Mastering maritime English vocabulary is the basic capital of every seafarer — used in onboard communication, reading manuals, and facing tests like Marlins. This interactive quiz tests the 12 ship terms that appear most often in daily work.
How to play: pick the answer you think is correct. Answers are corrected instantly and each question has an explanation.
Quick Table: 12 Terms
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Bow | The front of the vessel |
| Starboard | Right side of the vessel (facing forward from the stern) |
| Freeboard | Distance from the waterline to the deck |
| Mooring lines | Lines securing the vessel to the berth |
| Bilge | The lowest part of the hull where water collects |
| Ballast | Weight (water/material) to keep the vessel stable |
| Cargo manifest | Official list of all cargo on board |
| Stevedore | Dock worker handling cargo loading and unloading |
| Galley | The ship’s kitchen |
| Keel | The backbone of the vessel at the very bottom |
| Bulkhead | Watertight partition dividing the vessel’s compartments |
| Deadweight (DWT) | Total weight the vessel can carry |
Quiz: Maritime Vocabulary
12 questions — instant correction + explanations
Sources
- Australian Boating College — Boating Terminology (boat terms glossary: bow, ballast, bilge, bulkhead, draft)
- U.S. Coast Guard NVDC — Common Terms, Definitions and Abbreviations
