# Ship Nomenclature **URL:** \ **Category:** Professional Mariner Forum\ **Created:** [August 12, 2020, 1:27pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/ship-nomenclature/56333 "2020-08-12T13:27:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Lee\_Shore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Lee\_Shore](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Lee_Shore)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2020, 6:31pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/ship-nomenclature/56333/43 "2020-08-13T18:31:06Z")
I find a cable or two is still a handy term when describing close distances between vessels or a vessel and an object. I used the term when working but it may be going out of fashion. ---
**Author:** ![Seago](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/seago/32/209_2.png) [@Seago](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Seago)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2020, 6:58pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/ship-nomenclature/56333/44 "2020-08-13T18:58:37Z")
When I was an SIU AB we used to call it the “Brotherhood Head!” ---
**Author:** ![freighterman1](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/freighterman1/32/11176_2.png) [@freighterman1](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/freighterman1)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2020, 6:59pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/ship-nomenclature/56333/45 "2020-08-13T18:59:17Z")
Now, where I am, if you embark on a voyage you are said to _sail._ “We sail at 0800.” “Take a look at the sailing schedule.” Etc. Every once and awhile a guy comes along who says, “You _sail_? Where are your sails? You mean you’re steaming! Like, ‘We’re steaming at 20 knots’, or, ‘We’re steaming for Seattle tomorrow’.” Which seems just as wrong, to me at least. If you want to go that way, if you’re on the 99% of the world’s vessels that don’t use boilers for propulsive force, you’re _motoring._ No other verb exists that connotes the use of diesel motors/engines. And yet the use of “motoring” is unknown amongst mariners. (I still use “sail”.) ---
**Author:** ![Hogsnort](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ba8739/32.png) [@Hogsnort](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Hogsnort)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2020, 7:55pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/ship-nomenclature/56333/46 "2020-08-13T19:55:25Z")
In the 19th century anchors with a stock could not be housed in the hawse pipe and were catted using the cat heads. ---
**Author:** ![Kennebec\_Captain](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/kennebec_captain/32/13_2.png) [@Kennebec\_Captain](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Kennebec_Captain)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2020, 8:00pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/ship-nomenclature/56333/47 "2020-08-13T20:00:33Z")
Car ships have no main deck. At least there is no mention of a main deck anywhere, drawings and so forth. The cargo decks are 1 - 12, the decks above 12 deck are the boat deck, second deck, nav deck. The most likely candidate for being called the main deck is 6 deck which is the deck the stern ramp is but it’s not really a weather deck. The boat deck is the deck is most often assumed to be the main deck presumably because that’s where the accommodations are and it most closely resembles a traditional main deck. ---
**Author:** ![Lee\_Shore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Lee\_Shore](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Lee_Shore)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2020, 8:00pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/ship-nomenclature/56333/48 "2020-08-13T20:00:48Z")
> [@Hogsnort](#): > > catted using the cat heads. This rampant cultural misappropriation has to end now! ![cat](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/gcaptain_maritime_forum/original/3X/5/0/504770fc8b8f2a390722d61a004688d854572dd4.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![SeaEagle](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/seaeagle/32/17788_2.png) [@SeaEagle](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/SeaEagle)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2020, 8:36pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/ship-nomenclature/56333/49 "2020-08-13T20:36:06Z")
Yes, lets let this one fetch. and hit it with a belaying pin. But don’t drop it over the gunwhales. ---
**Author:** ![Capt\_Phoenix](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/capt_phoenix/32/281_2.png) [@Capt\_Phoenix](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Capt_Phoenix)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2020, 9:17pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/ship-nomenclature/56333/50 "2020-08-13T21:17:30Z")
> [@SeaEagle](#): > > In my short time in this world cable is wire. Cable is a landlubber term for wire rope. In reality, “cable” is a lay of rope, ie you take 3 right hand lay ropes and twist them together left and you now have a cable. That’s also what used to be used to hold the anchor back before chain so there’s still occasional references to the “anchor cable”. ---
**Author:** ![Kennebec\_Captain](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/kennebec_captain/32/13_2.png) [@Kennebec\_Captain](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Kennebec_Captain)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2020, 9:41pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/ship-nomenclature/56333/51 "2020-08-13T21:41:20Z")
I most often hear “cables” for distance used when in a crowed anchorage or similar situation. Usually when someone thinks another ship is getting to close so rarely used for distances over a half mile. Anchor chain length overseas is given in “shackles”, don’t know that “shots” is used outside the U.S. Port control will call and have ships shorten up to “three shackles on deck” when the pilot is expected shortly. ---
**Author:** ![SeaEagle](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/seaeagle/32/17788_2.png) [@SeaEagle](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/SeaEagle)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2020, 9:46pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/ship-nomenclature/56333/52 "2020-08-13T21:46:22Z")
Well heck, I’ve been a landlubber all this time and didn’t know it… So, is it a tow wire or a tow cable? Push wire or push cable? I have used both terms, but at the end of the day it is made out of steel. Back in the day did you recieve a wire or cable to communicate with another party? Nomenclature evolves quite often as we age. What does one refer to as the length of a shackle? Or a cable? ---
**Author:** ![Kennebec\_Captain](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/kennebec_captain/32/13_2.png) [@Kennebec\_Captain](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Kennebec_Captain)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2020, 9:48pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/ship-nomenclature/56333/53 "2020-08-13T21:48:12Z")
1 shot = 1 shackle. 1 cable = 0.1 mile. ---
**Author:** ![SeaEagle](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/seaeagle/32/17788_2.png) [@SeaEagle](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/SeaEagle)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2020, 9:49pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/ship-nomenclature/56333/54 "2020-08-13T21:49:55Z")
Same thing only different caption. 1 shot=90 ft. ---
**Author:** ![DamnYankee](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/damnyankee/32/514_2.png) [@DamnYankee](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/DamnYankee)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2020, 10:12pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/ship-nomenclature/56333/55 "2020-08-13T22:12:12Z")
Cable and shackle are very prevalent terms with almost every nationality beside Americans. Once you start hearing talk of cables over the VHF, your ears perk up. Every mate should be familiar with the vernacular though. ---
**Author:** ![Kennebec\_Captain](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/kennebec_captain/32/13_2.png) [@Kennebec\_Captain](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Kennebec_Captain)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2020, 10:19pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/ship-nomenclature/56333/56 "2020-08-13T22:19:47Z")
> [@DamnYankee](#): > > Once you start hearing talk of cables over the VHF, your ears perk up. The term cables, plus the fact the person saying it sounds like they are shouting. ---
**Author:** ![Hogsnort](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ba8739/32.png) [@Hogsnort](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Hogsnort)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2020, 3:26am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/ship-nomenclature/56333/57 "2020-08-14T03:26:20Z")
Just to add to the confusion Cable-laid rope has a left-hand lay. Each of the three strands consists of 3 strands laid up right handed. Sometimes called water laid. Hawser- laid is the common 3 strand rope. There is also shroud laid and square laid. The latter commonly found as polypropylene mooring lines. In British warships the only rope onboard is the bell rope all the rest are lines or cordage. ---
**Author:** ![Hornblower](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ecccb3/32.png) [@Hornblower](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Hornblower)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2020, 8:43am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/ship-nomenclature/56333/58 "2020-08-14T08:43:07Z")
Don’t forget the cat o’ nine tails. ---
**Author:** ![cmakin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/48db29/32.png) [@cmakin](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/cmakin)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2020, 2:34pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/ship-nomenclature/56333/59 "2020-08-14T14:34:07Z")
“Cable” can also mean a message. . . .yet not specifically nautical. . . ---
**Author:** ![Lee\_Shore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Lee\_Shore](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Lee_Shore)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2020, 2:43pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/ship-nomenclature/56333/60 "2020-08-14T14:43:25Z")
So is a wire. I see baggy wrinkles when I look in the mirror but not the nautical kind. > **[Coast Guard Cutter Eagle baggywrinkle explained](https://www.dvidshub.net/video/492436/coast-guard-cutter-eagle-baggywrinkle-explained)** > > Seaman Devin Adams explains how to make baggywrinkle and why it’s used through the rigging aboard Coast Guard Cutter Eagle while underway along the Chesapeake Bay, Wednesday, March 9, 2016. Baggywrinkle is moss-like in appearance but is actually a... ---
**Author:** ![Emrobu](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/emrobu/32/6696_2.png) [@Emrobu](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Emrobu)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2020, 3:22pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/ship-nomenclature/56333/61 "2020-08-14T15:22:06Z")
> [@Lee\_Shore](#): > > This rampant cultural misappropriation has to end now! > > ![cat](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/gcaptain_maritime_forum/original/3X/5/0/504770fc8b8f2a390722d61a004688d854572dd4.jpeg) \*edit: **catural** misappropriation has to end **meow!** ---
**Author:** ![Emrobu](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/emrobu/32/6696_2.png) [@Emrobu](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Emrobu)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2020, 3:27pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/ship-nomenclature/56333/62 "2020-08-14T15:27:09Z")
> [@freighterman1](#): > > And yet the use of “motoring” is unknown amongst mariners. Motoring describes a generator that is being pushed by its alternator or a pump that is being pushed by its fluid. Its rather something to be avoided, mariner or not. [Previous page](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/ship-nomenclature/56333.md?page=2) [Next page](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/ship-nomenclature/56333.md?page=4)