Commercial and Operational Shipping

Ship operations, crewing and technical management glossary

The day-to-day running of the vessel and the people aboard: third-party management under SHIPMAN and CREWMAN forms, crew recruitment, the seafarer employment agreement under the MLC, STCW competency, welfare and fatigue, planned maintenance and dry-docking, bunkering under ISO 8217 with the BDN, tanker vetting under SIRE 2.0 and RightShip, the ISM safety management system, the port call cycle, and waste handling under MARPOL Annex V.

213 defined terms.

A

Abandon ship drill: Mandatory drill under SOLAS Chapter III.
Accommodation ladder: Inclined ladder hung over the ship's side for access.
Adequate manning: Compliance with the flag state's minimum safe manning document.
Advance and allotment: Crew wage payments to family members or accounts.
Aft peak tank: Aftermost ballast tank around the sterntube.
Anchor watch: Watch maintained on anchored vessel.
Anti-fouling system: Coating regulated under the AFS Convention.
Articles of agreement: Formerly required crew employment document, now SEA.
Audit (Internal): ISM Code Element 12 audit of the SMS.
Auxiliary engine: Medium-speed engine driving a generator.

B

Ballast water management plan: Vessel plan under the BWM Convention.
Ballast water record book: Record of all ballast operations.
BDN: Bunker delivery note required under MARPOL Annex VI.
Berthing operation: Manoeuvre to bring the ship alongside.
Best available techniques: BAT reference under IMO and EU environmental rules.
Bilge alarm: 15 ppm oily water discharge monitor.
Black water: Sewage as defined in MARPOL Annex IV.
Boiler survey: Class survey of boilers, typically twice in five years.
Bridge resource management: BRM, team-based bridge watchkeeping discipline.
Bunker fuel quality testing: ISO 8217 fuel analysis by laboratories.
Bunker survey: Quantity and quality measurement at delivery and redelivery.
Bunkering checklist: ISGOTT or company checklist before bunkering.

C

Calibration certificate: Document certifying calibration of cargo or bunker measurement systems.
Cargo handling manual: Required manual on bulk and tanker vessels.
Cargo operations log: Record of loading and discharging operations.
Cargo Securing Manual: Required under SOLAS VI/5 and VII/5.
Cathodic protection survey: Inspection of sacrificial anodes and impressed current systems.
CDI: Chemical Distribution Institute, ship-inspection scheme for chemical and gas tankers.
Chief Engineer: Senior engineer in charge of machinery.
Chief Officer: Senior deck officer, second in command.
Class Notation: Class society designation reflecting compliance with construction and equipment rules incorporated into SOLAS by reference.
Classification survey: Survey by the recognized organization for class.
CMS: Continuous machinery survey, alternative class survey regime.
Cold lay-up: Vessel idled with minimal manning and shut systems.
Collision avoidance: Compliance with COLREGS 1972.
Compliance manual: Company manual aligning operations with ISM.
Condition assessment scheme: CAS, scheme for older tankers under MARPOL.
Conditional class: Class subject to outstanding conditions.
Continuous synopsis record: CSR, SOLAS history-of-flag record.
Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping: STCW.
Crew agency licence: Manning agency licence under MLC.
Crew change: Replacement of crew members in port.
Crew matrix: Matrix of required ranks, certificates, and endorsements.
CREWMAN A 2025: BIMCO crew management agreement, cost-plus version.
CREWMAN B 2025: BIMCO crew management agreement, lump-sum version.
CSS Code: IMO Code of Safe Practice for Cargo Stowage and Securing.

D

Daily noon report: Standard daily report of position, consumption, and weather.
Damage stability booklet: Booklet on residual stability after damage.
Deballasting: Discharging ballast water.
Deck log: Official bridge log book.
Deficiency: PSC finding requiring rectification.
Designated person ashore: DPA, ISM Code link between ship and shore management.
Detention by Port State Control: Holding of the vessel until deficiencies are rectified.
DG Manifest: Dangerous goods manifest under SOLAS Chapter VII.
Document of Compliance: DOC, ISM document for the company.
Drug and alcohol policy: Company D&A policy aligned with OCIMF and CDI.
Dry docking: Periodic dry dock survey, typically every five years.
DUKC: Dynamic under-keel clearance management system.

E

Eagle Eye: SAFENET equivalent emergency monitoring system used by operators.
EEXI: Energy Efficiency Existing Ship Index, MARPOL Annex VI Chapter 4.
Electronic chart display and information system: ECDIS.
Emergency response service: ERS, salvage and stability support service.
Emission control area: ECA where stricter SOx and NOx limits apply.
Engine room watch: Periodic or unmanned engine room watch arrangement.
Equipment failure mode: Classification of failure under FMEA.
Escape Route: Required under SOLAS II-2/13.
ETA: Estimated time of arrival.
External Audit: Conducted by flag state or RO under ISM, ISPS, and MLC.

F

Familiarisation training: Mandatory STCW shipboard familiarisation.
Fatigue management plan: Plan addressing crew fatigue per MLC and IMO Guidelines.
Fire Control Plan: Required under SOLAS II-2/15.
Fixed firefighting system: Such as CO2, foam, or water mist installations.
Flag state inspection: Inspection by the flag state administration.
Fleet management software: Software supporting PMS, procurement, and reporting.
Float free EPIRB: 406 MHz beacon under SOLAS.
Fuel oil consumption data collection: IMO DCS reporting under MARPOL Annex VI.

G

Garbage Management Plan: Required under MARPOL Annex V Regulation 10.
Garbage Record Book: Required under MARPOL Annex V Regulation 10.
Gas-free certificate: Certificate before hot work in tanks.
Generator running hours: Hours used to plan maintenance intervals.
Gyrocompass: Heading reference required by SOLAS Chapter V.

H

Hand-over notes: Notes between off-going and on-coming officers.
Hazardous area classification: Zoning of areas containing flammable gases.
Heavy weather damage report: Report of damage from heavy weather.
Hot work permit: Yard/onboard permit before welding/cutting.
Hours of rest: Mandated minimum rest hours under MLC and STCW.
Hull and machinery insurance: H&M, marine insurance for the vessel itself.
Hull cleaning: In-water hull cleaning subject to biofouling rules.

I

IAPP Certificate: International Air Pollution Prevention Certificate under MARPOL Annex VI.
IBC Code: International Code for the Construction and Equipment of Ships Carrying Dangerous Chemicals in Bulk.
IGC Code: International Code for the Construction and Equipment of Ships Carrying Liquefied Gases in Bulk.
IGF Code: International Code of Safety for Ships Using Gases or Other Low-Flashpoint Fuels.
IMSBC Code: International Maritime Solid Bulk Cargoes Code, mandatory under SOLAS VI/1-1 and VII/7-1.
In-water survey: Class survey of the underwater hull in lieu of dry docking.
Incident investigation report: Internal report into a marine incident.
Independent surveyor: P&I or charterer surveyor attending operations.
Inert gas system: IGS, system inerting tanker cargo tanks.
Inland AIS: AIS for inland waterways under EU directives.
Inspection regime: Combination of PSC, vetting, and class inspections.
Insulation resistance test: Routine electrical IR test in PMS.
Intermediate Survey: Class survey between Special Surveys.
International Oil Pollution Prevention Certificate: IOPP.
International Safety Management Code: ISM Code.
International Ship and Port Facility Security Code: ISPS Code.
ISGOTT: International Safety Guide for Oil Tankers and Terminals, 6th edition.
ISM audit: Audit of safety management system under ISM Code.
ISO 14001: Environmental management standard often integrated with ISM.
ISO 8217: International standard for marine fuel oil specifications.
ISO 9001: Quality management standard often integrated with ISM.

J

Job hazard analysis: JHA or JSA, task risk analysis tool.
Joint plan of operations: Coordination plan for STS or complex operations.

K

Keel laying: Symbolic placement of first block in dock.
Key performance indicators: Shipping KPIs such as the InterManager SKPIs.

L

Laboratory analysis: Fuel analysis under ISO 8217 testing.
Lashing certificate: Certificate for cargo securing under CSS.
Lay-up plan: Plan for cold or warm lay-up of the vessel.
Lifeboat drill: SOLAS Chapter III drill at intervals not exceeding one month.
Lifeboat release hook: Equipment subject to LRRS approval after SOLAS amendments.
LOTO: Lockout tagout discipline for machinery isolation.

M

Maintained class: Class maintained without overdue items.
Manning agency: Crewing company supplying personnel.
Manning level: Number of personnel on board.
Maritime Labour Certificate: Required under MLC for ships of 500 GT and above engaged on international voyages.
MARPOL Annex I: Prevention of pollution by oil.
MARPOL Annex II: Prevention of pollution by noxious liquid substances.
MARPOL Annex III: Prevention of pollution by harmful substances in packaged form.
MARPOL Annex IV: Prevention of pollution by sewage.
MARPOL Annex V: Prevention of pollution by garbage.
MARPOL Annex VI: Air pollution and energy-efficiency annex.
Mass flow meter: MFM, custody transfer meter required for bunkering in Singapore and other ports.
Master: Captain of the vessel.
Master's review: Annual ISM master's review of the SMS.
Material safety data sheet: MSDS or SDS for hazardous materials.
Mooring operation: Securing the vessel alongside.
Mud box: Sea chest sediment trap.

N

Near miss reporting: ISM required reporting of near miss events.
NOR tender log: Record of NOR served at ports.
Notice to mariners: NM, updates to nautical charts and publications.
Nox Technical File: NOx Technical File required for marine engines under MARPOL Annex VI.

O

OCIMF: Oil Companies International Marine Forum, owner of SIRE.
Off-hire survey: Joint survey at redelivery.
Oil record book: Part I for machinery and Part II for cargo.
Onboard training programme: Cadet and officer training plan.
Operational standards: TMSA, RightShip, and class-issued operational benchmarks.
OPRC plan: Oil pollution emergency plan under OPRC Convention.
ORB Part I: Machinery space oil record book.
ORB Part II: Cargo and ballast operations oil record book.

P

Paris MoU: Paris Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control, 1982.
Particularly Sensitive Sea Area: PSSA designated by IMO.
Passage plan: Berth to berth voyage plan under SOLAS Chapter V.
Performance monitoring: Routine ship performance analysis.
PMS: Planned maintenance system.
Pollution prevention certificate: Generic term for MARPOL certificates.
Pre-arrival checklist: Bridge and engine checks before arrival.
Pre-port questionnaire: Charterer or terminal questionnaire.
Pre-vetting inspection: Inspection in preparation for SIRE 2.0 or CDI.
Production well test fluid: Cargo handled by FPSOs and offloading tankers.

Q

Quality circle: Crew team for continuous improvement.
Quality manual: Document under ISO 9001 part of integrated SMS.
Quarantine flag: Yellow Q flag indicating request for free pratique.

R

Recognized organization: RO, delegated to act on behalf of the flag state.
Recognized security organization: RSO under ISPS Code.
Reefer pre-trip inspection: PTI before each reefer container voyage.
Repair specification: Owner-issued repair scope document.
Reporting line: Defined reporting structure in SMS.
Rescue boat drill: SOLAS drill at intervals not exceeding three months.
Responsible care: Chemical industry programme adopted by chemical shipowners.
Right of departure: PSC clearance to depart after deficiency rectification.
RightShip: Vetting and risk-management platform for dry bulk and other sectors.
Risk assessment: Documented evaluation of hazards.
Risk-based inspection: Approach used by class and Port State Control.
Routine maintenance: Maintenance executed on a schedule.

S

Safety committee meeting: Monthly meeting required by MLC and ISM.
Safety management certificate: SMC, ISM certificate for the ship.
Safety officer: Designated officer for occupational safety on board.
Safety pad: Tanker pad pressure during cargo operations.
Salt water service system: General service cooling system.
SCBA: Self-contained breathing apparatus.
SEA: Seafarer's Employment Agreement under MLC 2006.
Seafarer recruitment and placement service: SRPS under MLC.
Search and rescue cooperation plan: Required for passenger ships.
Ship Energy Efficiency Management Plan: SEEMP Parts I, II, and III.
Ship Inspection Report Programme: SIRE, recently SIRE 2.0.
SHIPMAN 2024: BIMCO standard ship management agreement, 2024 revision.
SIRE 2.0: Ship Inspection Report Programme, OCIMF, transitioned from VIQ7 to a behavior-based program in 2024.
SMS: Safety management system required by ISM Code.
Stowaway: Person concealed on board, governed by FAL Convention.
Sulphur cap 2020: 0.50 percent global cap on fuel oil sulphur.
Survey status: Status of class and statutory surveys.

T

Tank cleaning: Cleaning of cargo tanks between cargoes.
TBT free coating: Coating compliant with AFS Convention.
Technical manager: Party responsible for technical management of the ship.
Time bar for crew claims: Statutory limitation for wage claims.
TMSA: Tanker Management and Self-Assessment, OCIMF self-assessment tool, current edition TMSA 3.
Tokyo MoU: PSC regime for the Asia-Pacific.
Tonnage opening: Manhole on tonnage deck.
Total loss: Actual or constructive total loss for insurance purposes.
Trim and stability booklet: Document containing loading conditions and stability data.
Trim and stability calculator: Approved onboard calculator.

U

Underwater inspection in lieu of dry docking: UWILD.
Unmanned machinery space: UMS class notation.

V

Vapour return line: Pipeline returning cargo vapours to shore.
Vetting: Charterer inspection of vessel before fixture.
Voyage data recorder: VDR or S-VDR under SOLAS.

W

Wages account: Crew wages ledger maintained by the manager.
Watchkeeping arrangement: Schedule of bridge and engine room watches.
Weekly test of equipment: Recorded tests of safety equipment.
Wheelhouse poster: SOLAS Chapter V manoeuvring information.
Wilhelmsen ShipServ: Procurement platform for stores and spares.
Work and rest hours record: STCW and MLC record.

Y

Yard repair: Repair work carried out at a shipyard.

Z

Zero discharge mode: Operation with no discharge to sea.
Zone classification: Hazardous zone classification on gas and oil tankers.

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