A new letter of credit issued to another beneficiary on the strength of a primary credit. The second L/C uses the first L/C as collateral for the bank. Used in a three-party transaction.

A configuration of an electrical circuit in which the voltage is the same across the terminals. The positive reference direction for each resistor current is down through the resistor with the same voltage across each resistor.

A device where sunlight concentrated onto a absorber heats it to a high temperature, and the thermal radiation emitted by the absorber is used as the energy source for a photovoltaic cell that is designed to maximize conversion efficiency at the wavelengt ...

Used for sending messages to outside companies. Messages are transmitted via Western Union, ITT and RCA. Being replaced by fax and internet.

Rate of wind movement in distance per unit time.

A method of lowering the sail in sections so that it can be reefed quickly.

Commission of the European Communities

The depth below which the ground is saturated with water. No water table exists if the ground water is confined by an overlying impermeable stratum, as in the case of artesian ground water.

The measuring, transmitting, receiving, and indicating apparatus for obtaining the value of a quantity at a distance.

An electricity powered device that extracts available heat from one area (the heat source) and transfers it to another (the heat sink) to either heat or cool an interior space or to extract heat energy from a fluid.

An electrical inverter that inverts direct current electricity to alternating current electricity, and that uses another alternating current source, such as an electric power transmission and distribution network (grid), for voltage and frequency referenc ...

Decision support system

IMO performance standard for ECDIS

On vessels constructed of wood, the narrow gap between the planks which form the decks and sides and were caulked to make them watertight. Since wood swells when it's in contact with water, a narrow seam is necessary to allow for the expansion.

In alternating current, the current goes from zero potential or voltage to a maximum in one direction, back to zero, and then to a maximum potential or voltage in the other direction. The number of complete cycles per second determines the current frequen ...

An additional keel secured outside the main keel, usually as protection in the event of grounding.

A form of data transmission in which the bits of each character are all sent simultaneously, resulting in extremely fast communication but requiring a communication path for each bit. Compare to serial data transmission.

"NIMH" refers to nickel metal hydride; it's an updated and better version of a NiCd battery. It has more power and doesn't need to be fully discharged regularly, unlike a NiCd battery. It operates well in digital cameras, motorized children's toys and cor ...

A short-sea vessel which transfers cargo between a central "hub" port and smaller "spoke" ports.

A pension plan in which benefits are dependent on contributions to and the growth of the pension.