The Helmsman Study Guide
Vocabulary
- Aft - Towards the rear.
- Aloft - Above the ship's uppermost solid structure, overhead or high above.
- Alongside - By the side of the pier or ship.
- Awash - So low in the water that the water is constantly washing across the service.
- Barracks - A building where military personnel live.
- Beam - Greatest athwart ships width of a vessel.
- Belay - (1) To make fast and secure a line. (2) To cancel an order. (3) To cease.
- Below - Beneath the deck (downstairs).
- Billet - A crew members assigned duties within the ships organization.
- BMOW - Boatswain's mate of the watch is responsible to ensure all watches are properly manned and in order.
- Bow - The front of the ship.
- Bulkhead - A partition or "wall" on a vessel.
- Cabin - The Commanding Officer's living quarters.
- Centerline - Imaginary line running from the ship's bow to stern.
- Check - To slack off slowly, to ease off the line a little bit.
- Compartment - Enclosed spaces or "rooms" on a vessel.
- Davit - The shipboard crane that can be swung over the side.
- Deck - The "floor" of a vessel.
- EOW - (Engineering Officer of the Watch) An officer in charge of the engineering department while on watch.
- Eyes on the boat - Looking straight ahead at position of attention.
- Fast - Snugly secured.
- Fanthom - A six foot unit of length.
- Fender - A piece of equipment, such as an inflated ball, when inserted between the vessel and another object will absorb shock and prevent damage.
- Fore - Towards the bow of the ship.
- Forecastle - Upper deck in the forward part of the ship, pronounced "FOKE-sul".
- Galley - The cooking compartment or "kitchen" on a vessel.
- Gunwale - Upper edge or rail of a ship or boat's side, pronounced "GUN'nle".
- Hatch - A square or rectangular opening in a deck.
- Hawser - A thick rope or cable for mooring or towing a ship.
- Head - The compartment with toilet facilities; bathroom.
- Heading - The direction a ship points at any given moment.
- Inboard - Toward the center of the ship.
- Keel - Center of the hull. Lowest in the water where weight is most carried.
- Ladder - Steps from one deck to another.
- Leeward (Lee) - Direction away from the wind.
- Mast - The verticle structure that frequently holds rigging for flags and pennants, electronic equipment, and the National Ensign while underway; the flagpole at a land unit.
- Messdeck - The compartment where enlisted personnel eat.
- Muster - Assembly of the crew for accountability.
- OOD - Officer of the Day/Deck. An officer who is in charge of a vessel or station for the day or watch.
- Outboard - Away from the center of the ship.
- Overhead - The ceiling on a vessel/compartment.
- Part - To break as a line.
- Passageway - Compartment designed for traffic; hallway.
- Port - Referring to the left side of a vessel when seen by someone facing the bow.
- Rack - A sailor's bed.
- Scuttle Butt - (1) A drinking fountain. (2) A rumor.
- Secure - Lock up, finish up.
- Strike - To lower or bring down.
- Swab - To mop. The mop itself.
- Turn to - An order to begin work.
- Underway - When a vessel is not tied to a pier or at anchor.
- Void - An empty compartment below decks.
- Wake - The track of disturbed water left behind a moving ship.
- Watch - A period of duty, usually four hours.
- Windward - Side of the vessel wind is coming from.
Created by a future member of the USCG studying for BC, Jeremy Hernandez.
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