Maritime and Marine Terminology: A Comprehensive Glossary

Maritime and Marine Terminology

Polluter: A vessel emitting harmful substances into the air or spilling oil into the sea.

Proceed (to): To sail or head for a certain position or to continue the voyage.

PA-system (Public Address System): Loudspeakers in the vessel's cabins, mess rooms, etc., and on deck via which important information can be broadcast from a central point, mostly from the navigation bridge.

RCC (Rescue Coordination Centre): Land-based authority conducting and coordinating search and rescue operations in a designated area.

Receiving Point: A mark or place at which a vessel comes under obligatory entry, transit, or escort procedure.

Reference Line: A fictive line displayed on the radar screen separating the fairway for inbound and outbound vessels so that they can safely pass each other.

Refloat (to): To pull a vessel off after grounding; to set afloat again.

Reporting Point: See Waypoint.

Rendez-vous: An appointment between vessels normally made on radio to meet in a certain area or position.

Rescue Team: A group of crew members standing by in case of an emergency in order to assist other teams in action if necessary.

Restricted Area: A deck, space, area, etc., not permitted to be entered for safety reasons (in vessel).

Retreat Signal: Sound, visual, or other signal to a team ordering it to return to its base.

Rig Move: The movement of an oil rig, drilling platform, etc., from one position to another.

Roll Call: The act of checking which of the passengers and crew members are present, e.g., at assembly stations, by reading aloud a list of their names.

Safe Speed: That speed of a vessel allowing the maximum possible time for effective action to be taken to avoid a collision and to be stopped within an appropriate distance.

Safety Load: The maximum permissible load of a deck, etc.

Safe Working Pressure: The maximum permissible pressure in cargo hoses.

SAR: Search and Rescue