Ship Anatomy: Essential Maritime Terminology
Key Ship Components Defined
Understanding the various parts of a ship is crucial for anyone involved in maritime activities. Here are definitions of fundamental vessel components:
- Keel: The core of a ship, the keel supports the structure of the ship and is the first part to be built. Some ships also have a hydrodynamic keel designed to increase their efficiency.
- Hull: The most visible part of the ship, as it is the body of the watercraft.
- Bulkheads: Compartments which run across the ship from side to side.
- Decks: Analogous to the floors of a house. A small boat may only have one primary deck.
- Bow: The front of the ship.
- Bulbous Bow: A bulb-shaped protrusion at the bow of a ship, designed to reduce wave-making resistance (Spanish: Bulbo de Proa).
- Stern: The back of the ship.
- Superstructure: Any structure built above the main deck.
- Foredeck: The deck of a ship from the superstructure to the forecastle.
- Forecastle: A raised part of the foredeck at the bow.
- Afterdeck: The deck aft of the stern side of the superstructure.
- Bulkhead: A vertical partition on a ship.
- Deck: A floor on the ship.
- Main Deck: The longest deck on a ship.
- Deckhead: The ceiling on a ship.
- Tweendeck: An intermediate deck between the main deck and the hold (Spanish: Entrepuente).
- Hatch: An opening in a deck.
- Hatch Cover: Placed over the hatch to ensure that water doesn’t enter the hold.
- Hatch Coaming: A vertical upper part of the hatch on a ship.
- Hold: The place where cargo is stored on the ship.
- Alley: A passage on a ship.
- Porthole: A round window.
Sailing Terminology
Specific terms are used for parts of sailing vessels:
- Rudder: A flat piece of wood or metal attached to the stern of a boat or ship and used for steering (Spanish: Timón).
- Cockpit: An open space, usually in the stern of a small boat, from which it is steered (Spanish: Bañera).
- Companionway: A set of steps or a ladder leading from a ship’s deck to a cabin or lower deck (Spanish: Escalera).
- Tiller: A lever used to steer a boat by turning the rudder (Spanish: Caña del Timón).
- Sail: A piece of fabric extended on a mast to catch the wind and propel a boat (Spanish: Velas).
- Deck: The floor of a ship (Spanish: Cubierta).
- Mast: A long, vertical beam that extends up from a ship, supporting sails or rigging (Spanish: Mástil).
- Bow: The front of the ship (Spanish: Proa).
- Keel: The main structural member running lengthwise along the bottom of a boat (Spanish: Quilla).
- Stern: The rear part of a ship or boat (Spanish: Popa).
- Cabin: A room in a ship (Spanish: Cabina).
Advanced Ship Components
Further details on ship structure and specialized parts:
- Sternpost: A part of a ship that extends from the keel along the rear of a ship.
- Mast: A long, vertical beam that extends up from a ship.
- Hull: The shell of a ship.
- Keel: A long beam that runs along the bottom of a ship.
- Waterline: The level at which a ship’s surface meets the water.
- Propeller: A device with rotating blades that drives a ship forward.
- Weather Deck: The top level of a ship that is exposed to air.
- Poop Deck: The rear part of a main deck, often raised.
- Fantail: The extreme after part of a ship’s deck, usually rounded.
- Forecastle: Found at the front of a ship.
- Screw: Another term for a propeller, which pushes a ship forward.
- Stem: Extends from the keel to the front of the ship.
- Bulwark: A solid, upright portion of a ship’s side above the level of the deck, protecting equipment and personnel on the weather deck.
- Superstructure: Any deck above the weather deck is a part of the superstructure.
Understanding Ship Terminology: Definitions
Here are additional definitions related to ship components and maritime concepts:
- Keel or Hull: The part of the hull that would rest on the ground if the vessel were dry-docked.
- Buoyant: Capable of floating.
- Isolated: Separated from other things or parts.
- Orient: To find or figure out for oneself one’s location or place.
- Poop Deck: A deck that forms the roof of a cabin built in the aft part of a ship.
- After Deck: The space or position at the back of something, as distinguished from the front.
- Rigging: The system of ropes, cables, and chains which support a sailing ship or sailboat’s masts and sails.
- Shelter: Something beneath, behind, or within which one is protected, as from storms.
- Spine: Something resembling a spinal column which constitutes a central axis.
- Streamlined: Shaped so as to offer the least resistance to a current of water.
- Watercraft: Boats and ships collectively.
Ship Components: Multiple Choice Questions
Test your knowledge with these questions about ship components:
Which parts of the ship are common in most vessels and help us to orient ourselves on board?
Answer: The parts that are common in most vessels can help us to orient ourselves on board.
What does the Keel support?
Answer: The Keel supports other important parts of the ship such as the frames or ends of the hull.
What does “hydrodynamic” mean?
Answer: A keel which is designed to interact with water in the most effective possible way.
Which of the following options doesn’t apply to the hull?
Answer: The hull of all kinds of watercraft is divided, at least, by a primary deck and one bulkhead.
Bulkheads are analogous to…
Answer: The walls of a building.
Where is the bilge located?
Answer: Hull.
Where is usually the bridge located?
Answer: Top Deck.
Elements not necessarily included in rigging?
Answer: Bilge.
Medical Terminology: Conditional Sentences
This section presents examples of conditional sentences related to medical scenarios:
- If you use a splint, it will help.
- The infection won’t go away if you use antibiotics.
- If you take this medicine, you will feel better.
- If he is unconscious, he won’t hear you.
- She will recover if she rests.
- If he doesn’t get oxygen, he will die.
- I will tell you if there is any change.