SECTION 1

MARITIME ENGLISH LANGUAGE

 Unit 1 (8 t)
POSITIONS AND RANKING SYSTEM IN THE NAVY AND TYPES OF NAVAL
SHIPS

1.1. Positions and Ranking system in the Navy

1.1.1. Reading
Positions and Ranking system in the Navy
Like most words in the English language, those used to describe the
units and ranks of the military are borrowed from other languages and have
changed in their spelling, pronunciation and meaning over the years. Some
words have more than one meaning depending on the context, which makes it
even more difficult to learn.
Moreover, the Navies of different countries have different positions and
ranking systems. So, let start with Vietnamese Navy System to make things
simpler.
The Vietnam People’s Navy is the core service in protecting Vietnam’s
maritime sovereignty. The Navy’s responsibility is to strictly manage and
control the waters and islands in the East Sea under Vietnam’s sovereignty, to
maintain security, to counter any acts of violating sovereignty, sovereign
rights, jurisdiction and national interests of Vietnam at sea, to secure normal
activities of Vietnam in its waters and islands in conformity with Vietnamese
and international laws, to ensure maritime safety and participate in search and
rescue operations in accordance with Vietnam’s laws and the international
conventions adopted by Vietnam, to be ready for joint and combined
operations to defeat any aggression from and at sea.
For the Vietnamese Navy, the Naval Headquarter takes command of the
entire Navy. The Headquarters has the Commander and Vice Commanders,
the Commissar and the Deputy Commissar. It also consists of agencies
responsible for military affairs, Party and political work, technical and logistic
issues.
The Navy is organized into five Naval Regions (1, 2, 3, 4, and 5) and
subordinate units. Each Regional Command has a number of brigades and
squadrons. A squadron consists of more than two small ships of the same
type; for instance, a squadron of Torpedo ships, or a squadron of missile
ships. A brigade consists of squadrons and ships under direct control of the
brigade.
 The main forces of the Vietnamese Navy are the units of surface ships,
submarines, coastal artillery and land-to-sea missiles, marine, naval
commando and naval air force. The Navy has been reinforced with personnel
and equipment to effectively conduct search-and-rescue operations. In the
future, the Navy will be further equipped with modern weapons and enhanced
combat power to be sufficiently capable of successfully accomplishing the
task of protecting Vietnam’s sovereignty, sovereign rights, jurisdiction and
national interests at sea.
The Ranking system in the Vietnamese Navy is divided into commission
officers, professional warrant officers, non-commission officer and enlisted
solders. Captain is the highest rank for professional warrant officers and
midshipman is the lowest rank for professional warrant officers. The
commission officer ranking system is divided into senior grade, middle grade
and junior grade. Junior grade officers include ensigne and sub lieutenant.
Middle grade officers are officers who rank from lieutenant to commander.
Officers from captain and above are classified as senior officers.
Within an organization, the relationship of junior and senior is followed
the chain of command. The chain of command provides direction in the
assignment of duties which are assigned by seniors and carried out by juniors.
Everyone in the chain knows the specific duties assigned. The chain of
command also provides for smooth, rapid, and effective communication.
Juniors are informed of matters affecting them, and seniors are made aware of
problems that may exist among juniors. In this way, communication flows in
both directions- up and down the chain of command.
1.1.2. Vocabulary
a. Commission Officers

Admiral Vice Admiral Real Admiral

 Senior Captain Captain Commander

Lieutenant Commander Senior Lieutenant Lieutenant

Sub Lieutenant Ensign

b. Professional Warrant Officers and officer cadets

c. Non Commission Officers

Senior Chief Pretty Officer Chief Pretty Officer Pretty Officer

d. Enlisted Soldiers

Seaman Seaman Recruit

1.2. Types of Naval ships
1.2.1. Reading
Types of Naval ships
Warships can be further classified under type and class. The term type
distinguishes between ships built for different purposes; for instance,
destroyers, frigates, and submarines. The term class distinguishes between
different ships of the same type; for example, Kilo class submarines.
Different types of ship can be recognized by certain distinctive features
in their general appearance because the design of a ship depends mainly on
the work she is required to perform. For example, the chief considerations in
the design of a freighter are maximum carrying capacity, easy handling of
cargo and low running cost, whereas speed, maneuverability and armament
govern the design of any warship, and so they differ widely in appearance.
Aircraft Carrier: All ships designed primarily for conducting combat
operations by aircraft, which engage in attacks against airborne, surface, sub-
surface and shore targets. The ship has a flight deck to facilitate the operation
of short-take-off-and land (STOL) aircraft as well as anti-submarine warfare
(ASW) helicopters. The bridge and superstructure are of island construction
on the starboard side. Carriers do not carry much in the way of their own
personal weaponry. Therefore, they need other ships to protect them from
attack, and rely on their own aircraft.

Figure1.1. Aircraft Carrier

Cruiser: Cruisers were originally used for independent action, of a long-range
nature, which was the original use of the term. Today, cruisers are the largest
types of ships below a carrier and the heaviest ships designed for surface-to-
surface warfare. Cruisers normally weigh 8000 tons and above. Modern
guided missile cruisers perform primarily in a Battle Force role. These ships
are multi-mission (Air Warfare, Undersea Warfare, Naval Surface Fire
Support, and Surface Warfare) surface combatants capable of supporting
carrier battle groups, amphibious forces, or of operating independently and as
flagships of surface action groups. Morden Cruisers are equipped with
Tomahawk cruise missiles giving them additional long range Strike Warfare
capability. Some Aegis Cruisers have been outfitted with a Ballistic Missile
Defense (BMD) capability.
Destroyer: destroyers (DD) are smaller than cruisers, but (usually) larger than
frigates. Their displacement varies from about 4,500 tons to 7,800 tons. Some
navies, such as the UK's Royal Navy, call warships "destroyers" if they are
mainly designed to defend against air attacks, and "frigates" if they are mainly
designed to fight against other ships and hunt and kill submarines. Thus, the
Royal Navy's Type 42 destroyers are actually smaller than their Type 22
frigates and the Type 45s may well be smaller than the next RN frigates.
Other navies divide destroyers and frigates by size rather than role, so they
may have both sub-hunting and air-defense destroyers.

Figure1.2. Destroyer
Frigate: Frigates are generally smaller than destroyers, and are almost always
designed primarily to hunt submarines. The U.S. Navy adopted the
classification "frigate" (FF) for ships used for open-ocean escort and patrol.
FFs have grown in size from about 1,500 tons displacement to over 4,000
tons. The guided missile frigates (FFGs) bring an anti-air warfare (AAW)
capability to the frigate mission, but they have some limitations. Designed as
cost effective surface combatants, they lack the multi-mission capability .
Frigates are usually the smallest type of warship able to carry helicopters.

Figure 1.3. Frigate

Amphibious Assault ships: They are designed to take large groups of ground
troops and their equipment and transport them long distances, then deploy
them to shore using landing craft or helicopters. Most Amphibious ships have
a stern gate and "well deck” in the aft portion which they can flood, allowing
landing craft to float in and out of the ship quickly. They also usually have a
flight deck large enough to accommodate transport helicopters.

Figure 1.3. Amphibious Assault ship

Landing Craft: Landing craft are smaller ships of limited endurance designed
to take troops from a ship and put them on the shore. They are generally
deployed from transports or Amphibious Assault Ships and are not capable of
independent operations. Most are simply boats with a shallow draft and a
ramp in front for troops and vehicles like trucks or tanks.
Minesweepers: they are ships expressly designed for locating and neutralizing
naval mines and explosives. Many modern minesweepers now have
Unmanned Underwater Vehicles (UUV's) to aid in locating and neutralizing
mines from a safe distance
Submarines: Submarines are boats that can travel under water. Submarines
fall broadly into two groups, nuclear-powered and conventional, and within
these groups there are several classes. All submarines are armed with
torpedoes and some have ballistic missiles. Nuclear powered submarines use
a nuclear reactor to provide steam for steam turbine propulsion machinery,
which is used both on the surface and submerged, and thus they have an
extremely long endurance with no requirement for normal refueling.
Conventional submarines are powered by diesel/electric system. When
submerged, power is drawn from batteries for the electric motor propulsion
system and when on the surface, the vessel is propelled by diesel engines,
which simultaneously provide power to recharge the batteries. Diesel
propulsion is also used when submerged just below the surface; in this
condition, air for the engines is drawn into the submarine through the snort
mast which is raised to project just above the surface of the water.

Figure 1.3. Submarine

Auxiliary vessels: Auxiliary vessels are used to support ships of the fleet when
they are deployed offshore. These vessels include tankers, replenishment
tankers, armament supply ships, logistic landing ships. These vessels are not
armed in peacetime but they can be fitted with defensive weapons in time of
war.
Patrol vessel. A patrol ship is a relatively small naval vessel generally
designed for coastal defense duties. They may be broadly classified as coastal
patrol vessels and offshore patrol vessels. Their small size and relatively low
cost make them one of the most common type of warship in the world.
Almost all navies operate at least a few offshore patrol vessels, especially
those with only "green water" capabilities. Similar vessels for exclusively
military duties include torpedo boats and missile boats.
1.2.2 Vocabulary
Grade: a military rank; a position in a scale. A captain is a higher grade than a
commander
Armament: the guided weapons, guns, torpedoes and other offensive weapons
carried by a warship.
Ballast: water, sand, iron, etc carried in a ship to make her seaworthy when
carrying little or no cargo. The majority of ships carry variable amount of
ballast water in specially constructed tanks. A ship is said in ballast when on
passage in this condition.
Flight deck: the deck on a warship from which aircraft operates.
Hanger: Accommodation for aircraft, to afford protection and facilitate
maintenance.
Superstructure: structures or deck houses built above the main hull of the
ship.
Squadron: A number of warships, usually of the same type, grouped into one
unit under one command.
Guided weapons: this is a diverse group of weapons in which a warhead is
delivered from the ship by mean of a missile which is controlled during flight
to guide it towards the target. The missile is discharged from the launcher. It
then continues to be propelled during flight. The missile and its launcher form
part of a complete weapon system designed to attack particular targets, thus
systems may be designated: surface-to-air, to attack enemy missile and
aircraft; surface-to-surface against surface target; and anti-submarine.
Torpedoes: these are the weapons of the submarine against submarines or
surface ships and of the surface ship against submarines. Torpedoes are self-
propelled underwater weapons, which are carried in and discharged from
tubes, either mounted on deck in surface ships or forming part of the structure
of submarines.
Diesel engines: Some small ships and conventional submarines use diesel
main engines either singly or arranged in groups on each shaft. Diesel engines
have low fuel consumption than gas turbines but are heavier and, in general,
require more routine maintenance.
Steam turbines: in this form of propulsion, steam is generated in oil-fired
boilers and expanded through turbines to drive the propeller shafts. The
exhaust steam is the condensed to water and returned to the boilers.
1.3. Exercises
a) List of ranks of senior grade officers.
b) What is the highest rank for professional warrant officers?
c) How many regional commands does the Vietnamese Navy have?
d) How do you differentiate between a destroyer and a frigate?
e) Draw a diagram showing the structure of your unit (including positions
and ranks for every level of command?
f) What are the main differences between guns and torpedoes?
 Unit 2 (6 t)
SPELLING AND PRONOUNCING NAVIGATION PARAMETERS
2.1. Reading
Phonetic alphabet
A phonetic alphabet is a list of words used to identify letters in a
message transmitted by radio or telephone. Spoken words from an approved
list are substituted for letters. When communicating over the radio, the
phonetic alphabet is used so that people regardless differences in native
language, can understand combinations of letters. For example, the word
“NAVY” would be “November Alfa Victor Yankee” when spelled in the
phonetic alphabet. This practice helps to prevent confusion between similar
sounding letters, such as “m” and “n”, and to clarify communications that
may be garbled during transmission. The words of the International
Telecommunication Union (ITU) phonetic alphabet should be learned
thoroughly. Whenever isolated letters or groups of letters are pronounced
separately, or when communication is difficult, the alphabet can be easily
used. The phonetic alphabet should always be used when transmitting call
signs. For example, if the vessel MOLATH 3211 is asked to spell its name
and call sign phonetically it will do so as follows: MIKE, OSCAR, LIMA,
ALFA, TANGO, HOTEL three, two, one, one.
The efficient use of radiotelephone depends to a large extent on the
operator's method of speaking. Do not hold the microphone too close to your
mouth because it may cause distortion or slurring of words and you may have
to repeat your message to be understood. Keep the rate of speech constant,
neither too fast nor too slow. Remember that the operator receiving your
message may have to write it down.
When it is necessary to spell out call signs or words, the following
phonetic alphabet should be used. The following table provides phonetic
alphabet and how to pronounce them
Table 2.1: Phonetic Alphabet

Letter Code word to be used Pronounced as

A Alfa AL FAH

B Bravo BRAH VOH

C Charlie CHAR LEE or SHAR LEE

D Delta DELL TAH

E Echo ECK OH

F Foxtrot FOKS TROT

G Golf GOLF

H Hotel HOH TELL

I India IN DEE AH

J Juliet JEW LEE ETT

K Kilo KEY LOH

L Lima LEE MAH

M Mike MIKE

N November NO VEM BER

O Oscar OSS CAH

P Papa PAH PAH

Q Quebec KEH BECK

R Romeo ROW ME OH

S Sierra SEE AIR RAH

T Tango TANG GO

YOU NEE FORM or OO NEE

U Uniform
FORM

V Victor VIK TAH

W Whiskey WISS KEY

X X-ray ECKS RAY

Y Yankee YANG KEY

Z Zulu ZOO LOO

Numbers and navigation parameters

 All numbers should be transmitted by pronouncing each digit
separately. Numbers continuing a decimal point should be transmitted as
above, with the decimal point indicated by the word DECIMAL
Example 1: 150 becomes “One-five-zero”
7.5 becomes “Seven decimal five”
When latitude and longitude are used to indicate position, these shall be
expressed in degrees and minutes and decimal of a minute, north or south of
Equator and east or west of Greenwich.
Example 2: position 21030’N, 105021’E should be pronounced as “two-
one degrees, three-zero minutes north, one – zero-five degrees, two –one
minutes east”.
When bearing and distance are used to indicate position, bearing should
be expressed in the 360-degree notation from true north, distance should be
expressed in nautical mile. Use the words: bearing and distance.
Example 3: My position is: bearing 1-6-8 degrees from Spencer
lighthouse, distance 7.1 miles
Time should be expressed in the 24 hour notation indicating whether
UTC, zone time or local time is being used. It should be expressed and
transmitted by means of four figures, the first two denoting the hour past
midnight and the last two the minutes past the hour. Coordinated Universal
Time (UTC) is normally used in radio communications, and the letter Z is an
accepted abbreviation for UTC, for example, 0520Z, 2140Z.
Example 4: My position is: bearing 1-4-5 degrees from Spencer
lighthouse, distance 7.1 miles at 0-8-5-5 hrs UTC
Speed should be expressed in Knot (nautical mile/hour). Speed is
normally understood as speed through the water.
Example 5: My present course 2-5-0 degrees, speed 10 knots
Relative bearings can be expressed in degrees relative to the vessel's
head. More frequently this is in relation to the port or starboard bow.
Example 6: Pilot boat 1-3- 5 degree from your post bow.
Course is always to be expressed in 360 degree notation from true
north.
Note: Attention! When rudder angles e.g. in wheel orders are given,
say: “fifteen” for 15.
 Example 7: Starboard 15!
When a mistake is made in a message, say:
"Mistake ..." followed by the word:
"Correction ... " plus the corrected part of the message.
Example 8: "My present speed is 14 knots - mistake. Correction, my
present speed is 1-2, one-two knots."
2.2. Vocabulary and phrases
Position. The location of an object relative to a reference point or in
accordance with recognized coordinates as longitude and latitude.
Bearing. The direction of an object from the observer, express in three figures
from 000 clockwise through 360 degrees. True bearing is measured from true
north. Magnetic bearing is measured from magnetic north. Relative bearing is
measured from the bow of a ship or aircraft.
Pilot. An expert on local harbour and channel conditions who advises the
commanding officer in moving a ship in or out of port
Knot. Unit of speed equivalent to 1 nautical mile per hour.
Nautical mile. A unit of distance used primarily in navigation. Most of the
maritime nations have accepted the international nautical mile of 1852 meters
adopted by the International Hydrographic Organization.
Latitude. The measure of angular distance in degrees, minutes, and seconds of
arc from 0 degrees to 90 degrees north or south of the equator
Longitude. The measure of angular distance in degrees, minutes, and seconds
east or west of the prime meridian at Greenwich.
Starboard. The starboard side of a ship is the right side when you are on it
and facing towards the bow.
Port. The port side of a ship is the left side when you are on it and facing
towards the bow.
Bow. The front or forward part of the ship
Stern. The aftermost section of the ship
Course. The direction in which a vessel is steered or intended to be steered,
expressed as angular distance from north, usually from 000° at north,
clockwise through 360°.
Heading. The horizontal direction in which a ship actually points or heads at
any instant, expressed in angular units from a reference direction, usually
from 000° at the reference direction clockwise through 360°. Heading should
not be confused with course, which is the intended direction of movement
through the water. At a specific instant the heading may or may not coincide
with the course.
Speed. Rate of motion. The terms speed and velocity are often used
interchangeably but speed has magnitude only while velocity is a vector
quantity, having both magnitude and direction.
Fairway. The navigable part of a body of water, including the channel.
Channel. A channel is a continuous water route between two end points. It is
marked at sea and presented on a chart.
Acknowledge. If you acknowledge a fact or a situation, you accept or admit
that it is true or that it exists.
Call sign. A group of letters or numerals or both that identifies a station,
command or activities
Rudder. A device for steering a vessel. It consists of a vertical piece of wood
or metal at the back of the vessel.
2.3. Exercises
a) Use the standard phonetic alphabet to pronounce the following ships’ call
signs
- SEABEE 234
- LUCKY 125
- MARLIN 467
b) Read the following positions
- My position: 12015.5’N; 109020.5’E at 18.30 UTC
- My position: bearing 1230 from Sydney lighthouse, distance 25.5
nautical miles
c) Role play
- Role A: Seadog – OSXT.
- Role B: Unknown ship (Ice Flower - OVRR - 2 miles N of the
breakwater - black hull and yellow superstructure).
 Seadog is at anchor in the middle of the fairway and calls unknown
vessel to ask what her intentions are. Ice Flower indicates that she will stand
on. Seadog warns Ice Flower that she is running into danger, because she is
on a collision course with Seadog. She advises Ice Flower to alter course to
port side and to proceed on course 168 degrees true. Ice Flower acknowledges
and closes.

Unit 3 (4 t)
 ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE ON BOARD A NAVAL SHIP

3.1. Reading
Ship's Administrative Organization
The function of a naval ship is primarily to fight or to provide support
to naval combat operations. If a ship is to function well in combat, the crew
must be organized in such a way that it can be effectively directed and
controlled to accomplish its mission. Hence, the requirements for battle are
the basis for organization of naval ships.
The ship's organization is essentially a war organization developed on
the theory that ships operating in peacetime can be expanded quickly to a
wartime operating condition if it becomes necessary. It consists of functional
groupings, such as navigation, operations, engineering and damage control,
weapons and supply, called departments, headed by key officers who are
designated Department Heads. These key officers perform their
administrative functions as well as carry out the requirements for battle as
necessitated by the tactical situation.
Basically, a Vietnamese Naval ship is organized into six departments,
namely: Navigation department (1), Gunnery department (2), Underwater
Warfare department (3), Communication department (4), Engineering
department (5), and Radar and Sonar department (6). The figure below shows
the general organizational structure of a Vietnamese warship.

Commanding
Officer
(CO)

Junior
Commissar/
Political
Executive Instructor
Oficers
(XO)

Gunnery Underwater Radar and

Navigation Communication Engineering
Department Warfare Sonar
Department Department Department
II Department IV
Department
I V VI
III

Figure 3.1 Organizational structure of a Vietnamese Warship

Commanding Officer. All commissioned ships of the Vietnamese Navy
operate under the authority of a Commanding Officer (CO), a line officer
who, by virtue of his training and experience, is assigned with a responsibility
to command the ship. No matter what his rank is, he is called "Captain." The
CO is charge with the absolute responsibility for the safety, well-being and
efficient operation of the ship. He must exert every effort to maintain his
command in a high state of operational readiness. Within the limits as
prescribed by laws and regulations, he may delegate authority to his
subordinates, but such delegation in no way relieves him of his responsibility
of command.
Executive Officer. The Executive Officer (XO) is a line officer next in rank to
the CO who is designated second in command of the ship. In the absence of
the CO, he becomes the acting CO and he must be prepared to assume
command. The XO is the direct representative of the Commanding Officer
and all orders issued by him shall have the same force and effect as though
issued by the commanding officer. He is primarily responsible for the
administration of the ship and personnel, overall training, daily routine, and
the maintenance of good order and discipline in the entire command. The
XO reports directly to the Commanding Officer. The entire department heads
report to him for all matters pertaining to the internal administration of the
command.
Junior Commissar. The Junior Commissar (JC) is responsible for political and
party work on board. Junior Commissar plays important roles in the shipboard
community. He supports the captain in ship operation, mobilizes the crew,
lubricates shipboard social relations and cares for and controls the crew
throughout the voyage.
Heads of Departments. The senior officer of each department is known as the
head of department. The head of a department functions as the direct
representative of the Commanding Officer in all matters that pertain to the
department and as such, he shall conform to the policies and comply with the
order of the commanding officer.
Watches. During a ship’s entire commissioned life, it will always have Sailors
on watch. There are different types of watches, depending on the ship or
station. Watches vary depending on both the type of ship and whether the ship
is under way or in-port. Most of the watches in the Navy are of 4 hours
duration. Normally, watches start on the even hours, such as 0000, 0400,
0800, or 1200. However, you should arrive at your station at least 15 minutes
ahead of time to receive any pertinent information from the person you are
relieving. Know the chain of command as it relates to watch standing. If there
is an emergency, it’s important to know who and when to call. Standard
watch times and their names are given in the following listing:
- From 0000 to 0400: Mid watch
- From 0400 to 0800: Morning watch
- From 0800 to 1200: Forenoon watch
- From 1200 to 1600: Afternoon watch
- From 1600 to 2000: Dog watch
- From 2000 to 2400: Evening watch
Navy Time. The Navy uses the 24-hour system of keeping time. The day starts
at midnight. Four numbers are used to indicate the time. The first two digits
indicate hours and the last two show the minutes. Midnight is expressed two
ways, 0000 to indicate the start of the day, and 2400 to indicate the end of the
day. Time is spoken in hundreds. For example, 0100 (1:00 a.m.) is spoken
“zero one hundred”; 2000 (8 p.m.) is pronounced “twenty hundred”; 2315
(11:15 p.m.) is spoken “twenty three fifteen.”
3. 2. Vocabulary and phrases
Navigator: Head of navigation department. He is responsible to the
Commanding Officer for the safe navigation and piloting of the ship. He shall
receive all orders relating to his navigational duties directly from the CO and
shall make reports in connection therewith directly to him.
Gunnery Officer: He is responsible for the conduct of gunfire; operation, care
and maintenance of all guns including designation and fire control equipment
and associated ordnance; and, training of gunnery personnel and gun crews.
Weapons Officer: In large combatant ships where there is a preponderance of
weapons systems, the Weapons Officer is the head of the Weapons
Department.
Engineering Officer: Head of Engineering Department. He is responsible to
the Commanding Officer for the operation, care and maintenance of all
propulsion and auxiliary equipment; the control of damage; and the
accomplishment of repairs
Communication Officer: He is responsible for supervising the receipt,
transmission and routing of ship's messages; operation and maintenance of
visual and electronic communications equipment; proper handling and control
of all registered publications; and, the maintenance of communications
security.
Underwater Warfare Officer: If the ship is armed with underwater weapons,
an Underwater Warfare Officer is designated who reports to the CO for the
employment of such weapons.
Medical Officer: He provides medical assistances to personnel on board.
Supply Officer: The Supply Officer is responsible to the Commanding Officer
for procuring, receiving, storing, issuing, shipping, transferring, accounting
and maintaining all stores, and equipment of the command.
3.3. Exercises
a) Who is the second command onboard a warship?
b) Who is the head of navigation department onboard a naval ship?
c) To whom the entire department heads report for all matters pertaining to
the internal administration of the command?
d) Who is responsible for political and party work on board?
e) You are relieving a watch. How many minutes ahead of time should you
arrive at your station?
 Unit 4 (4 t)
GENERAL CONSTRUCTION OF A NAVAL SHIP

4.1. Reading
Welcome Aboard
The terms we will discuss here are part of the language or jargon used
by English speaking navies. Since many naval traditions have been greatly
influenced by the traditions and language of the British Navy, English has
virtually become the international language of the seas.
“Welcome aboard” is the phrase that traditionally greets anyone
boarding a ship for the first time. When one crosses the brow and goes
through the gangway, he steps on the main deck. Walking toward the front or
bow of the ship, he is walking forward; walking toward the rear or stern, he is
walking aft. Amidships refers to the middle of a ship. Standing on the deck,
facing toward the bow, on the right is the starboard side of the ship, on the left
is the post side of the ship. All stairways are called ladders. Individual rooms
in a ship are referred to as compartments. The floor of a compartment is
called the deck; the walls are called bulkheads, the ceiling is called the
overhead. An opening in the bulkhead or the deck is a hatch. The smaller
openings with glass fittings that act as windows are portholes. The narrow
compartments which run fore and aft in a ship, connecting other
compartments are called passageways. Beds on a ship are called bunks or
berths. The bathroom or toilet is called the head. When one boards a ship for a
cruise, he embarks. Upon completion of a cruise, he disembarks by crossing
the brow to the pier.

Figure 4.1. Parts of the ship

The uppermost continuous deck from bow to stern is called the main
deck. The section of the ship that rises above the main deck is the
superstructure. The decks of superstructure are called levels. The bridge is the
elevated structure running across the front part of the superstructure. It is the
focal point for control of the ship. The hull is the outside of the ship extending
from the main deck down to the very bottom or the keel. In order to float all
personnel and equipment, the hull of the ship is strongly constructed and
known as the skin of the ship. The keel runs along the bottom of the ship is
the backbone of the ship. The line made by the water level along the side of
the ship is known as the waterline. The vertical distance from the waterline to
the main deck is the freeboard and the vertical distance from the waterline to
the keel is called the draft.
A basic knowledge of the technical terms describing the functions and
relationships of various features aboard a ship is essential to understanding
the shipboard environment.
Figure 4.2 shows general shipboard directions

Figure 4.2 General shipboard direction

4.2. Vocabulary and phrases
Hull: the main body of the ship extending from the main deck to the keel.
Keel: the backbone of the ship
Main deck: the uppermost continuous deck from bow to stern. The one
beneath is called second deck, and so on. In aircraft carriers, however, the top
most deck is the flight deck, and the next one below is the hanger deck. The
main deck is the one below the hanger deck.
Levels: This is a general term used to designate decks located above the main
deck
Bulkheads: the term bulkhead describes any wall of a compartment which is
not formed by the ship’s side. Bulkheads can therefore be watertight or non-
watertight.
Overheads: the ceilings
Compartments: A ship’s structure is divided into many different watertight
compartments in order to maximize flood damage control readiness.
Compartments are rooms bounded by bulkheads, overheads and decks
Weather deck: the portion of the main deck exposed to the weather.
Draft: vertical distance from waterline to keel indicates depth of water needed
for ship to float.
Freeboard: vertical distance from waterline to main deck.
Bulwarks: vertical extensions above the deck edge, high enough to keep
sailors and equipment from going over board.
Lifelines: light wire ropes supported by stanchion. Lifelines serve the same
purpose as bulwarks.
Waterline or design waterline: The line that runs along the water-plane, from
aft to the fore of the ship. It is the line at which the ship is generally floating
with its load.
Fore perpendicular: It is the vertical line passing through the point of
intersection of the waterline with forward side of the bow.
Aft perpendicular: It is the vertical line passing through the centerline of the
rudder pintle.
Length between Perpendiculars (LBP): The distance measured along the
waterline from fore to aft perpendicular.
Length Overall (LOA): It is the distance measured between the extreme points
at the forward and the aft.
Length on the Waterline (LWL): It is the distance measured between the
intersections points of the bow and the after end with the summer load
waterline.
Amidships: The midpoint between the aft and the forward perpendicular is
known as amidships.
Beam: The width of the ship which is measured at the amidships. It is the
greatest distance between the two sides of the ship at the greatest width.
Depth: The depth of the ship is taken as the distance between the undersides
of the main deck amid ship to the bottom of the keel.
Starboard: facing the bow, starboard is on the right hand side
Post: facing the bow, post is on the left hand side
Brow: A short, straight and flat piece of equipment with one end on the ship,
the other end on the land, and rollers to allow for changing water level.
Pier: A platform extending from land over water, used to secure, protect, and
provide access to ships and boats.
Gangway: An opening in the side of a ship that allow one to go on and off the
ship.
Bow: The front part of the ship
Stern: The back portion of the ship
Ventilation: Most compartments in the ship must be supplied, either
continuously or intermittently, with fresh air so that the crew may live and
work in them and stores and provisions may remain in good condition.
Outboard: away from the centerline of the boat. the use of outboard and
inboard varies when a vessel is moored to a pier. The side against the pier is
inboard; the side away from the pier is outboard.
Inboard: inward, closer to the centerline of the vessel. The use of outboard
and inboard varies when a vessel is moored to a pier. The side against the pier
is inboard; the side away from the pier is outboard.
4.3. Exercises
a) What terms refer to the front part and the back part of the ship?
b) Change the following into shipboard terms: toilet, wall, window, bed,
door, ceiling, hallway, stairs, and room.
c) Describe how the passageways are arranged?
d) Describe the five main departments on board a Vietnamese naval ship.
e) When you cross the brow and go through the gangway, what do you step
onto?
f) If you are standing on the deck and facing forward, where is starboard?
Where is post?
g) What is the difference between embarking and disembarking?