S.S. Steamship.
S/T Short tons (2,000 lbs.).
SAC special area of conservation
SALVAGE The property which has been recovered from a wrecked vessel, or the recovery of the vessel herself.
Sam surface to air missile
SAR search and rescue
SART search and rescue radar transponder
SAS safety at sea
SATELLITE NAVIGATION a form of position finding using radio transmissions from satellites with sophisticated on-board automatic equipment.
SATPM Saturday P.M.
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SB Safe Berth
SCOPE Technically, the ratio of length of anchor rode in use to the vertical distance from the bow of the vessel to the bottom of the water. usually six to seven to one for calm weather and More scope in storm conditions.
SCOPIC Special Compensation P&I Clause
SCR Special Casualty Representative (P&I)
SCREW A boat's propeller.
Scull moving the rudder back and forth in an attempt to move the boat forward
SCUPPERS Drain holes on deck, in the toe rail, or in bulwarks or (with Drain pipes) in the deck itself.
SD (or SID) Single Decker
SDW summer dead weight
SEA COCK A through hull valve, a shut off on a plumbing or drain pipe between the vessel's interior and the sea.
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SEA ROOM a safe distance from the shore or other hazards.
SEA TRIALS A series of trials conducted by the builders during which the owner's representatives on board act in a consulting and checking capacity to determine if the vessel has met the specifications.
SEA WORTHINESS the sufficiency of a vessel in materials construction, equipment, crew and outfit for the trade in which It is employed. Any sort of disrepair to the vessel by which the cargo may suffer -- overloading, untrained officers, etc., may constitute a vessel unseaworthy.
SEABEE Sea-barge, a barge carrier design similar to "LASH" but which uses rollers to move the barges aboard the ship; the self-propelled loaded barges are themselves loaded on board as cargo and are considerably larger than those loaded on LASH ships.
SEAFREIGHT Costs charged for transporting goods over the sea. This does not cover haulage or loading/discharging costs but the sea transport only
SEAMANSHIP All the arts and skills of boat handling, ranging from maintenence and repairs to piloting, sail handling, marlinespike work, and rigging.
SEAWORTHINESS Statement of condition of the vessel (valid certificates, fully equipped and manned etc.)
SEAWORTHINESS CERTIFICATE a certificate issued by a classification society surveyor to allow a vessel to proceed after she has met with a mishap that may have affected its seaworthiness. It is frequently issued to enable a vessel to proceed, after temporary repairs have been effected, to another port where permanent repairs are then carried out.
SEAWORTHY A boat or a boat's gear able to meet the usual sea conditions.
SECOND ASSISTANT ENGINEER In charge of twelve to four watch. On steam vessels has responsibility for the boilers, on diesels, the evaporators and the auxiliary equipment.
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SECOND MATE in charge of twelve to four watch. ships Navigation officer. Keeps charts (maps) up to date and monitors Navigation equipment on bridge.
SECURE to make fast.
SELFD Self Discharging
SELF-SUSTAINING SHIP a containership which has her own crane for loading and discharging shipping containers enabling the ship to serve ports which do not have suitable lifting equipment.
SELF-TRIMMING SHIP a ship whose holds re shaped in such a way that the cargo levels itself.
SELF-UNLOADER a bulk carrier which is equipped with gear for unloading cargo.
SEMI-TRAILERS Are usually 12.0 meter flat bed road trailers
SENC System Electronic Navigational Chart
SES satellite earth station,Seafarers' Education Service
SET direction toward which the current is flowing.
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SF Stowage Factor. Cubic space (measurement tonne) occupied by one tonne (2,240 lbs/1,000 kgs) of cargo
Shake out to release a reefed sail and hoist the sail aloft
Sheave the wheel of a block pulley
Sheet a line used to control the sail
SHEX Sundays/Holidays Excluded
SHIFTING This refers to movements or changing positions of cargo from one place to another. This can easily endanger the seaworthiness or cargoworthiness of the ship.
SHINC Sundays/Holidays Included
SHIP A larger vessel usually thought of as being used for ocean travel. A vessel able to carry a "boat" on board.
SHIPPERS Individuals or businesses who purchase transportation services or commodities.
SHIPPER'S COUNCIL An organization of shippers formed to collectively and services with the conferences of ship operators.
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SHIP'S AGENT A person or firm who transacts all business in a port on behalf of shipowners or charterers. Also called shipping agent; agent.
SHIP'S ARTICLES a written agreement between the master of a ship and the crew concerning their employment. It includes rates of pay and capacity of each crewman, the date of commencement of the voyage and its duration.
SHIPS CHAIRMAN (SHOP STEWARD) in charge of union business for unlicensed personnel. Handles grievances.
SHIP'S STABILITY the seaworthiness of a ship regarding the centrifugal force which enables her to remain upright.
SHORT TON 2,000 pounds.
Shrouds support wires for the mast
Sire ship's inspection report:a database system of the OCIMF
SISTER SHIPS Ships built on the same design.
SIU Seafarers International Union.
SKIDS Are bearers (timber or steel) positioned under the cargo to enable forklift handling at port, and for ease of rigging and lashing on board ship.
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SLACK Not fastened; loose. Also, to loosen.
SLOP TANK A tank in a tanker into which slops are pumped. These represent a residue of the ship's cargo of oil together with the water used to clean the cargo tanks. They are left to separate out in the slop tank.
SMarT Support for Maritime Training scheme (UK)
SMC safety management certificate (as per ISM Code)
SMS safety management system
SN Satellite Navigation - A form of position finding using radio transmissions from satellites with sophisticated on-board automatic equipment
SOC Shipper Owned Container
SOF Statement of Facts
SOFT CURRENCY Currency which is not fully convertible to all currencies but only to some other soft currencies.
Solas International Convention for Safety of Life at Sea,IMO
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SOLAS Safety of Life a Sea Convention
SOLE Cabin or saloon floor. Timber extensions on the bottom of the rudder. Also the molded fiberglass deck of a cockpit.
SOP standard operating procedure
SOPEP Shipboard Oil Pollution Emergency Plan
SOSREP Secretary of State's Representative for Marine salvage and Intervention
SOUNDING a measurement of the depth of water.
SP Safe Port
SPA special protection area
SPI ship-port interface, IMO
SPIDERING Is the strengthening of circular tanks for transport, this prevents the tanks from becoming warped. The tanks are strengthened with steel or wood crossbeams giving a "spider" appearance
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Spinnaker a large, light sail used in downwind sailing
SPM single point mooring
SPOT (VOYAGE) A charter for a particular vessel to move a single cargo between specified loading port(s) and discharge port(s) in the immediate future. Contract rate ("spot" rate) covers total operating expenses, i.e., bunkers, port charges, canal tolls, crew's wages
Spreaders struts used to hold the shrouds away from the mast
Spring line docking lines that keep the boat from drifting forward and back
SPRING LINE a pivot line used in docking, undocking, or to prevent the boat from moving forward or astern while made fast to a dock.
SQUALL a sudden, violent wind often accompanied by rain.
SQUARE KNOT a knot used to join two lines of similar size. Also called a reef knot.
SRBL Signing and Releasing Bill of Lading
SSHEX Saturdays, Sundays, Holidays Excluded
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SSHINC (or SATSHINC) Saturdays, Sundays, Holidays Included
ST Short ton
STABILITY It is paramount that a vessel is stable in all aspects at all times. When cargo is loaded/discharged, the stability is monitored by a computer, which takes into account the weight and position of cargo within the vessel.
STANDING PART that part of a line which is made fast.The main part of a line as distinguished from the bight and the end.
STAND-ON VESSEL that vessel which has right-of-way during a meeting, crossing, or overtaking situation.
STARBOARD The right-hand side of a ship when facing the front or forward end. The starboard side of a ship during darkness is indicated by a green light.
Starboard tack a course with the wind coming from starboard and the boom on the port side
STATION BILL A list which shows the vessel's complement and details their various duties in connection with fire and boat drills.
STCW International Convention on Standards of Training,Certification and Watchkeeping, IMO
STEM Subject to Enough Merchandise (Availability of cargo). Also, the forward most part of the bow.
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Step the frame that the bottom of the mast ends into
STERN The aformost or after part of a ship
STERN LINE a docking line leading from the stern.
STERNWAY the reverse movement of a vessel.
STEWARD ASSISTANT Clean galley and mess halls, set tables, prepare salads, Clean living quarters.
STORE a general term for provisions, materials and supplies used aboard ship for the maintenance of the crew, and for the navigation, propulsion and upkeep of the vessel and its equipment.
STOW to put An item in its proper place.
STOWAGE the placing of goods in a ship in such a way as to ensure the Safety and stability of the ship not only on a Sea or ocean passage but Also in between ports when parts of the cargo have been loaded or discharged.
Stowage Factor Cubic space (measurement tons occupied by one tonne (2240 lbs or 1000 kgs of cargo))
STRANDING The running of a ship on shore on a beach.
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SUB Subject (to). Depending upon as a condition
SUBC self-unloading bulk carrier
Subject to Depending upon as a condition
SUPERCARGO Person employed by a ship owner, shipping company, charterer of a ship or shipper of goods to supervise cargo handling operations. Often called a port captain.
SWAD Salt Water Arrival Draft
SWAMP to fill with water, but Not settle to the bottom.
SWDD Salt Water Departure Draft
SWL safe working load
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