|
Vincent Pica
Chief of Staff, First District, Southern Region (D1SR)
United States Coast Guard Auxiliary
|
|
“Sabby the Lingo?” Maritime Language – V
As noted prior, each discipline has a language and that language conveys competency to the listener. This column is part of a series of maritime vocabulary words. So you can sound like the salty ol’ mariner you are… We’ll run enough of these to get the major concepts and phraseology from Alpha to Zulu in front of you!
|
- Bear, to - The direction of an object from the observer's position.
- Bear Away, Bear Off - To turn the boat away from the wind. Also, Fall Off. The opposite of heading up.
- Bear Down - To approach something from upwind
- Bearing - (1) A compass direction, in compass points or degrees, from one point to another. Relative bearing is the direction relative to the heading of the boat with the bow 0 degrees and the stern 180 degrees. True bearing is the direction from the ship relating to true north with north being 0 degrees and south 180 degrees. (2) Also, a device for supporting a rotating shaft with minimum friction, which may take the form of a metal sleeve (a bushing), a set of ball bearings (a roller ball), or a set of pins around a shaft (a needle bearing).
|
 |
| B - Bravo International Meaning:I am taking in, discharging, or carrying dangerous cargo. Flown to signify fueling or other hazardous operation. Keep clear. |
|
|
- Becalm - The act of blanketing a ship by cutting off the wind, either by the proximity of the shore or by another ship. A ship motionless by the absence of wind is said to be becalmed.
- Before the Mast - Said of a man who goes to sea as a rating compared with officers, and lives forward. Forward of a mast.
- Belay - (1) To make a line secure to a pin, cleat, bollard, bitt, etc. (2) Command to stop or cease action, e.g. "Belay the last order".
- Bent on a Splice - Sailor's term for being about to get married, a splice being used to join two ropes together.
- Berth - (1) A place for a person to sleep. (2) A place where the ship can tie up or anchor. (3) A position of employment aboard a ship (4) A safe and cautious distance from which another vessel or object is passed, as in "giving wide berth"
- Beset - Said of a vessel when she is entirely surrounded by ice.
- Bilge - The part of the floors of a ship on either side of the keel which approaches closer to a horizontal rather than vertical direction. The very lowest part of a boats interior where water is likely to collect.
- Bilge Pump - A mechanical, electrical, or manually operated pump used to remove water from the bilge.
- Bilge Water - Water which runs down and collects in the bilges of a ship and usually becomes foul and noxious.
- Bitt - A vertical post extending above the deck for securing mooring lines
- Bitter End - The last part of a rope or final link of chain. The end made fast to the vessel, as opposed to the "working end", which may be attached to an anchor, cleat, other vessel, etc.
- Blue Peter - A flag signaling that a ship is about to sail and that all should report on board. It is International Code Flag "P".
- Bluewater Sailing - Open ocean sailing
- Board - To go onboard, to go into a ship.
- Boatswain - Also bosun, bos'n, bo's'n, and bo'sun, all of which are pronounced bosun. The highest unlicensed rating in the deck department who has immediate charge of all deck hands, oversees deck crew, maintenance and upkeep of the ship except for the engine room and galley areas
- Bollard - A large solid post on a wharf or pier for securing mooring lines; the same when constructed on the deck of a ship.
- Bone - Foam or spray which is thrown out under the bow of a ship when she is under way. If fast moving with a lot of spray being thrown out, the vessel is said to have "A bone in her teeth".
- Bow - The forwardmost or front part of the vessel. Opposite of Stern
- Bow Line - A docking line leading from the bow.
- Bowline - A knot use to form an eye or loop at the end of a rope. A knot with many uses, it is simple and strong, its loop will not slip, and it is easily untied after being exposed to a strain. Said “bo-lin”
More in the weeks ahead…!
|
BTW, if you are interested in being part of USCG Forces, email me at JoinUSCGAux@aol.com or go direct to the D1SR Human Resources department, who are in charge of new members matters, at DSO-HR and we will help you “get in this thing…”
|
| <-- click there to tweet, post or otherwise distribute to the 'net
|
|