leadsmen
Sailors measuring depth
Leadsmen is the plural of leadsman, a sailor who measures water depth by lowering a weighted line (the lead line) from the bow of a ship.
The leadsman calls out depths to help navigate shallow or unfamiliar waters: The leadsmen took soundings as we approached the harbor.
The role was essential before electronic depth finders.
Measured water depths
- fathomsUnderstands or depth units
- depthsLowest or innermost regions
- plumblineTool indicating true vertical
- plummetRapid downward descent
leadline · channel · seabed · seafloor · hydrography · charts · shoals · shallows
Ship navigation expertise
- pilotsThose who fly aircraft
- helmsmenThose steering vessels
- marinersThose who work ships
- seafarersThose who travel oceans
captains · shipmasters · coxswains · steersmen · charts · beacon · lighthouse · seamark
soundings
Measured water depths
- fathomsUnderstands or depth units
- depthsLowest or innermost regions
- plumblineTool indicating true vertical
plummet · leadline · channel · seabed · seafloor · hydrography · charts · shoals · shallows · anchorage
pilotage
Ship navigation expertise
seafarers · captains · shipmasters · coxswains · steersmen · charts · beacon · lighthouse · seamark · channel
sailors
Maritime vessel crew members
watch · duty · station · gangway · rigging · vessel · ship · steamship · sailing · voyage
Mississippi
Southern state or major river
- riverboatShallow-draft inland watercraft
- steamboatEngine-powered watercraft
- pilotsThose who fly aircraft
sandbars · snags · currents · channels · bends · reaches · towboat · barge · upstream · downstream
leadsmenhelmsmen
Those steering vessels
lookouts · captains · quartermasters · coxswains · boatswains