Heavy latch by which doors, hatches, portholes, etc., are secured; verb - to latch

The gears that reduce engine speed to propeller speed.

Any point of sailing away from the wind.

A bearing 180

A method of payment for goods in which the buyer pays the seller in advance of the shipment of goods. Usually employed when the goods, such as specialized machinery, are built to order.

Said of a man who goes to sea as a rating compared with officers, and lives forward. Forward of a mast.

Amount of unused space in a ship or a hold by virtue of the irregular shape of the cargo.

A published rate that is never assessed because no freight moves under it.

A nickname referring to British seamen. All British ships were to carry a supply of lime juice for issue to the crew as a preventative against scurvy.

Merchant seaman's name for his bed or mattress.

Vessel said to be "on her beam ends" when she is lying over so much that her deck beams are nearly vertical.

devoid of water.

A sailor's carving or etching on bones, teeth, tusks or shells.

A vessel's position determined by observation and navigational data.

A joint Bureau of the Census' International Trade Administration form used for compiling U.S. exports. It is completed by a shipper and shows the value, weight, destination, etc., of export shipments as well as Schedule B commodity code.

The wheel of the block over which the fall of the block is rove.

To the bow of the boat, forward of the beam.

A hoisting apparatus consisting of a block and tackle rigged at the end of a beam.

The black line parallel with ship's keel marked on the inner surface of the bowl of a compass, indicating the compass direction of the ship's head.

A document of title (such as a draft, promissory note, check, or bill of lading) transferable from one person to another in good faith for a consideration. Non-negotiable bills of lading are known as "straight consignment." Negotiable bills are known as " ...