| Term | Definition |
| abreast |
side by side; abeam of |
| Automatic Identification System |
AIS for Ship is an electronic ship identification system for ship to ship collision avoidance, provides information and status of ships and their cargo onboard to other ships or shore parties and vessel traffic system in ports.
The AIS can be integrated to ship navigational equipment onboard, e.g. radar or electronic charts system to indicate the ships in vicinity.
The system also transmits information to the shore, a Ship to Shore information. This is extremely useful for Vessel Traffic Systems (VTS), guiding the ship in congested areas, but equally important for the Marine Rescue Co-ordination Centres (MRCC) in giving actual updated information on all ships participating in a rescue action. Compiled information from larger areas can give the authorities basic data for planning of fairways and routing systems.
The information provided by AIS consists of
the information sent between the ships and to and from the shore which comes in four categories:
1. Static information: ships standard details for identification purpose, e.g. the MMSI number, IMO number, call sign and name, length and beam, position for GNSS antenna, type of ship
2. Dynamic information: updated continuously at a rate varying from two seconds to three minutes depending upon traffic situation, e.g. position, time, speed, course over ground, heading, navigational status and rate of turn. The faster the ship runs, the more it has to update its position
3. Voyage related information: ships actual draft and cargo type e.g. dangerous cargo (DG), destination and estimated time of arrival (ETA)
4. Safety related information: short messages on weather conditions and navigational warnings transmitted from shore to ship  |
| beam knee |
a bracket connecting a deck beam and frame; usually triangular in shape |
| cant beam |
deck supporting beam arranged in fan-like shape in the fore and aft ends of a ship, e.g. in ice breaker |
| cant frame |
a frame which supports the structure at a plane that is not perpendicular to the centreline and connected at the upper end to cant beam |
| carling |
the fore and aft strength member fitted between the deck beams; also known as deck girder |
| close-hauled |
1. sailing with the wind forward of the beam;
2. sailing as close to wind as possible |
| girder |
a long strong steel beam of H section used for keelson and framework where considerable strength is required; generally run in the fore and aft direction under a deck to support deck beams and deck; the girder, in turn, is supported by widely spaced pillars |
| hatch beam |
removable transverse beam placed across the hatch to support portable wooden hatch covers and improve strength |
| Laker |
a ship capable of transiting the St. Lawrence Seaway locks to trade in the Great Lakes between USA and Canada; the maximum beam and draught allowed in the lock is approximately 23.15 m and 26 feet fresh water respectively - this is equivalent to ship with a deadweight of about 20,000 tons |
| Malaccamax |
describe a maximum hull form capable of transiting the Straits of Malacca fully loaded; the maximum draught and beam allowed in the strait is approximately 21 metres and 60 metres respectively with a deadweight of 280,000~300,000 tons or in terms of TEU, not exceeding 12,000 |
| neutral axis |
an imaginary plane within a beam or other structural member under stress that is not subjected to tension and compression |
| Norman pin |
pin or roller that is erected at the tug's after bulwark, one on each side to restrict the tow line's movement and prevent it from passing over the vessel's beam; also known as Molgogger or simply stop pin |
| Panamax |
describe a class of ship size with the maximum dimension capable of transiting the Panama Canal; the maximum beam and draught allowed in the canal is approximately 32.3 metres and 12 metres fresh water respectively; equivalent to a ship with deadweight of about 55,000 tons |
| panting beam |
beam placed from shipside to shipside to support the shell plating against panting |
| pillar |
vertical member or column supporting the decks, beams or girders |
| Post Panamax |
describe a vessel whose size do not allow it to transit Panama Canal unlike Panamax vessel; maximum size of this class built has a length overall, beam and draught of approximately 300 metres, 43 metres and 14.5 metres respectively |
| running free |
sailing with the wind abaft the beam |
| scantlings |
dimensions of ship's structural members, e.g. frame, beam, girder, etc. |
| spinnaker |
sail set forward of the forestay when wind is coming from astern or abeam |
| spreader |
steel device which is used with crane or derrick to lift long or awkwardly shaped cargo safely without bending or flexing; also known as spreader beam |
| stanchion |
vertical member such as pillar or beam that supports deck, guard rails, etc |
| strongback |
1. beam or spar placed in the fore and aft direction over a boat to support and slope the canvas cover such that no water may accumulate on it;
2. plate for aligning the edges of plates to be welded together;
3. steel bar for securing a closed door in addition to the dogs around its edges |
| tripping bracket |
reinforcements in the form of flat bars or plates on deck girders, beams or stiffeners to prevent their free flanges from being deformed under compression |
| web |
the wider plate-like section of a beam or frame |
| welding |
the union of pieces of metal made liquid by heating, or by pressure or both; types of welding include arc welding, gas welding, resistance welding, friction welding, plasma welding and electron beam welding |
