Maritime terms

Types of vessels

Our website and handbook use specific terminology to refer to vessels.

• Vessel:Any vessel used as transport on the water. Includes powered vessels, sailing vessels, paddlecraft and rowing vessels. Does not include surfboards, stand-up paddle boards, towed equipment – for example, water skis, inflatable tubes or rafts – or swimming equipment.
• Powered vessel:Vessel with an engine – for example, powerboats, sailing boats using an engine and personal watercraft (PWC).
• Sailing vessel:Any vessel using a sail for power. For example sailing boats without an engine or with an engine (but not using it), off-the-beach sailing boats, sailboards and kiteboards.
• Personal watercraft (PWC):Vessel with a fully enclosed hull that you drive standing up, lying down, sitting astride or kneeling. It uses waterjet propulsion and has an engine in a watertight compartment. For example, jet ski or jet-powered surfboard.
• Paddlecraft: Vessel that you paddle – for example, kayaks, canoes and surf skis.
• Rowing vessel: Vessel that you row – for example, rowing shells and skiffs, dragon boats, rowing boats, rowing dinghies and small inflatable boats.
• Tender: Vessel used to transport people and goods between its parent vessel and the shore, or another vessel. It is less than 7.5m long and doesn't operate further than 1 nautical mile form the parent vessel.
• Skipper: The person in charge of a recreational vessel, whether driving or not. Often referred to as the master.
• Driver: The person driving a vessel. Often referred to as the operator.

Parts of a vessel

• Beam: The widest part of a vessel.
• Bilge: Inside the bottom of a vessel's hull where water collects.
• Bow: The front of a vessel.
• Cabin trunk: On a small boat, a raised cabin above the deck.
• Centreline: The middle line of a vessel, from bow to stern. The dividing line between port and starboard.
• Chine: A sharp change in angle on the surface of a hull. For example, where the topside meets the bottom.
• Cleat: A fitting on a vessel to which lines (ropes) can be attached.
• Cockpit: A lowered space in the deck of a boat where people can stand or sit.
• Console: Where controls are located, such as steering, radio, ignition and other switches.
• Deckhouse: An enclosed cabin on the deck of a vessel.
• Draft: Distance from the waterline to the lowest part of the vessel.
• Freeboard: The vertical distance from the waterline to the top of a vessel's hull.
• Gunwale: The top edge of a vessel’s sides.
• Hull: The main body of a vessel.
• Marlin board: A small deck on the back of a boat to make getting into the water easier – similar to a swim board.
• Port side: The left side of a vessel when you are looking towards the bow and the side on which a red sidelight is displayed.
• Pulpit: The railing at the bow of a boat.
• Starboard side: The right side of the vessel when you are looking towards the bow and the side on which a green sidelight is displayed.
• Stern: The back or rear of a vessel.
• Topsides: The sides of a vessel between the waterline and the gunwale.
• Transom: The surface that forms the stern of a vessel.
• Wheel: Used for steering a vessel. Also called the helm.

General maritime terms

• Give way: Reduce speed, stop, reverse or alter course to keep out of another vessel’s path.
• Knots (speed): 1 knot is a speed of 1 nautical mile per hour, or 1.852 kilometres per hour.
• Nautical miles (nm): A unit of measure for distances at sea. One nautical mile per hour is equal to 1.852 kilometres or 1.151 miles.
• Navigable waters: A waterway that a vessel can navigate safely.
• Planing: A vessel is planing when it speeds up enough to rise and skim on top of the water. Also called 'on the plane'. Heavier boats are not capable of planing.
• Underway: A vessel is underway when not at anchor or fastened to the shore or ground. If a vessel is drifting, it's underway.