Glossary of Terms
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Index: A
B C D E F
G H I J K L
M N O P
Q R S T U V
W X Y Z
A LPHA
Address (Persons On
Board - Operator)
The address of the person
operating the vessel identified.
Anchor
Working
Anchor: A lighter weight anchor as compared to a storm anchor.
Storm Anchor: A heavy weight anchor used for storm conditions.
B RAVO
[There
are no Float Plan terms under this heading]
C HARLIE
Cell Phone
(Vessel - Communications)
Identifies the number of a cellular telephone that will be on board the vessel
during the particular voyage. Is is important to note that the
Coast Guard does not advocate cellular phones as a substitute for the regular
maritime radio distress and safety systems recognized by the Federal
Communications Commission and the International Radio Regulations --
particularly VHF maritime radio. However, cellular phones can have a place on
board as an added measure of safety.
Charts
(Vessel - Navigation)
A
Nautical Chart is a
working document (printed or electronic) used by the mariner both as a "road
map" and worksheet, and is essential for safe navigation. (see
Maps).
City
(Persons On Board - Operator)
The city of the person operating
the vessel identified.
Contact 1
(Itinerary)
The primary contact at the site
where the vessel will be launched and recovered. Typically a marina operator,
but may also be a Park Ranger office, county Sheriff office, or a local resident
in the immediate area.
Contact 2
(Itinerary)
A secondary contact such as a Park
Ranger office, county Sheriff in the area of the launch site. On a long voyage,
it may be a marina operator at the point destination, thus providing contacts at
both ends of the trip.
Compass
(Vessel - Navigation)
Navigation instrument, either
magnetic (showing magnetic north) or gyro (showing true north) installed or
carried on-board the vessel.
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D ELTA
Document/Registration Number
(Vessel - Identification)
The certificate of documentation number issued when the vessel was documented.
Or, the state registration number displayed on the port and starboard side of
the vessel’s bow.
DGPS (Vessel -
Navigation)
See entry GPS.
DSC MMSI Number
(Vessel - Communications)
DSC equipped radios for vessels and shore stations, are assigned a unique
identity number, known as a
Maritime Mobile Service Identity (MMSI) number
consisting of nine digits. DSC (Digital
Selective Calling) is a technique
using digital codes which enables a radio station to establish contact with, and
transfer information to, another station or group of stations.
It is essential that all vessels with DSC radios obtain an
MMSI number, and have it programmed into the radio. Recreational boaters that
purchase DSC radios are required to do this before using the DSC functions of
these radios.
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E CHO
EPIRB
(Safety & Survival - Other Gear)
An acronym for
Emergency
Position Indicating Radio Beacon,
is a device used
when a vessel is in distress, to emit a radio signal marking the vessel's
location. Extreme care must be taken to prevent inadvertent activation and
batteries should be replaced prior to expiration date.
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F OXTROT
Fire
Extinguisher
(Safety & Survival - Other Gear/Supplies)
A portable apparatus for putting
out small fires by ejecting extinguishing chemicals or gas. (see Federal
Requirements,
Fire
Extinguishers).
Frequency
Monitored
(Vessel - Communications)
The VHF
frequency you normally have your VHF radiotelephone
tuned to. For a complete list of VHF channels and frequencies, refer to the
U.S. Coast Guard Navigation Center's list of
U.S. VHF Channels.
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G OLF
GPS
(Vessel - Navigation)
An acronym which stands for
Global Positioning System,
is a specific satellite-based navigation system used in conjunction with mobile
equipment to determine the precise position of the mobile equipment.
Ground
Tackle (Safety
& Survival)
Anchor,
anchor rode (line or chain), and all the shackles and other gear used for
attachment.
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H OTEL
Home Phone
(Persons On Board - Operator)
The home telephone number of the
person operating the vessel identified.
Hull Color(s)
(Vessel - Identification)
The color of
the main body of a vessel, and the color of any trim (graphics) which decorate
the hull.
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I NDIA
Itinerary
(Itinerary)
The proposed outline of the
voyage. For each location (or waypoint) described on the itinerary there is: 1)
a planned departure and arrival date and time, 2) the method or
mode travel used to get there, 3) the reason for stopping at the
location, and 4)
the specific time of the day the operator of
the vessel will contact or check-in with the holder of the float plan.
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J ULIETT
[There
are no Float Plan terms under this heading]
K ILO
[There
are no Float Plan terms under this heading]
L IMA
Life Raft (Safety &
Survival - Other Gear/Supplies)
A rubber life raft.
Lifeboat (Safety &
Survival - Other Gear/Supplies)
A small boat carried on or towed
behind a larger boat.
Line length
(Safety & Survival - Ground Tackle)
Length in feet
of the line used to connect the anchor (working or storm) to the vessel.
LORAN-C
(Vessel - Navigation)
An acronym for
Long Range Aid to Navigation;
A receiver which utilizes a system of shore-based long-range navigation radio
transmitters, in which pulsed signals sent out by two pairs of radio transmitter
stations are used to determine the geographical position of a ship or an
airplane.
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M IKE
Maps
(Vessel - Navigation)
A static document (printed or
electronic) which serves as a reference guide, emphasizing land forms, including
the representation of relief, with shoreline represented as an approximate
delineation usually at mean sea level. A Map is not, and can not be used to
plot a course. Maps merely indicate a surface path providing no information of
the condition of the waterway or body of water. (see
Charts.)
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N OVEMBER
Name (Persons On
Board - Operator)
The name of the person operating
the vessel identified.
Name & Home Phone
(Persons On Board - Passengers)
The name and home telephone number
of a specific passenger on-board the vessel of a particular voyage.
Name & Port (Vessel -
Navigation)
The vessels name (if documented)
and the name of the port from which the vessel hails. The "hailing port" is a place and a State,
Territory, or possession of in the United States. The state may be
abbreviated. See also: USCG
National Vessel Documentation Center.
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O SCAR
Operator
(Persons On Board)
The person-in-command of a
Vessel.
Overdue
A situation where a craft has
failed to arrive at its intended destination when expected and remains missing.
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P APA
Persons On Board
A general term referring to all
people who will be aboard the vessel, and includes: passengers,
Crew,
and
Operator
of the
Vessel.
Passengers
(Persons On Board)
The crew or company on-board the
vessel.
PFDs
A general name
for various types of devices designed to keep a person afloat in water. PFDs
include life preservers, vests, cushions, rings, and other throwable items. For
detailed information about each type of PFD see
Federal Requirements and Safety Tips for Recreational Boats.
Prominent
Features
(Vessel - Identification)
The unique and
special features of your vessel that make it distinctive from other vessels of
its kind or type.
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Q UEBEC
[There
are no Float Plan terms under this heading]
R OMEO
RADAR
(Vessel - Navigation)
A acronym for
Radio
Detecting
And
Ranging, is
system consisting usually of a
synchronized radio transmitter and receiver that emits radio waves and processes
their reflections for display and is used especially for detecting and locating
objects (as vessels).
Radio Call
Sign
(Vessel - Communications)
A "Call Sign" is a combination of
letters and numbers that identify an FCC license (if applicable). If you do not
have a Ship Radio Station License, the U.S. Coast Guard, Navigation Center
recommends that you use your boat registration number and the state in which it
is registered if you are in out-of-state waters (e.g. Rhode Island WA 1234),
in place of the call sign.
Radio-1
(Vessel - Communications)
The primary fixed-mount radio used on board the vessel--Type is either
VHF/FM,
HF, or
MF.
Radio-2
(Vessel - Communications)
Backup or secondary fixed-mount radio used on board the vessel--Type is either
VHF/FM,
HF, or
MF.
Registration
Number
(Vessel - Identification)
The registration number of
this vessel. The owner/operator of a vessel must carry a valid
certificate of number whenever the vessel is in use.
rescue
An operation to retrieve persons in distress, provide for their initial medical
or other needs, and deliver them to a place of safety.
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S IERRA
Safety Harness
(Safety & Survival - Other Gear)
A safety
device made of heavy duty nylon web belting material with special connectors to
secure the device to the person wearing it, and constructed such that it will
support the weight of man or woman. Used to connect a person to the vessel or
rescue cable.
Sea Anchor
(Safety & Survival - Other Gear)
Device,
usually of wood and/or canvas, streamed by a vessel in heavy weather to hold the
bow up to the sea. It's effect is similar to a drogue in that it slows the
vessels rate of drift. However, it is usually made off to the bow opposed to
the stern as in the use of a drogue.
Signal
Mirror (Safety & Survival - Other
Gear)
The emergency
signaling mirror is a pocket-sized mirror with a sighting hole in the center and
an attached lanyard. It is used to attract the attention of passing aircraft,
boats, or ground rescue teams by reflecting light at them. Light reflected in
this manner can be seen at a great distance from the point of origin. However,
any common mirror is useful as an emergency signaling device.
State
(Persons On Board - Operator)
The state or province of the
person operating the vessel identified.
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T ANGO
[There
are no Float Plan terms under this heading]
U NIFORM
[There
are no Float Plan terms under this heading]
V ICTOR
Vehicle
(Persons On Board - Operator)
The Year, Make, and Model of the
vehicle used to tow the vessel to/from the launch site. This may or may not be
the owner/operator of the vessel, though it typically is.
Vessel
A maritime craft. 1. The
word "vessel" includes every description of watercraft, including
non-displacement craft and seaplanes, used or capable of being used as a means
of transportation on water. 2. a) The term "power-driven vessel" means
any vessel propelled by machinery; b) The term "sailing vessel" means any
vessel under sail provided that propelling machinery, if fitted, is not being
used.
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W HISKEY
Where will
trailer be parked? (Persons On Board - Operator)
The location of the area where the
trailer will be parked in relation to where the vessel will be/is launched.
Whistle
(Safety & Survival - Audible Distress Signals)
The Signal Whistle is a piece of
survival equipment used to produce a shrill sound by blowing on or through it.
The standard whistle is constructed of plastic and resembles a police officer's
whistle. During periods of restricted visibility, fog, or darkness, the sound
it produces may be heard by rescuers up to 1,000 meters/1,100 yards away.
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X RAY
[There
are no Float Plan terms under this heading]
Y ANKEE
Year & Make
(Vessel - Identification)
The year of the vessels
manufacture, and name of the Manufacturer.
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Z ULU
Zip code
(Persons On Board - Operator)
The postal zip code of the person
operating the vessel identified.
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