Nautical Terminology

If you have never sailed or worked on a ship before, here are some common terms to help you navigate the shipboard vocabulary.

Vessel spaces & other structures

• Bridge/Wheelhouse – where primary vessel navigation occurs

• Engine Room – location of engines, usually on a lower deck

• Galley/Mess – where cooking and/or eating occurs

• Head – marine toilet

• Cabin – rooms for sleeping

• Bunk/Berth – bed where you sleep

Directions on the ship

Unlike left and right, "port" and "starboard" refer to fixed locations on a ship. To a person facing North, “right” is actually “left” to a person facing South. No matter which way the ship is heading, the port side of a ship is always her port side and starboard side is always her starboard. There are four letters in the words PORT and LEFT so you can easily remember that the left side of a ship is the port side.

• Port - the left side of the ship, when facing forward

• Starboard - the right side of the ship, when facing forward

• Bow - front of a ship

• Stern - the rear of a ship

• Aft - toward the stern (back) of a ship. Much of the loading/unloading of gear and equipment at sea happens on the back Work Deck.

• Fore or Forward - at or toward the front of a ship