Glossary of maritime terminology

A hand flare, also called a handheld flare or a handheld red flare, is a visual aid that falls under the category of life saving appliances. It is classed as a short range distress signal and is used when a vessel or person in distress is within a few miles sight of land, another boat or ship, or a rescue helicopter. Hand flares can be used day or night although they’re not as bright as parachute flares. The burn time on a handheld flare is around sixty seconds.

A handheld flare, also called a hand flare or a handheld red flare, is a visual aid that falls under the category of life saving appliances. It is classed as a short range distress signal and is used when a vessel or person in distress is within a few miles sight of land, another boat or ship, or a rescue helicopter. Handheld flares can be used day or night although they’re not as bright as parachute flares. The burn time on a handheld flare is around sixty seconds.

A handheld red flare, also called a hand flare or a handheld flare, is a visual aid that falls under the category of life saving appliances. It is classed as a short range distress signal and is used when a vessel or person in distress is within a few miles sight of land, another boat or ship, or a rescue helicopter. Handheld red flares can be used day or night although they’re not as bright as parachute flares. The burn time on a handheld flare is around sixty seconds.

A means of categorizing a bulk carrier by size. A Handysize bulk carrier, or bulkers as they're also known, generally have a capacity of between 10,000 and 40,000 DWT.

A harbor is an area situated on the coast where boats and other vessels are moored. Harbors are often natural although they can be man-made. Most natural harbors are surrounded by land, apart from an entrance to the sea. They also have a solid sea wall that protects the vessels from waves and currents.

 Harbor dues are fees that are charged to seagoing vessels entering a harbor. These cover the costs associated with the repair and maintenance of equipment such as harbor lights and buoys as well as channel depths. This is a locally enforced fee and not all harbors charge it.

Also known as a Port Captain the Harbor Master manages the movements of ships and boats that take place in and within the immediate area of the port. He or she will have deep knowledge of the harbor and its surroundings and is often a certified master mariner in their own right.

Hard aground is a maritime term used when a ship has run aground but is not capable of refloating under its own means or power.

A Hatch is normally a rectangular shaped opening in a ship’s deck that provides access to the compartment or space below.

A hatch cover on a ship is a steel structure that stops water from entering the cargo hold as well as other lower areas on a vessel. It is basically a lid or cover for the openings to these areas. Hatch covers are essential for not only protecting the vessel and its cargo but they also support any cargo that is stacked above them on deck.

A hawser is a strong, thick cable or rope that is used for mooring vessels or for towing them.

Also known as dangerous cargo, in freight terms, hazardous cargo refers to any substance being transported that is toxic, inflammable or otherwise dangerous.

A ship’s heading is the maritime terminology, given to the direction in which it is pointing at any given moment. It is expressed in degrees of either magnetic, compass or true direction and as the angular distance relative to north, this typically being 000° at north and clockwise through 359°.

Heavy lift is extremely heavy cargo that needs specialized equipment to load and unload it. Generally this type of cargo will be carried by a heavy lift vessel (HLV) which is specifically designed for the transportation of oversize and very heavy goods.

A heavy lift charge is a fee charged for cargo that is too heavy to be lifted by a vessel's onboard cranes, or the standard cranes at a port.

A heavy lift vessel (HLV) is an enormous ship that can lift and transport pretty much any load they are tasked with, including other ships, floating plants and industrial units. HLVs come in four main classes: Dock ships, semi-submersible vessels, project cargo carriers, and open deck cargo ships. The big difference between the classes is the way they lift their loads. 

Heel is a word used to describe it when a sailing boat is leaning over to one side - i.e. the vessel is heeling.

The helm a shipping term that is technically the steering wheel of a vessel. It’s a wheel or tiller that is usually installed in the wheelhouse or on the bridge of a ship to turn the rudder during navigation and maneuvers. 

A Helmsman is an Able Bodied Seamen who is trusted with manning the helm - AKA the wheel or tiller of a ship - to steer the vessel.

The hold is the large compartments below a ship’s main deck where general cargo is stowed.

Sometimes also called an embarkation port or a turn around port a Home Port is where cruise ships welcome their passengers onboard - and disembark them at the end of the trip.

The ship’s horn is used to communicate with other vessels. In particular to let other craft know which way they are planning on going - i.e. passing on the port or starboard sign. The benefits of using a horn for this type of communication is that it doesn’t rely on technology and is therefore less prone to have issues. They are also able to be heard when there is poor visibility or at night.

A different number of blasts on the horn relays different messages pertaining to the ship’s planned movement, however the horn may also be used to indicate an emergency or even as a greeting to other vessels or embarking or disembarking passengers.

Hotel stands for the letter H in the International Radiotelephony Spelling Alphabet, which is most often referred to as the NATO Phonetic Alphabet or simply the Phonetic Alphabet. This is the most commonly used group of code words used to clearly communicate the letters of the Roman alphabet, particularly over the radio and is essential in helping seafarers give and receive messages, orders and instructions clearly and correctly.

The hull is the body or shell of a vessel. Refers to the bottom and the sides of the ship.