Aft, Astern: Toward the back end, or stern, of the ship (where the propeller is). (Also Stern)

Boatswain, Bosun: Coast Guard certified Able-bodied Seaman (AB) who is the foreman of the deck gang.

Backhaul: Cargo carried on the return half of a vessel's trip.

Bollard: Deadman Post on the dock to which mooring lines are secured. (Also called "Spiles").

Bow: The front, or forward, part of a ship.

Bow Thruster: A reversible propeller located transversely near the bow that forces water to one side of the ship or to the other, thus thrusting the bow, used to maneuver the vessel in locks and ports.

Bulkhead: An upright partition separating parts of a ship (wall).

Bulk Cargo: Unpackaged material delivered dumptruck style.

Bunk, Berth: Bed. Berth can also refer to a person's position as member of the crew.

Captain, Master: Person who has full responsibility for a ship and its safe navigation (also
unofficially referred to as Skipper or the Old Man).

Cargo: Goods carried by a ship; freight.

Cargo Hold: Storage area for freight.

Chief Engineer: Overseer of engine room operations and all the ship's mechanical equipment.

The Coal Passer: Until 1953 this was the entry level position in the Engine Department and was the Fireman's assistant

Coast Guard: A branch of the U.S. Dept. of Transportation that oversees the operation of
merchant vessels, insofar as safety, licensing, and inspection are concerned. They also attend to search and rescue and aids to navigation.

Crew: All personnel on a ship.

Deadweight Tonnage: The weight of the water that the ship pushes aside; same as displacement.

Deck: The floor area of a ship, any floor aboard a ship.

Deckhands: General maintenance crew on deck.

Downbound Vessel: generally traveling in the outward direction toward St. Lawrence Seaway, in the direction from Lake Superior toward Lake Ontario. (Also called "Down Below")

Engineer: Crew member licensed by U.S. Coast Guard to operate and repair vessel machinery.

Fantail: Rounded open area of the after end (stern) of ship.

Fathom: A depth measure of water. 1 fathom = 6 feet

Fireman: Person who monitors the boiler in engine room, Coast Guard certified, not licensed.

Fit-Out: The time in the spring when a ship is readied for another season of sailing.

Forward: Toward the bow (front) of a ship.

Flagship: The lead, or most prestigious, ship in a fleet.

Gross Tonnage: Measure of space, not weight. Measure of the interior spaces of a ship's square footage divided by 100. (Also Long Ton)

Hawser: Line used in mooring or towing made of rope material (nylon, manila).

Hatch: Any opening on a ship where man or material can be passed, also describes the door to seal such an area.

Head: Toilet on a boat.

Hulett Unloader: Shoreside unloading device. Clamshell-type bucket with operator actually aboard machine directing its movement. In groups of 2 to 4 at docks of steel mills or transshipment docks. Invented by Clevelander George Hulett near turn of century and first operated at Conneaut, OH. Hulett Unloaders were the epitome of unloading devices until self-unloading ship captured most of the business.

Lay-up: The time at the end of a shipping season when the vessel stops sailing for the winter and repairs are made to prepare for the next season.

Long Ton: A unit of measure containing 2240 pounds, also called Gross Ton.

Mates: Personnel licensed by the Coast Guard to navigate the vessel and oversee unloading and deck work.

Merchant Mariners: Personnel who work aboard commercial cargo or passenger vessels.

Mess: The dining areas or eating space aboard a ship.

Navigation: The science of plotting the course and position of a ship.

Oilers: Crew members certified by the Coast Guard who assist engineers in operating vessel machinery.

Pilot House: The navigation center of a ship, also called Wheelhouse.

Port Side: The left side of the boat looking forward while aboard.

Porter: Entry level crew member in galley department; generally performs cleanup duties.

Porthole: A round window in the side of a ship.

Rudder: A large, almost flat plate mounted vertically behind the propeller that swivels to direct propeller wash so that the vessel can be turned.

Schooner: ships with at least two masts (foremast and mainmast) with the mainmast being the taller. Derivative of "schoon/scoon": to move smoothly and quickly.

Second Cook: The assistant to the steward in food preparation; prepares all rolls, breads, donuts, salads; baker.

Ship Time: Ships use military time or the 24-hour clock. Great Lakes ships are always on Eastern Standard or Daylight Savings Time.

Short Ton: A unit of measure containing 2000 pounds, also called Net Ton.

Sound Powered Phones: Intra-ship phones with crank bell; no electricity is needed to power these phones.

Spar: A pole, such as a mast.

Spar Deck: The main deck where the hatches are located.

Starboard: While aboard the ship looking forward, this is the right side.

Stern: The back part of a ship. (Also "Aft")

Steward: The chief cook; overseer of food services, meal preparation, linen, food
stores, and sanitary supplies.

Upbound: Vessel traveling into the Lakes system, generally in a northward direction; from Lake Ontario to Lake Superior. (Also called "Up Above")

Whalebacks: A steamer/consort design that was introduced by Captain Alexander McDougall in 1889. The whaleback, also known as a pigboat, was a cigar-shaped vessel with conoidal ends and the superstructure set above turrets mounted on the main deck. It was a cylindrical hulled steamboat built to carry bulk freight.

Watches: The periods of time when crewmen do their work. The three-watch system includes four hours of work, then eight hours off. Shifts would be from 12-4, 4-8, and 8-12 o'clock day and night.

Watchmen: The people who keep watch on deck.

Wheelsman: The person who steers the ship by the command of the Captain or Mates.

Windlass: A lifting device for anchor chains.

Wipers: The personnel in charge of general cleanup in the engine room.