I

A type of radar or sensor display format.

Structural sandwich panels with internal I-shaped stiffeners between two face plates, giving high stiffness and a smooth surface.

See International Association of Classification Societies.

An agreed common interpretation, adopted by the International Association of Classification Societies, of a statutory requirement in an IMO instrument, so that member societies apply the convention provisions consistently when acting on behalf of flag States. IMO-grounded

A minimum technical requirement adopted by the International Association of Classification Societies that each member must incorporate into its own rules, promoting consistency of standards for ship structures, machinery, and systems across classification societies. IMO-grounded

An airline which is a member of IATA (aircargo).

The International Aeronautical and Maritime Search and Rescue Manual, published jointly by IMO and ICAO, which provides guidance for organising and carrying out search and rescue operations; ships are required to carry Volume III on board under SOLAS regulation V/21. IMO-grounded

See International Air Transport Association.

An agent approved by IATA and registered in the IATA Cargo Agency List. This enables the agent, upon authorization of the IATA carrier, to receive shipments, to execute Air Waybills and to collect charges (aircargo).

The International Code for the Construction and Equipment of Ships Carrying Dangerous Chemicals in Bulk, the IMO code, mandatory under SOLAS and MARPOL, setting the standards for chemical tankers. IMO-grounded

See International Civil Aviation Organization.

See Inland Clearance Depot.

Frozen water, which presents navigation hazards and structural and stability dangers (such as topside icing) for ships operating in cold regions, addressed by the Polar Code. IMO-grounded

A band of strengthened and thickened shell plating around the waterline of an ice-going ship to resist the loads from ice.

A classification notation indicating a ship's capability to navigate in ice of a given severity, with corresponding strengthening and power requirements. IMO-grounded

The rules, such as the Finnish-Swedish ice class rules and classification-society requirements, defining the structure, power, and equipment for ships of each ice class.

The reinforcement of a ship's hull, rudder, and propeller to withstand the loads imposed by navigation in ice.

A ship specially designed and powered to break through ice to keep channels open and escort other vessels.

A podded propulsion unit designed and strengthened for operation in ice.

International Cargo Handling Coordinating Association

The accumulation of ice on a ship's exposed structure from freezing spray or precipitation, which raises the centre of gravity and endangers stability, allowed for in stability criteria for ships in cold areas. IMO-grounded

A small symbol on a display representing a function or object.

See International Chamber of Shipping.

Intercoastal Waterway : bays, rivers, and canals along the coasts (such as the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico coasts), connected so that vessels may travel without going into the sea.

The unique data, e.g. name, number or code, determining a certain object or person.

The amount of ineffective time whereby the available resources are not used e.g. a container in a yard.

The International Code of Safety for Ships using Gases or other Low-flashpoint Fuels, mandatory under SOLAS, which sets requirements for the arrangement, installation, control, and monitoring of machinery, equipment, and systems using low-flashpoint fuels such as liquefied natural gas, so as to minimise risk to the ship, its crew, and the environment. Amendments adopted by resolution MSC.567(109) and entering into force on 1 January 2028 address matters such as the redundancy of pressure-relief valves for liquefied gas fuel tanks. IMO-grounded

The starting of combustion, by spark, heat, or compression; controlling ignition sources is central to fire and explosion safety.

The short interval between the injection of fuel and the start of combustion in a diesel engine, which affects combustion quality and knock.

The IMO Instruments Implementation Code, which sets out the obligations and responsibilities of flag, port, and coastal States in implementing IMO instruments, and provides the standard against which States are assessed under the IMO Member State Audit Scheme. It was made mandatory from 1 January 2016. IMO-grounded

See International Labour Organization.

The amount of light falling on a surface, important for safe working and is specified for various spaces aboard ship.

See International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code.

See International Medical Guide for Ships.

The state of being under water; also the depth to which a body sinks.

A waterproof insulated suit that protects a person against hypothermia in cold water, required as life-saving equipment under SOLAS and the LSA Code. IMO-grounded

The International Maritime Organization, the United Nations agency responsible for the safety and security of shipping and the prevention of marine and atmospheric pollution by ships. IMO-grounded

The global cap limiting the sulphur content of ships' fuel oil to 0.50% by mass, in force from 1 January 2020 under MARPOL Annex VI, with a stricter 0.10% limit inside Emission Control Areas. A complementary carriage ban, effective 1 March 2020, prohibits ships without approved exhaust gas cleaning systems from carrying non-compliant fuel oil. IMO-grounded

The conventions, codes, protocols, and resolutions adopted by the IMO that set international standards for shipping, such as SOLAS, MARPOL, STCW, and the Load Line Convention. IMO-grounded

The rotating bladed element of a centrifugal pump or compressor that imparts energy to the fluid.

The party responsible for the import of goods. For customs purposes it is the party who makes, or on whose behalf an agent makes, an import declaration. This party may be the party who has possession of the goods or to whom the goods are consigned.

A corrosion-protection system that passes a controlled direct current from anodes to the hull to keep the steel cathodic and prevent it from corroding.

The International Maritime Solid Bulk Cargoes Code, mandatory under SOLAS, which governs the safe stowage and shipment of solid bulk cargoes, setting out cargo properties, hazards such as liquefaction and self-heating, and required precautions. IMO-grounded

An United Nations agency concerned with safety at sea. Its work includes codes

Goods carried below and/or on deck.

The status of goods or persons between the outwards customs clearance and inwards customs clearance.

A survey of a ship's underwater hull carried out by divers or remote means while the ship is afloat, accepted in place of drydocking for certain ships under the survey regime. IMO-grounded

Equipment deployed and operated in the sea, such as towed arrays, sensors, or subsea tools.

A controlled test in which known weights are shifted transversely across a completed ship to measure the resulting angle of heel, from which the vertical position of the centre of gravity and the lightship particulars are derived. It is required as the basis for a ship's approved stability information. IMO-grounded

A test, required for new and significantly altered ships, in which known weights are shifted across the deck and the resulting heel is measured to determine the ship's lightship weight and centre of gravity for stability calculations. IMO-grounded

Trade terms in coded form as established by the International Chamber of Commerce in 1953, whereafter they have been regularly updated. (Last update 1990). The terms represent a set of international rules for the interpretation of the principal terms of delivery used in trade contracts.

Compensation for a loss and/or the expenses incurred.

A localised inward deformation of plating caused by impact or contact.

Describing a system or tank that functions on its own, not relying on or connected to others; see independent tank.

A demand which is unrelated to demand for other products. Demand for finished goods, parts required for destructive testing and service parts require- ments are examples of independent demand.

A cargo tank that is self-supporting and does not form part of the ship's hull, used on gas carriers and built to the categories of the IGC Code. IMO-grounded

Self-supporting cargo tanks built separately from the hull structure, classified by type under the IGC Code for gas carriers. IMO-grounded

The power developed in an engine's cylinders by the combustion gases, calculated from the indicator diagram, before mechanical losses.

A plot of cylinder pressure against volume or crank angle, used to assess an engine's combustion and to calculate its indicated power.

A refrigeration arrangement in which the refrigerant cools a secondary fluid (such as brine) that is circulated to cool the spaces, keeping the refrigerant within the machinery space.

A tank-level instrument that measures the level without direct contact with or exposure of the cargo, used for hazardous cargoes. IMO-grounded

A diesel engine in which fuel is injected into a pre-combustion or swirl chamber rather than directly into the main cylinder.

Any route other than the direct route.

Vessels built to perform an industrial function at sea, such as dredgers, cable layers, and offshore units, rather than to carry cargo or passengers.

The state of a cargo tank whose atmosphere has been made non-flammable by reducing its oxygen content with inert gas. IMO-grounded

Gas with too little oxygen to support combustion, introduced into cargo tanks to prevent flammable atmospheres; inert-gas systems are required on tankers under SOLAS. IMO-grounded

The fan that delivers inert gas from the generator or flue-gas plant to the cargo tanks.

A unit that produces inert gas by burning fuel under controlled conditions, used where boiler flue gas is not available or suitable, to inert cargo tanks. IMO-grounded

The complete system that produces, cools, cleans, and delivers inert gas to the cargo tanks to keep their atmospheres below the flammable range; required on tankers under SOLAS. IMO-grounded

The introduction of inert gas into a space to lower its oxygen content below that needed for combustion, a key safety measure on tankers and gas carriers. IMO-grounded

The International Code for the Safe Carriage of Packaged Irradiated Nuclear Fuel, Plutonium and High-Level Radioactive Wastes on Board Ships, mandatory under SOLAS, setting requirements for ships carrying such cargoes including damage stability, fire protection, temperature control, and cargo securing. IMO-grounded

Liquids that readily catch fire; the term means the same as flammable liquids, which are regulated as dangerous goods. IMO-grounded

A life-saving appliance, such as a liferaft, that is inflated for use; required types and standards are set under SOLAS and the LSA Code. IMO-grounded

A life-saving appliance kept permanently inflated and ready for use, as distinct from one inflated when deployed.

Third party that provides research, competitive information, and advice on products or services to help buyers make informed buying decisions. TestMart, for example, tells engineers whether a test and measurement device is Y2K compliant, whether manuals are in stock, warranties available on secondary equipment, etc. Synonyms: lead generator, vertical portal.

Trusted third parties that act as custodian, agent, or broker of customer information, marketing it to businesses on the consumer’s behalf while protecting consumer privacy.

tor, subcontractor and government ) contractually established and managed by the defense contractor to receive, maintain, and provide access to technical and support information on a defense system.

System of roads, waterways, airfields, ports and/or telecommunication networks in a certain area.

A ship's natural tendency, without corrective steering, to continue on a straight course rather than to diverge, an aspect of its manoeuvring behaviour.

Substances added to slow an unwanted reaction, such as corrosion inhibitors in cooling water or polymerisation inhibitors in certain chemical cargoes.

A measure of how quickly a ship begins to change heading when the rudder is applied, part of the standard assessment of manoeuvrability. IMO-grounded

The forcing of fuel into an engine's combustion chamber, or of a substance into a system, under pressure.

The valve that injects atomised fuel into an engine cylinder at the correct time and pressure.

Inland location where cargo, particularly containerized, may be cleared by customs.

Transport document made out to a named person, to order or to bearer, signed by the carrier and handed to the sender after receipt of the goods

A satellite communication system providing maritime mobile services, including distress and safety communications recognised within the GMDSS. IMO-grounded

The plating forming the top of the double bottom, on which cargo rests in the holds and which provides a second barrier against bottom damage.

The inner watertight boundary of a double-hull ship, separated from the outer shell by ballast or void spaces to protect the cargo tanks against side damage. IMO-grounded

A recognition scheme offered by a classification society acknowledging the use of qualifying novel technologies aboard a ship, intended to encourage the adoption of digital and innovative solutions in the maritime industry.

A plate of greater thickness or higher grade let into the surrounding plating at an area of high stress, such as around an opening.

Corrosion that is light and within acceptable limits, requiring monitoring but no immediate repair.

An offshore vessel equipped to inspect, maintain, and repair subsea installations, typically using remotely operated vehicles and cranes.

The rate at which oil is being discharged with an effluent at any moment, monitored and limited under MARPOL Annex I to control operational oil pollution. IMO-grounded

A device for measuring, indicating, or controlling a quantity.

Clean, dry compressed air supplied to operate pneumatic instruments and control equipment.

The collection of instruments and sensors used to measure, monitor, and control a ship's machinery and systems.

A freight container with insulated walls to limit heat transfer, used for cargoes needing temperature protection.

A tank container with insulation, used to carry liquids that must be kept hot or cold.

Container frame holding one or more thermal insulated tanks for liquids

A pipe flange fitted with insulating material to break electrical continuity, used to control galvanic corrosion or stray currents.

Material used to limit the transfer of heat, cold, sound, or fire, applied to structures, pipes, and spaces; fire-insulation materials must meet test standards under SOLAS. IMO-grounded

Thermal insulation fitted to refrigerated or temperature-controlled cargo spaces to maintain the required conditions.

The covering of hot surfaces such as exhaust pipes with insulation to reduce heat loss and, importantly, to prevent the ignition of oil, a fire-safety requirement under SOLAS. IMO-grounded

Insulation applied to bulkheads and decks for thermal, acoustic, or fire-protection purposes.

The insulated space surrounding a gas-carrier cargo tank that limits heat ingress and keeps the cargo at low temperature.

A system of protection against loss under which a party agrees to pay a certain sum (premiums) for a guarantee that they will be compensated under certain conditions for loss or damage

Proof of an insurance contract

The party covering the risks of the issued goods and/or services that are insured

The standards a ship must meet for its stability in the undamaged condition, covering the righting-arm curve, metacentric height, and weather effects, set out in the International Code on Intact Stability. IMO-grounded

A proprietary seawater-intake or strainer system.

A tank that forms part of the ship's hull structure, its boundaries being the hull plating, as distinct from an independent tank. IMO-grounded

Tanks formed by the hull structure itself rather than fitted separately, common for liquid cargoes and ballast.

A bridge arrangement integrating navigation, communication, and control equipment into coordinated workstations, subject to performance standards and approval. IMO-grounded

A power arrangement in which all power, for propulsion and ship services, is generated electrically and distributed from a common system to electric propulsion motors.

The systematic approach applied to simultaneous management and acquisition of equipment and related logistics support, in order to provide the customer with a desired level of availability. Resulting in an optimum life cycle cost and to maintain this level through the entire life cycle.

A system that brings together the monitoring of many machinery and ship functions into a single coordinated display and alarm arrangement.

A propulsion unit supplied as a complete, integrated package combining the prime mover, drive, and propulsor.

A system in which several functions or sub-systems are combined and coordinated to work together.

The space between the primary and secondary barriers of a gas-carrier containment system, monitored for leakage of cargo. IMO-grounded

Reciprocal exchange of e.g. information between two or more parties

As opposite to coastal water operations, intercoastal refers to water transport carried out between coasts (e.g. between pacific and atlantic coasts).

A co-operative formed by 19 European Railways, for the management of international rail container traffic in Europe.

A heat exchanger that cools gas between the stages of a multi-stage compressor, improving efficiency.

Describing a structural member fitted in short lengths between other continuous members, as opposed to a continuous one.

An instrument that detects the boundary between two liquids, such as oil and water, used in cargo and separation operations.

Two or more road transport companies joining operations to bring cargo to a certain destination.

A reusable container of moderate size for transporting liquids and granular substances in bulk, between drums and tanks in capacity.

The lengths of shafting between the engine or gearbox and the propeller (tail) shaft, supported by intermediate bearings.

A weld made in short lengths with gaps between, used where a continuous weld is not needed, saving weld metal and distortion.

Carriage of a commodity by different modes of transport, i.e. sea, road, rail and air within a single journey.

The movement of goods (containers) in one and the same loading unit or vehicle which uses successively several modes of transport without handling of the goods themselves in changing modes.

The carriage of goods by more than one mode of transport (sea, road, rail) using the same loading unit, such as a container, without handling the goods themselves.

A proprietary or project designation relating to intermodal shipping.

An engine in which fuel is burned inside the working cylinders, such as the diesel and petrol engines, the main type of marine engine.

A gas-carrier tank type in which the insulation and a barrier are arranged on the inside of the supporting hull structure. IMO-grounded

The soundness of the ship's internal watertight boundaries, such as bulkheads, decks, and their closures, which limit flooding after damage. IMO-grounded

An international organization of airlines, founded in 1945, with the aim of

An organization in which the major classification societies, among others Ame-

The body bringing together the major classification societies to develop common standards (unified requirements) and to support the technical work of the IMO. IMO-grounded

The IMO code, mandatory under SOLAS and MARPOL, setting the construction and equipment standards for ships carrying dangerous and noxious liquid chemicals in bulk. IMO-grounded

Carriage whereby the place of departure and any place of landing are situated in more than one country (aircargo).

An international trade association representing shipowners and operators on technical, legal, and policy matters.

An international organization of governments, dealing with search and rescue

The IMO code, mandatory under SOLAS and the Load Line Convention, that sets the intact-stability criteria for ships and craft. IMO-grounded

SOLAS, the principal IMO treaty on the safety of merchant ships, covering construction, fire protection, life-saving, radio, navigation, and management. IMO-grounded

The IMO treaty that sets the minimum freeboards and related requirements limiting how deeply ships may be loaded, marked by the load line. IMO-grounded

The IMO code, mandatory under SOLAS, setting the standards for the construction and equipment of ships carrying liquefied gases in bulk. IMO-grounded

The IMO code, mandatory under SOLAS, governing the safe carriage of grain in bulk, addressing the stability hazards of grain shifting. IMO-grounded

A professional body for marine surveyors, promoting standards and education in marine surveying.

An United Nations agency, dealing with employment rights and working conditions, covering work at sea and in ports

The United Nations agency dealing with labour standards, responsible for instruments on seafarers' working and living conditions, notably the Maritime Labour Convention. IMO-grounded

An international association representing the offshore, marine, and underwater engineering industries, issuing guidance and standards.

A code, representing the classification of dangerous goods as defined by the

The IMO code, mandatory under SOLAS, governing the safe carriage of dangerous goods in packaged form by sea, including their classification, packing, marking, and stowage. IMO-grounded

The United Nations specialised agency responsible for developing and maintaining the international regulatory framework for shipping safety, security, and environmental protection. IMO-grounded

‘The doctor at sea’

The international service that broadcasts navigational and meteorological warnings and other safety information to ships by direct-printing telegraphy, part of the GMDSS. IMO-grounded

An international fund that provides compensation for oil-pollution damage from tankers when the shipowner's liability is insufficient, under the civil-liability regime. IMO-grounded

A worldwide federation of national standards institutes (ISO member bodies).

This international standard for the safe management and operation of ships prescribes rules for the organization of a shipping company management in the context of safety and pollution prevention and requires the development and implementation of a safety management system.

The IMO code, mandatory under SOLAS, requiring companies to operate a safety management system covering safe operation of ships and pollution prevention. IMO-grounded

The IMO code, mandatory under SOLAS, setting security requirements for ships and port facilities to detect and deter threats such as terrorism. IMO-grounded

An international association representing companies that supply ships with stores, provisions, and equipment.

An international employers' organisation for shipowners on labour and crewing matters, now associated with the International Chamber of Shipping.

A standardised coupling, required by SOLAS, that allows a ship's fire main to be connected to a shore or another ship's water supply in an emergency. IMO-grounded

An international association of model-testing institutions that develops and recommends standard procedures for predicting ship hydrodynamic performance.

An organization with the aim to improve the position of the port of Rotterdam

The International Association of Independent Tanker Owners, representing independent tanker owners on industry matters.

Describing electrical equipment and circuits designed so that they cannot release enough energy to ignite a flammable atmosphere, suitable for use in hazardous areas. IMO-grounded

A nickel-iron alloy with a very low coefficient of thermal expansion, used for the membranes of certain LNG cargo containment systems.

A power-electronic device that converts direct current to alternating current, used in electric drives and power supplies.

An account from the supplier, for goods and/or services supplied by him.

The International Oil Pollution Prevention Certificate, issued under MARPOL Annex I to oil tankers of 150 GT and above and other ships of 400 GT and above, certifying that the ship's construction and equipment for preventing oil pollution meet the convention. Its supplement (Form A or Form B) lists the relevant pollution-prevention equipment. IMO-grounded

The International Code of Safety for Ships Carrying Industrial Personnel, mandatory under SOLAS Chapter XV, which sets safety standards for the carriage of industrial personnel, meaning persons such as technicians transported to and working at offshore facilities including wind farms and other installations. Amendments to Part IV of the Code considered at MSC 110 revise the assumed mass of each industrial person. IMO-grounded

A metallic element, the basis of steel and cast iron, the principal structural materials of ships.

A dense dry bulk cargo whose high stowage weight concentrates loads in the holds; its carriage is addressed by the IMSBC Code, and it is commonly carried in alternate holds in bulk carriers. IMO-grounded

A proprietary product or system designation.

See International Organization for Standardization.

A distribution system whose neutral is not connected to earth, so that a single earth fault does not cause a large fault current, improving continuity of supply.

Separate article or unit.

International Transport Workers Federation (Trade Unions). Complies on crewing.

The planned schedule of a ship's voyage, listing ports and times.

The standard method recommended by the International Towing Tank Conference for predicting a ship's full-scale powering performance from model-test results.

The set of standard testing and analysis procedures recommended by the International Towing Tank Conference for hydrodynamic model testing and prediction.

If Used, Half Time Actually To Count

Institute Warranty Limits