Complete Glossary of
Marine Terms & Abbreviations
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HAGUE RULES 1924
Following an International Maritime Law Conference in Brussels in 1922 a set of rules was agreed to establish the rights and immunities of carriers in respect of the carriage of goods by sea. Many of the countries agreeing to the rules later incorporated them in statutory Acts, such as the UK Carriage of Goods by Sea Act 1924.
Halyards
ropes by which sails or flags are hoisted
Hank
Fitting for attaching the luff of a sail to a stay
Hard
A place for beaching and holding / storing boats out of the water, often in a cradle, and usually these days a concrete compound or similar
Hard-a-port, Hard-a-starboard
Helm order to use the maximum to steer in the required direction
Haulier
(U.K.) A road transport operator (a trucker in U.S.)
Hawser
a small steel cable; a large rope
Head sea
A sea from ahead (i.e. waves advancing to the bow of the vessel)
Header
wind shift that brings the wind further ahead, opposite to a Lift
Heads
Narrow entrance to a harbour; or marine toilet or lavatory
Headsail
A sail set forward of the mast
Heave-to
To stop, or reduce speed with the vessel's bow to the wind
Heavy Lift
A unit of cargo which cannot be lifted by the normal ship's lifting gear.
Heel
= the angle of tilt of a vessel , caused by external forces.
Held Covered
A provisional acceptance of risk, subject to confirmation that cover is needed at a later date. Where applicable to an existing insurance, coverage is conditional, in practice, on prompt advice to the underwriter as soon as the insured is aware of the circumstances to be held covered coming into effect, and a reasonable additional premium is payable if the risk held covered comes into effect.
HIGH SEAS
Parts of oceans and/or seas which are not within any territorial waters and are therefore beyond the jurisdiction of any State.
Hogged
A hogged ship is one that is held amidships with both ends sagging lower than the centre.
Hour glass
Spinnaker sail twisted in the middle, so that the wind fills the top and bottom parts
House Air Waybill
An air waybill issued by a freight forwarder for an air shipment.
House to House
See Door to Door.
Hove-to
= when a vessel is slowed or stopped and lying at an angle to the sea which affords the safest and most comfortable ride
Hub & Spoke
The way of describing modern containerised operations whereby large containerships call at a restricted number of major (hub) ports to or from whence containers are carried to/from minor ports by feeder services (spokes).
H. & M.
Hull and Machinery
H.G.V.
Heavy goods vehicle
H.N.S.
Hazardous and noxious substances
H.P.
Horse-power
H.P.R.
highly protected risk (U.S.)
H.W.D.
Heavy-weather damage
H/C - High Cube
Container 9 ft 6 inches high instead of usual 8ft 6ins.
H/H - Half Height (container)
An OT (Open Top) container only 4ft 3ins high.