S h i p T e r m i n o l o g y

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Motions

Three linear motions
Surge (x axis). Lengthwise. Propulsion and drag act along this axis. Surfing is an example of surge
caused by a wave.
Sway (y axis). Sideways. Generally a minor movement in a large vessel. Wave and wind loads could
contribute to this motion.
Heave (z axis). Up and down. Wave motion causing the whole ship to rise and fall.

Three rotational motions
Roll (Around x). The most significant stability criterion - capsize. Caused by waves, wind and can be
induced by yaw.
Pitch (Around y). A rocking motion between bow and stern. Mostly wave induced.
Yaw (Around z). This is what the rudder is supposed to do. Rudder corrections for course keeping
illustrate that wind and waves can cause yawing motions.
Ship Geometry
1. Length Between Perpendiculars (LBP or L): The distance between forward and aft
perpendiculars.
2. Beam (B): The breadth of the ship at the widest point. Molded beam is measured amidships or
at the widest section from the inside surface of the shell plating.
3. Draft (T): The depth from waterline to the deepest part of the ship.
4. Depth (D). Total depth from bottom to the top watertight deck. Depth = freeboard + draft.
5. Length Overall (LOA): The extreme length of the ship.
6. Length on Waterline (LWL): This is the length at the waterline in the ship's design loaded
condition.
7. Freeboard (F): Distance between the waterline and the uppermost watertight deck.
8. Sheer: The rise of a deck - usually toward bow and stern. Sheer increases freeboard, and helps
keep the vessel from shipping water in rough seas - particularly at the bow.
9. Camber: The convex upwards curve of a deck. Also called round up, round down, or round of
beam, usually around one-fiftieth of the beam. Not all ships have cambered decks; ships with
cambered weather decks and flat internal decks are not uncommon.
10. Tumblehome: Inward slope of hull sides above the waterline - the opposite of flare.
Tumblehome was a usual feature in sailing ships and many ships built before 1940. Only seen
on tugs and icebreaking vessels, sometimes used to reduce topside weight, and for reducing
radar cross sections.
11. Flare: The outward curvature of the hull surface above the waterline, i.e., the opposite of
tumblehome. Increases buoyancy when immersed. Flaring bows are often fitted to help keep
the forward decks dry and to prevent "nose-diving" in head seas.
12. Deadrise: Rise of the bottom from baseline to molded breadth measureed amidships. Also called
"rise of floor" or "rise of bottom". Full-bodied ships, such as cargo ships and tankers, have little
or no deadrise, while fine-lined ships have much greater deadrise along with a large bilge
radius.
13. Rake: Slope of profile lines - esp rake of stem (angle between the stem and vertical)
14. Cut-up: When a keel departs from a straight line at a sharp bend, or knuckle, the sloping
portion is called a cut-up. High-speed combatants usually have a long cut-up aft (extending 13
to 17 percent of LWL) to enhance propeller performance and maneuverability.
Hydrostatics
1. Displacement Volume (V): The volume of the underwater hull at any given waterline.
2. Displacement (W): The weight of water of the displaced volume of the ship, which equals the
weight of the ship and cargo.
3. Buoyancy: The upward push of water pressure, equal to the weight of the volume of water the
ship displaces (W).
4. Reserve Buoyancy: The watertight volume between the waterline and the uppermost continuous
watertight deck.
5. Moment of Inertia (I): Also called the Second Moment of Area unless specified otherwise. It is
proportional to bending strength.
6. Tonnage: Cargo capacity of a merchant ship, measured by volume.
7. Trim: Longitudinal tilt. Stern draft - bow draft
8. List, Heel, and Roll: Angular transverse inclinations. List describes a static inclination such as list
due to side damage. Heel describes a temporary inclination generally involving motion, such as
wind or turning, while roll indicates periodic inclination from side to side such as wave action.
9. Center of Gravity (G). The center of all mass of the ship, acting vertically downward.
10. Center of Buoyancy (B). The geometric center of the submerged hull, acting vertically upward.
11. Metacenter (M). When the ship is inclined at small angles, the metacenter is the intersection of
the buoyant force with the ship centreline. If the metacenter is above the center of gravity then
the ship is stable.
12. Center of Flotation (F). The geometric center of the waterline plane, about which the ship trims
fore-and-aft.
Terminology
AFT: Toward the stern of the boat.
AGROUND: Touching or fast to the bottom.
AMIDSHIPS: In or toward the center of the boat.
BEAM SEA: Sea coming on the side of the ship.
BEARING: The direction of an object expressed either as a true bearing as shown on the chart, or as a
bearing relative to the heading of the boat.
BILGE: The interior of the hull below the floor boards.
BOW: The forward part of a boat.
BROACH: The action of turning a vessel broadside to the waves.
BROADSIDE: Presenting the side of the ship
BRIDGE: The location from which a vessel is steered and its speed controlled. "Control Station" is really
a more appropriate term for small craft.
BULKHEAD: A vertical partition separating compartments.
CAPSIZE: To turn over.
DISPLACEMENT: The weight of water displaced by a floating vessel, thus, a boat's weight.
DRAFT: The depth of water a boat draws.
FATHOM: Six feet.
FOLLOWING SEA: Sea coming on the stern.
GANGWAY: The area of a ship's side where people board and disembark.
HEADING: The direction in which a vessel's bow points at any given time.
HEADWAY: The forward motion of a boat. Opposite of sternway.
HEEL: Constant roll angle - such as caused by a side wind or turning of the vessel.
HELM: The wheel or tiller controlling the rudder.
HULL: The main body of a vessel.
KEEL: The centerline of a boat running fore and aft; the backbone of a vessel.
KNOT: A measure of speed equal to one nautical mile (6076 feet) per hour.
LEE: The side sheltered from the wind.
LEEWARD: The direction away from the wind. Opposite of windward.
LEEWAY: The sideways movement of the boat caused by either wind or current.
MARINE ENGINEERING: Propulsion and systems within the ship. (Pumps, power generation, air & water
systems etc)
MIDSHIP: Approximately in the location equally distant from the bow and stern.
NAUTICAL MILE: One minute of latitude; approximately 6076 feet: about 1/8 longer than the statute
mile of 5280 feet.
NAVAL ARCHITECTURE: Ship design: especially hull design, overall layout with attention to stability,
seakeeping and strength.
PORT: The left side of a boat looking forward.
QUARTER: The sides of a boat aft of amidships.
QUARTERING SEA: Sea coming on a boat's quarter.
SEAWORTHY: A boat or a boat's gear able to meet the usual sea conditions.
SOUNDING: A measurement of the depth of water.
STARBOARD: The right side of a boat when looking forward.
STEM: The forward most part of the bow.
STERN: The after part of the boat.
WAKE: Moving waves, track or path that a boat leaves behind it, when moving across the waters.
WATERLINE: A line painted on a hull which shows the point to which a boat sinks when it is properly
trimmed
WAY: Movement of a vessel through the water such as headway, sternway or leeway.
WINDWARD: Toward the direction from which the wind is coming.
YAW: To swing or steer off course, as when running with a quartering sea.