SHIPTALK: A GLOSSARY OF SHIPPING AND MARITIME TERMS

RETURN CARGO – A cargo which enables a ship to return loaded to the port or area where her previous cargo was loaded.
REVERSIBLE -TIME – Option for charterers to add together time allowed for loading & discharging relative to terms of a particular charter party
SEMISUBMERSIBLE – A ship able to submerge part of itself to load or discharge cargo that can be floated on or off. Usually semi submersible ships are heavy-duty vessels.

RETURN CARGO – A cargo which enables a ship to return loaded to the port or area where her previous cargo was loaded.
REVERSIBLE -TIME – Option for charterers to add together time allowed for loading & discharging relative to terms of a particular charter party
SEMISUBMERSIBLE – A ship able to submerge part of itself to load or discharge cargo that can be floated on or off. Usually semi submersible ships are heavy-duty vessels.
SHIFTING – This refers to movements or changing positions of cargo from one place to another – a dangerous situation at sea that can easily endanger the seaworthiness or cargo worthiness of the ship.
SHIP'S ARTICLES – A written agreement between the master of a ship and the crew concerning their employment. It includes rates of pay and capacity of each crewman, the date of commencement of the voyage and its duration.
SKEG – also spelt SKEGG. A projection similar to a keel at the stern of a vessel that offers protection to the rudder and propeller in the event of the vessel going aground in reverse.
SLOP TANK – A tank in a tanker into which slops are pumped. These represent a residue of the ship's cargo of oil together with the water used to clean the cargo tanks. They are left to separate out in the slop tank.
STERN – The bow or rear of the ship; an upright post or bar of the bow of a vessel.
STERNWAY – The reverse movement of a vessel.
TANK-BARGE – A river barge designed for the carriage of liquid bulk cargoes.
TANK CLEANING – Removal of all traces of a cargo from the tanks of a tanker, normally by means of high-pressure water jets.
TOW – When one or more vessels are being towed; when a tug is towing (hauling) one or more floating objects.
TOWAGE – Charges for the services of tugs assisting a ship or other vessels in ports or other locations; the act of towing a ship or other objects from one place to another.
TRIM – The relationship between a ship's draughts forward and aft.
TUG – A small vessel designed to tow or push large ships or barges. Tugs have powerful diesel engines and are essential for manoeuvring large ships around the port. Pusher tugs are also used to push enormous trains of barges on the rivers and inland waterways of the U.S. Ocean-going salvage tugs provide assistance to ships in distress and engage in such work as towing drilling rigs and oil production platforms.
WATCH – The day at sea is divided into six four-hour periods. Three groups of watchstanders are on duty for four hours and then off for eight, then back to duty. Seamen often work overtime during their off time.