A vessel discharges part of its cargo at anchor into a lighter to reduce the vessel's draft so it can then get alongside a pier.

Navigation and Vessel Inspection Circular (USCG).

The amount of heat produced from the complete combustion of a unit of fuel. The higher (or gross) heating value is that when all products of combustion are cooled to the pre-combustion temperature, water vapor formed during combustion is condensed, and ne ...

The force that pulls a wind turbine blade, as opposed to drag.

(1) A nautical instrument, on the arc of which is a finely graduated scale showing degrees and minutes, with adjustable reflectors, etc.; used to find the altitude of heavenly bodies, angular distances, etc. (2) On a steering gear, the rudder quadrant is ...

National Marine Electronics Association

Sailors' term for an old ship that needed a lot of paint and repairs.

Ship Structure Committee

Abbreviation for "Origin Rail Freight Station." Same as CFS at origin except an ORFS is operated by the rail carrier participating in the shipment.

Capital Expenditure Authorization.

After or trailing edge of a sail; the after edge of a fore-and-aft sail and the outer edges of a square sail.

Tanker Vegetable and Animal Oils.

The lowest level at which the wind becomes geostrophic in the theory of the Ekman spiral. Also called gradient wind level.

Rules for letters of credit drawn up by the Commission on Banking Technique and Practices of the International Chamber of Commerce in consultation with the banking associations of many countries. See Terms of Payment.

Nautical name for an anchor. Originally, was a stone used as an anchor.

Finite Element Analysis.

Alternating current in which three separate pulses are present, identical in frequency and voltage, but separated 120 degrees in phase.

The transmission of data collected at a remote location over communications channels to a central station.

The natural tendency of a sailboat to come up into the wind. The helm must be held over to keep the boat from coming up

Deterioration of metals as a result of the metabolic activity of microorganisms.