Page 264 - Michael Frost-Voyages to Maturity-23531.indd

mate, who is traditionally the navigator and cargo
officer. Occasionally there is a Navigator, who ranks
below the Mate. Engineers rank from Chief Engineer
(like the Captain, a ‘four-striper’), the 2nd Engineer
(equivalent in his own department to the Mate) and
on down the line. Electrical, refrigeration, doctors,
radio officer and pursers etc. rise to the height of three
stripes.

Pitching Pitching is the up-and-down plunging of the

and Rolling ship’s head in a seaway, while the stern goes through
the opposite see-saw motion. Rolling occurs when the
sides of the ship perform a see-saw motion.

Poop The stern or aft part of a ship.
POSH ‘Port Outward, Starboard Homeward’

Quarter The rounded part of the ship’s side aft, on each side of
the poop.

Serang With an Indian crew, he is the head of the head of the
uncertificated sailors (see ‘bosun’). The Tindal is the
rank below that of the Serang.

Shackle Two main meanings; (a) a harp or ‘D’ type that joins
sections of wire or rope, or (b) 15 fathoms of anchor
cable (one fathom is 6 feet).

Sheave The grooved wheel over which a rope or wire travels.

Stabiliser On passenger vessels, generally like ‘wings’ which help
keep the ship upright. (There are some other, more
exotic, designs, rarely encountered.)

Taffrail Railing fitted to the aft end of the poop and perhaps
elsewhere.

Wheel-Spanner A spanner designed to provide leverage for men to
rotate large valves.

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