shiphandling
Navigating a vessel
Shiphandling is the art and skill of maneuvering a vessel, particularly in close quarters—entering harbors, docking, navigating channels, or operating near other ships.
The term emphasizes the captain's or pilot's direct control of the vessel rather than open-water navigation: Good shiphandling kept the tanker from striking the pier.
Also spelled as two words.
Connecting to a port
- berthingSecuring a vessel dockside
- mooringVessel's secured resting place
- steeringControlling direction of movement
- anchoringFastening securely to position
thrusting · pivoting · turning · reversing · yawing · heaving · veering · swinging
Vessels that push ships
- fendersVehicle splash protectors
- bollardsShort protective posts
- hawserThick nautical tethering rope
- capstanVertical rotating hauling device
winch · thruster · rudder · propeller · anchor · lines · chocks · windlass
One who steers aircraft
- helmsmanOne who navigates vessels
- captainOne who commands
- bosunShip's deck crew chief
- deckhandShip's manual laborer
quartermaster · dockmaster · harbormaster · coxswain · mate · navigator · wheelsman
docking
Connecting to a port
- berthingSecuring a vessel dockside
- mooringVessel's secured resting place
- steeringControlling direction of movement
anchoring · thrusting · pivoting · turning · reversing · yawing · heaving · veering · swinging · tacking
tugboats
Vessels that push ships
capstan · winch · thruster · rudder · propeller · anchor · lines · chocks · windlass · kedge
pilot
One who steers aircraft
deckhand · quartermaster · dockmaster · harbormaster · coxswain · mate · navigator · wheelsman
piloting
Controlling a vehicle's course
- compassDevice showing cardinal directions
- GPSSatellite-based location technology
- radarRadio-wave object detection
buoy · waypoint · bearing · course · channel · fairway · transit · tides · currents · leadline
- Maritime ExplorationColumbus, Magellan, voyage, navigator, Age of Discovery
shiphandlingdrifting
Moving without purpose
adrift · loss of control · out of control · mishandling · uncontrolled
shiphandlingnavigation
Determining position and course
route planning · celestial navigation · dead reckoning · chartwork · strategic planning
ship, ships, shipped, shipping, shipper, shipment, shipshape, shipyard, shipboard