⚓ Shipping Terms Explained: A Beginner’s Guide to Nautical Language & Daily Ship Life

My name is Davide Ramponi, I’m 20 years old and currently training as a shipping agent in Hamburg. On my blog, I take you with me on my journey into the exciting world of shipping. I share my knowledge, my experiences and my progress on the way to becoming an expert in the field of Sale and Purchase – the trade with ships.

With the same keyword, this graphic shows basic shipping terms explained—knots, draught, bridge, and charter party on a cargo ship scene.

When I first started my maritime journey, one of the biggest hurdles wasn’t the technical details or legal complexities—it was the language. 🚢 The shipping industry has its own vocabulary, a mix of traditional nautical expressions and modern technical jargon that can seem confusing to outsiders. But once you get the hang of it, these terms help paint a clearer picture of life at sea.

So if you’ve ever wondered what a draught is, why sailors talk about knots, or what exactly a charter party involves—you’re in the right place. 📘

In this post, we’ll explore essential terms in shipping, from parts of a vessel to navigational instruments and basic legal concepts. With examples drawn from real onboard routines, this article is your friendly, no-nonsense introduction to maritime language.

🚢 Basic Parts of a Ship: Know Your Bow From Your Stern

Let’s start with the absolute basics—understanding the different parts of a ship. These terms are not only used in navigation but also in daily shipboard communication.

⚓ Bow and Stern

Bow: The front of the ship. It’s the part that cuts through the water.
Stern: The rear of the ship. It’s where you often find the propeller and rudder.

📍Real-life example: When docking, the crew may receive orders like: “Moor the stern line first—then we’ll adjust the bow.”

⬇️ Draught

The draught is the vertical distance between the waterline and the bottom of the hull (keel).
It tells us how deep the ship sits in the water—essential for safe navigation in shallow ports or canals.

📝 Tip: A heavily loaded ship has a deeper draught, and needs to avoid shallow waters.

🧭 Bridge

The bridge is the ship’s control center—the place where navigation happens.
It’s where you’ll find the captain, officers, and most navigational instruments.

📍 Example: “The second mate is on the bridge monitoring radar and charts.”

🌊 Speed & Distance: Knots and Nautical Miles Explained

Sailors don’t use kilometers or miles the way we do on land. Here’s how maritime speed and distance are measured.

💨 Knots

A knot is a unit of speed equal to one nautical mile per hour.
So, if a ship is moving at 10 knots, it’s traveling 10 nautical miles per hour.

⚓ Why knots? The term dates back to old sailing days, when sailors measured speed using a rope with evenly spaced knots.

📏 Nautical Miles

One nautical mile is about 1.852 kilometers.
Unlike land miles, nautical miles are based on the Earth's latitude and longitude system—1 minute of arc on the Earth’s surface equals 1 nautical mile.

📍 Example: “We’re 250 nautical miles from Gibraltar—ETA is 14:00.”

⚖️ What Is a Charter Party? A Simple Legal Introduction

If you’ve spent any time around the shipping world, you’ve likely heard the term charter party—but what does it really mean?

📝 Charter Party (C/P)

A charter party is a maritime contract between the shipowner and the charterer.
It defines how and under what terms a ship will be used, including:
- 🕒 Duration of hire
- 💰 Freight rate
- ⚓ Ports of loading and discharge
- 🧾 Responsibilities (who pays for fuel, crew, port fees, etc.)

There are three main types:

Voyage Charter – payment for one trip (from A to B)
Time Charter – hire for a period of time
Bareboat Charter – the charterer takes full control, including crew and operations

📍 Example: “The vessel is on a time charter for six months, so fuel and scheduling are the charterer’s responsibility.”

🧭 Navigational Instruments: How Ships Find Their Way

Even in the age of automation, navigation still relies on several key instruments. Let’s break down the most common ones you’ll find on a ship’s bridge.

📡 Radar (Radio Detection and Ranging)

Detects objects (like other ships or coastlines) using radio waves.
Helps with navigation, especially in poor visibility (fog, night, rain).

📍 Daily use: “Radar shows a fishing boat at 2 miles, starboard side.”

🌊 Echo Sounder

Measures water depth beneath the ship using sound waves.
Critical in shallow waters, harbor entries, and anchoring.

📍 Example: “Echo sounder reads 6.5 meters—we’re close to our draught limit.”

🛰 GPS (Global Positioning System)

Provides real-time positioning using satellite signals.
Integrated into Electronic Chart Display (ECDIS) systems for precise routing.

📍 Routine: “Second officer verifies position on GPS and logs it in the logbook every hour.”

🧰 Maritime Terms in Action: A Day Onboard

Let’s connect these terms to the real-world routine of a working ship.

🚢 Morning Watch (04:00–08:00)

Third officer is on the bridge. He’s checking the radar, plotting position on nautical charts, and monitoring the ship’s speed in knots.
The AB (able seaman) does a round on deck, checking for issues near the bow and stern.

🛠 Midday Maintenance

In the engine room, the second engineer checks cooling systems while the chief engineer logs data into the engine logbook.
On deck, the bosun organizes maintenance near the draught marks—those numbers on the hull that indicate how deep the ship sits.

📞 Afternoon Updates

The captain receives a message from the charterer: the charter party requires arrival in Rotterdam by 06:00.
The crew adjusts speed to 14.5 knots and sets course using GPS and compass headings.

🧠 Bonus Terms: Expand Your Maritime Vocabulary

📘 Term	🧭 Meaning
Port	Left side of the ship (when facing forward)
Starboard	Right side of the ship
Helm	The steering control (wheel or joystick)
Ballast	Water stored in tanks to stabilize the ship
Deadweight (DWT)	Maximum weight a ship can safely carry (cargo + fuel + crew + supplies)
Bridge Wing	Extended platforms on either side of the bridge for docking maneuver views

📝 Tip: If you’re visiting a ship or planning to work onboard, knowing these terms will earn you respect from the crew!

🌍 Why These Terms Matter (Even for Non-Sailors)

Understanding shipping terms isn’t just for seafarers. If you work in logistics, port operations, freight forwarding, or even maritime law, this vocabulary is your toolkit. 🧰

It allows you to:

✅ Communicate effectively with crew and partners
📄 Read and interpret charter contracts
🌊 Understand ship movements and schedules
🚢 Follow industry news and developments more confidently

So the next time someone says “the draught is too deep for that port,” you won’t need to Google it. 😉

✅ Conclusion: Talk Like a Seafarer—Even If You're Not One

The shipping world might seem like a closed club with its own language—but once you learn the basics, it opens up a whole new perspective. 🌐

To recap:

⚓ Basic ship parts like bow, stern, and bridge help you visualize operations.
💨 Knots and nautical miles are how we measure distance and speed at sea.
📜 Charter parties are vital contracts that govern ship usage.
🛰 Navigation relies on tools like radar, GPS, and echo sounders.
🔄 Understanding everyday routines helps bring these terms to life.

💬 What shipping terms have you come across that puzzled you at first? Or do you have a favorite nautical word that you think more people should know?