Directional Terms

Fore: toward the front or bow of the ship.

Aft: toward the back or stern of the ship

Port: the left side of the ship as one faces forward toward the bow.

Starboard: the right side of the ship as one faces toward the bow.

Inboard: toward the fore and aft centerline of the ship.

Outboard: away from the fore and aft centerline of the ship.

Athwartship: perpendicular to the fore and aft centerline of the ship.

General Terms

anchor: the device for securing the ship to a fixed point in the water when it is no deep water port is available. Titanic had 5 anchors of different types.

anchor crane: the device on the bow of the Titanic for handling the forecastle bow anchor which was the largest.

ash ejector: a system for disposing of coal ashes at sea. Ashes were mixed with water and the mixture was expelled from the side of the ship.

binnacle: the type of ship's compass that stood in front of the ship's wheel

body plan: a drawing of a ship which shows cross sections taken perpendicular to a fore and aft centerline from forward to aft.

boat deck: the top superstructure deck on the Titanic where the lifeboats were placed.

boiler: the piece of equipment found in the lowest part of the ship used for generating steam to run the engines.

bollard: twin barrel shaped piece of equipment for securing mooring lines.

bow: the front part of the ship.

breakwater: the raised metal panels on the forecastle deck for directing water over the side of the ship.

bridge: the part of the ship where the operation of the ship is controlled.

bridge wings: also known as wing cabs, these enclosures outboard port and starboard of the bridge were used to give a better view during maneuvering especially during docking procedures.

bulkhead: usually the port to starboard main divisions or "walls" of the ship. The term has also become to be used to refer to any wall on the ship.

bunker: the compartments used to hold coal

capstan: powered drum like devices for pulling on mooring lines.

cargo crane: the lifting devices found on the decks of Titanic for lifting cargo and other objects.

cargo hold: the spaces below decks for storing cargo

cargo span: a wire rope rigged for lifting cargo.

chocks: the wooden supports cradles on which most of the lifeboats were stowed.

coal scuttles: the doors in the side of the ship for loading coal.

coaling outriggers: triangular shaped brackets used to rig lines to assist in loading coal.

counter: the part of the stern of the ship that overhangs the water.

cowl: the type of ventilating device that looks like the large opening of a tuba.

davit: devices used to lower and raise lifeboats.

derrick: a long pole like structure on the aft part of the foremast used for lifting the heaviest cargo.

docking bridge: the platform on the poop deck used to help control the movements of the ship during docking operations.

Engelhardt collapsible lifeboats: a type of lifeboat of which Titanic had four which had a wooden bottom and canvas sides which could be raised.

fairlead: any device which is used to keep lines from binding. The Titanic had fixed fairleads and roller fairleads.

falls: the ropes which lower and raise the lifeboats.

forecastle: the deck found at the bow of the ship.

frames: the structural steel "ribs" of the ship on which the outer plating was riveted.

funnel: the "smokestacks" used for providing draft for the boiler furnaces (forward three funnels on the Titanic) and for general ventilation (aft funnel on Titanic).

gangway: a walkway used to bridge from the dock to the gangway doors of the ship.

Gibbs extractor ventilator: a distinctive type of ventilator found on Titanic which had a barrel shaped fan enclosure and a pipe duct below it. Some had a pipe duct on the top.

gripes: tiedown chains used to secure the lifeboats.

half breadth plan: a drawing of a ship with fore and aft cross sections parallel with the water surface which are taken from the bottom to the top of the hull.

hatch: an opening usually to the cargo holds.

hawse hole: an opening through which mooring lines and anchor chains were passed.

hawser: a heavy wire or rope cable for mooring the ship.

head: usually refers to the bow of the ship. Also used as a nautical term for a bathroom aboard ship.

hold: an open storage space in the interior of the ship.

jackstay: a small rod used to secure canvas sunshades or weather screens.

Jacobs ladder: a rope ladder with wooden rungs.

keel: the "backbone" of the ship. It is the structural member running fore and aft down the bottom centerline of the ship.

keelson: like the keel but these structural elements were placed on top the keel.

leadsman's platform: a platform where a crew member lowered a lead weight attached to a thin rope to check the water depth in shallow areas.

mast: a long pole like object once use to support yards and sails. On the Titanic it was used only in auxiliary functions since there were no sails.

mooring lines: lines used to secure the ship to the dock.

pelorus: a device found outside the navigating bridge used for determining direction relative to the course of the ship.

poop deck : the deck at the aft of ship.

porthole: the round windows found on the ship.

promenade: the areas of the ship designed for passengers or crew to walk on deck.

propellers: the propelling devices of the ship. Also known as screws. Titanic had three.

reciprocating steam engine: the two main power sources of the Titanic. These steam engines had cylinders that were forced up and down by steam pressure and rotated the propeller shafts.

roller fairlead: a type of fairlead with a rotating head.

rudder: the flat moveable structure at the very stern of the ship used to steer the ship.

screw: same as propeller

scuppers: openings to drain water off the decks.

sheer: the arc formed by the curvature upward of both the fore and aft ends of the ship.

sheer plan: a drawing of a ship that shows fore and aft cross sections taken from the fore and aft centerline out to the sides of the ship.

shrouds: guy wires used to stabilize the funnels

Sirocco: a brand name of a type fan motor used as the basis for most of the ventilators on the Titanic.

skid lights: a type of skylight for admitting light to interior windowless cabins. On Titanic these were found near the deck on the outer bulkheads of the officer's quarters. They provided light to the interior forward cabins on "A" deck.

skylight: an opening used to admit light to and interior part of the ship.

sounding machine: a device which reeled out a weighted line to gauge the depth of the water. This machine was usually used in deeper waters than those which could be gauged by a leadsman.

sounding spars: a pole which extended over the side of the deck to enable the operation of the sounding line.

speaking tube: a tube used for communication between various parts of the ship.

stays: lines used to support vertical structures such as masts.

stern: the aft part of the ship.

stud link chain: chain which has a stud or link across the center of each link of chain. This type of chain was used for anchor chain on the Titanic.

telegraph: a device on the bridges used to signal orders to the engine room and to each other.

telemotor: the steering device for the ship.

thermotank: a type of hot air supply ventilator found on Titanic.

turbine engine: a type of engine on the Titanic of which there was one that used the exhaust steam from the reciprocating engines to turn the turbine which turned the center propeller shaft

turnbuckle: a device for adjusting the tension of support lines.

ventilator: a device for moving the intake and exhaust air supplies about the ship.

warping: the process of pulling a ship into the dock by means of capstans aboard the ship.

waterline: the location on the side of the ship where the ship floats.

watertight door: a special type of door which when closed can withstand great water pressure without leaking.

well deck: the depressed decks between nearest the forecastle deck and the poop deck.

wheelhouse: the enclosure on the navigating bridge from which the ship was usually steered.

winch: a device for reeling in and out lines for lifting and lowering.

windlass: gear used for raising and lowering anchors.

wing cabs: same as bridge wings.

wire reel: reels found on deck for stowing cargo span wires. side the navigating bridge used for determining direction relative to the course of water. This machine was usually used in deeper waters than those