Glossary of maritime terminology

In shipping terms, the national flag is the flag flown by a vessel to show which nationality she is sailing under.

The NATO Phonetic Alphabet - or to give it its correct name - the International Radiotelephony Spelling Alphabet is the most commonly used group of code words used to clearly communicate the letters of the Roman alphabet, particularly over the radio.

You may also hear the alphabet called the NATO Spelling Alphabet, the ICAO Phonetic Alphabet and the ICAO Spelling Alphabet. (ICAO being the International Civil Aviation Organization.)

The code words used, from a to Z are: Alfa, Bravo, Charlie, Delta, Echo, Foxtrot, Golf, Hotel, India, Juliett, Kilo, Lima, Mike, November, Oscar, Papa, Quebec, Romeo, Sierra, Tango, Uniform, Victor, Whiskey, Xray, Yankee and  Zulu.

Note that Alfa and Juliett are intentionally spelled ‘incorrectly’ to avoid any confusion caused by their original spellings - i.e. Alpha and Juliet - being mispronounced.

The NATO Spelling Alphabet - or to give it its correct name - the International Radiotelephony Spelling Alphabet (although it is most often referred to as the NATO Phonetic Alphabet or simply the Phonetic Alphabet), is the most commonly used group of code words used to clearly communicate the letters of the Roman alphabet, particularly over the radio.

You may also hear the alphabet called the NATO Spelling Alphabet, the ICAO Phonetic Alphabet and the ICAO Spelling Alphabet. (ICAO being the International Civil Aviation Organization.)

The code words used, from a to Z are: Alfa, Bravo, Charlie, Delta, Echo, Foxtrot, Golf, Hotel, India, Juliett, Kilo, Lima, Mike, November, Oscar, Papa, Quebec, Romeo, Sierra, Tango, Uniform, Victor, Whiskey, Xray, Yankee and  Zulu.

Note that Alfa and Juliett are intentionally spelled ‘incorrectly’ to avoid any confusion caused by their original spellings - i.e. Alpha and Juliet - being mispronounced.

The navigation lights on a boat or ship help the navigating officers onboard determine which vessel should give way to another when they encounter each other at night. Navigation lights must be displayed from sunset to sunrise as well as during the day if there is poor or limited visibility, such as in overcast weather or fog.

Also known as a sea mark, beacon and seamark, a navigation mark is an aid that is fixed to the shore (i.e. a lighthouse) or to the seabed to help navigators and pilots identify the approximate position of a maritime channel or hazard to allow them safe passage of their vessel.

A freight term, neo bulk cargo is made up of one type of goods that have been prepackaged and transported in defined load units - such as wood pulp bales or scrap metal. Neo bulk cargo is handled as a general cargo but it is not loaded into a container. It is a subcategory of general / bulk cargo.

Neopanamax, also called New Panamax, is a maritime term that relates to the size of a vessel, whether it’s a container ship (Neopanamax Container), a bulker (Neopanamax Bulker) or a tanker (Neopanamax Tanker). It means that the vessel is able to transit the now-widened Panama Canal.

New Panamax, also called Neopanamax, is maritime terminology that relates to the size of a vessel, whether it’s a container ship (New Panamax Container), a bulker (New Panamax Bulker) or a tanker (New Panamax Tanker). It means that the vessel is able to transit the now-widened Panama Canal. 

November stands for the letter N 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.