This list of ship directions provides succinct definitions for terms applying to spatial orientation in a marine environment or location on a vessel, such as ''fore'', ''aft'', ''astern'', ''aboard'', or ''topside''.
Terms
* Abaft (preposition): at or toward the stern of a ship, or further back from a location, e.g. "the
mizzenmast
The mast of a sailing vessel is a tall spar, or arrangement of spars, erected more or less vertically on the median line of a ship or boat. Its purposes include carrying sail
A sail is a tensile structure, which is made from fabric or oth ...
is abaft the mainmast".
[
* Aboard: onto or within a ship, or in a group.][
* Above: a higher deck of the ship.][
* Aft: toward or at the stern. To the purist, this is an adverb (e.g. "he walked aft"), with the adjective being "after" (e.g. "the after mooring cleat"), but that distinction is becoming blurred in some modern usage.
* Adrift: floating in the water without propulsion.
* Aground: resting on the ]shore
A coast (coastline, shoreline, seashore) is the land next to the sea or the line that forms the boundary between the land and the ocean or a lake. Coasts are influenced by the topography of the surrounding landscape and by aquatic erosion, su ...
or wedged against the sea floor.[
* Ahull: with sails furled and helm lashed alee.][
* Alee: on or toward the lee (the downwind side).][
* Aloft: the stacks, masts, rigging, or other area above the highest solid structure.][
* Amidships: near the middle part of a ship.][
* Aport: toward the port side of a ship (opposite of "astarboard").][
* Ashore: on or toward the ]shore
A coast (coastline, shoreline, seashore) is the land next to the sea or the line that forms the boundary between the land and the ocean or a lake. Coasts are influenced by the topography of the surrounding landscape and by aquatic erosion, su ...
or land.[
* Astarboard: toward the ]starboard
Port and starboard are Glossary of nautical terms (M-Z), nautical terms for watercraft and spacecraft, referring respectively to the left and right sides of the vessel, when aboard and facing the Bow (watercraft), bow (front).
Vessels with bil ...
side of a ship (opposite of "aport").[
* Astern (adjective): toward the rear of a ship (opposite of "forward").][
* Athwartships: toward the sides of a ship.][
* Aweather: toward the weather or windward side of a ship.][
* Aweigh: just clear of the sea floor, as with an anchor.][
* Below: a lower deck of the ship.][
* Belowdecks: inside or into a ship, or down to a lower deck.][
* Bilge: the underwater part of a ship between the flat of the bottom and the vertical topsides][
* Bottom: the lowest part of the ship's hull.
* Bow: front of a ship (opposite of "stern")][
* Centerline or centreline: an imaginary, central line drawn from the bow to the stern.][
* Fore or forward: at or toward the front of a ship or further ahead of a location (opposite of "aft")][ Preposition form is "before", e.g. "the mainmast is before the mizzenmast".
* Inboard: attached inside the ship.][
* ]Keel
The keel is the bottom-most longitudinal structural element of a watercraft, important for stability. On some sailboats, it may have a fluid dynamics, hydrodynamic and counterbalancing purpose as well. The keel laying, laying of the keel is often ...
: the bottom structure of a ship's hull.[
* Leeward: side or direction away from the wind (opposite of "windward").][
* On deck: to an outside or muster deck (as "all hands on deck").][
* On board: on, onto, or within the ship
* Onboard: somewhere on or in the ship.][
* Outboard: attached outside the ship.][
* Port: the left side of the ship, when facing forward (opposite of "starboard").][
* Starboard: the right side of the ship, when facing forward (opposite of "port").][
* Stern: the rear of a ship (opposite of "bow").][
* Topside: the top portion of the outer surface of a ship on each side above the waterline.][
* Underdeck: a lower deck of a ship.][
* Yardarm: an end of a ]yard
The yard (symbol: yd) is an English units, English unit of length in both the British imperial units, imperial and US United States customary units, customary systems of measurement equalling 3 foot (unit), feet or 36 inches. Sinc ...
spar below a sail.
* Waterline: where the water surface meets the ship's hull.
* Weather: side or direction from which wind blows (same as "windward").[
* Windward: side or direction from which wind blows (opposite of "leeward").][
]
Date of first use
* "Aboard": 14th century[
* "Aft": 1580
* "Outboard": 1694][
* "Belowdecks": 1897.][
]
See also
* Deck (ship)
A deck is a permanent covering over a Compartment (ship), compartment or a hull (watercraft), hull of a ship. On a boat or ship, the primary or upper deck is the horizontal structure that forms the "roof" of the hull, strengthening it and serv ...
- defines the various decks on ships
* Port and starboard
Port and starboard are Glossary of nautical terms (M-Z), nautical terms for watercraft and spacecraft, referring respectively to the left and right sides of the vessel, when aboard and facing the Bow (watercraft), bow (front).
Vessels with bil ...
- explanation, with signal lights, and history
* Glossary of nautical terms Glossary of nautical terms may refer to:
* Glossary of nautical terms (A–L)
This glossary of nautical terms is an alphabetical listing of terms and expressions connected with ships, shipping, seamanship and navigation on water (mostly though n ...
References
{{Sailing ship elements
Nautical terminology
Directions