sternway

Vessel's reverse movement

Sternway is a ship's backward movement through the water—motion in the direction of the stern rather than the bow.

A vessel makes sternway when reversing engines or when wind or current pushes it backward: The captain ordered engines astern, and the ship gathered sternway.

The opposite is headway.

navigation

reverse

Turn to opposite

backingAid or sponsorship
helmVessel's steering mechanism
rudderPivoting stern blade

maneuvering · harbor · docking · mooring · anchorage · pilotage · seamanship · shiphandling · berthing · canal

propulsion

engines

Machines converting fuel to motion

throttlePower flow controller
screwThreaded metal fastener
propellerRotating blades creating thrust

thrust · power · speed · momentum · inertia · resistance · drag · wake · wash · displacement

Opposites

direction of vessel movement

sternwayheadway

Forward progress achieved

forward motion · ahead · making way

Family

sternward

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