargo is volume-limited or weight-limited in a hold.

The space in a hold that cannot be filled by cargo because of shape, dunnage, or packaging, expressed as a percentage of the total volume and reducing the cargo the ship can carry.

Loose wood, mats, or other material laid under and between cargo parcels to spread weight, allow ventilation, and prevent chafing or contact with moisture on the tank top.

Condensation forming on cargo or ship structure when warm moist air meets a cold surface; ship sweat forms on the structure, cargo sweat on the goods themselves.

The total weight in tonnes a ship can carry when loaded to her summer load line: cargo, bunkers, fresh water, ballast, stores, crew, and passengers combined.

The weight of water displaced by the hull, equal to the ship's total weight; light displacement is the empty ship, loaded displacement includes all deadweight.

The vertical distance from the waterline to the freeboard deck at side amidships; it is the reserve buoyancy margin controlled by the load line marks.

The watertight volume of the hull above the waterline, which allows the ship to rise after adding weight or taking water and gives the margin of survivability.

The vertical distance between the centre of gravity and the transverse metacentre; a small positive GM gives a stiff ship, a large one a tender ship, and negative GM means unstable.

The horizontal distance between the centre of gravity and the centre of buoyancy at a given angle of heel; the product of GZ and displacement gives the righting moment.

The apparent rise of the centre of gravity caused by liquid moving freely in a partly filled tank, which reduces metacentric height and can make a ship tender or unstable.

The angle at which a ship with negative initial stability rests when upright is impossible; she heels to port or starboard and returns to the same angle if pushed upright.

The mark on the ship's side showing the maximum draught permitted in each seasonal and regional zone under the International Convention on Load Lines, 1966.

The IMO code requiring companies to run a documented safety management system covering ship operations, emergencies, maintenance, and reporting, verified by flag and port state audits.

The ship-specific certificate issued after an ISM audit confirms the vessel operates in accordance with the company's approved safety management system.

Inspection of foreign ships in a port by the coastal authority to verify compliance with international conventions, leading to deficiencies, detention, or clearance.

The part of the MARPOL Convention regulating prevention of pollution by oil, covering discharge limits, the Oil Record Book, and oily water separator requirements.

The mandatory record in which all oil transfers, ballasting, tank cleaning, and disposal operations are entered and signed, open to inspection by port state officers.

Shipboard equipment that separates oil from bilge water so that the discharge contains no more than 15 parts per million, with an alarm and automatic stopping device.

The IMO system of satellite and terrestrial communications, alarms, and automated watchkeeping that guarantees distress alerting and safety information worldwide.

A VHF, MF, or HF function that sends a coded digital alert with the vessel's identity and nature of distress to shore stations and other ships, backed by a voice call.

The nine-digit number programmed into a ship's radio for DSC and AIS identification; it must be entered correctly before the equipment can transmit distress alerts.

A GMDSS area within VHF coverage of at least one coast station with continuous DSC alerting, usually about 20 to 30 nautical miles from shore.

A narrow-band direct-printing service broadcasting navigational warnings, weather forecasts, and search and rescue information to ships within about 200 nautical miles of the transmitter.

A scale from 0 to 12 describing wind force by its visible effects on the sea and on a ship, with each number corresponding to a range of wind speeds.

A meteorological message issued when winds of force 8 or 9 (34 to 47 knots) are expected, broadcast to shipping by coast radio stations and NAVTEX.

The temperature to which air must be cooled for water vapour to condense; comparing dew point with cargo and hold temperatures helps prevent sweat damage.

A cloud of water droplets at the surface reducing visibility below 1,000 metres; radiation fog forms over land at night, advection fog over cold sea.

The speed at which a vessel can take proper and effective action to stop within a distance appropriate to visibility, traffic, and sea conditions, as required by the Collision Regulations.

The continuous duty of watching by sight and hearing, and by all available means, to assess the risk of collision and detect hazards; it must be maintained in all conditions.

A situation where the bearing of an approaching vessel does not appreciably change, or where close approach is likely; it must be judged from a compass bearing, not guesswork.

The vessel required by the steering and sailing rules to keep out of the way of another, taking early and substantial action and avoiding crossing ahead.

The vessel that must keep her course and speed while the give-way vessel manoeuvres; she may act when collision cannot be avoided by the other alone.

The pressurised piping system supplying hydrants, hoses, and fixed firefighting installations throughout the ship, kept charged by fire pumps and isolated where damaged.

A fixed firefighting installation that releases carbon dioxide into a sealed space to reduce oxygen below the level needed for combustion; the space must be evacuated and sealed first.

A permanently displayed drawing showing fire zones, control stations, escape routes, and the location of firefighting appliances, used to plan and coordinate emergency response.

The designated assembly point where crew and passengers report on an emergency alarm, are accounted for, and receive instructions such as donning lifejackets.

The posted schedule assigning each person on board specific emergency duties and a muster station, required to be complete and clear before the ship sails.

The procedure for entering tanks, holds, or cofferdams: assessment, permit, ventilation, atmosphere testing for oxygen and gases, and a standby person at the entrance.

The principal IMO treaty covering ship construction, fire protection, life-saving appliances, radio equipment, navigation safety, and the carriage of dangerous goods.

The IMO-approved set of standard phrases for navigational, safety, and distress messages at sea, designed to reduce misunderstanding between ships and shore stations.