FLOTSAM: "A term in mercantile law, as also at sea, meaning goods cast into the sea and floating in the waves.  There are three conditions in which goods cast from a ship in distress may remain.  1. Flotsam, or floating  2. Jetsam,  cast and sunk;  3. Lagan or Ligsam,  sunk and fastened to a bouy.  Such goods, if no claim be laid to them within a certain time, become the property of the Crown."*

 

Hurricane damage (cost) is best determined by a qualified marine professional.  Not only do marine mediators and arbitrators need to know Admiralty law but recognition of true damages is necessary. Often the boat owner is liable for environmental damage,  property damage, as well as the damage to the vessel itsself.

Mediation is a non-adversarial method of negotiating a reasonable settlement between all parties.


Lee Shore
A Lee Shore

posted 09/01/2009


SEXTANT:  "The instrument used at sea for measuring the altitudes of the celestial bodies, and thereby determining the position of a ship."*

ROWSE:  "To pull on a rope without tackle."*

ORLOP:  "(from over-lop). Orlop beams.  Beams in a ship, extending across the lower part of the hold, and therefore often called hold beams. They sometimes support that which is called the orlop deck , which may be the lowest deck in a ship, or a temporary platform forming a sort of deck.  In the old warships certain of the store rooms were on this deck, and, in frigates, the midshipmen's berth."*

CAREEN: "To heel or make to lie over on one side.  The operation of heaving the ship down to one side, by the application of a strong purchase to her masts, so that she may be breamed. But copper sheathing has superseded the necessity for this.  A vessel is also said to careen when she inclines under press of canvas, at sea."*

GLORY HOLE:  "Any small space where gear is stowed.  The stewards' sleeping quarters."*

LEEWARD:  "(pronounced loo-ard or lew-ard).  The lee side of a vessel is the side opposite to that upon which the wind blows;  the other side being called the windward or weather side."*
 
BEAUFORT WIND SCALE:  "The scale is a system of estimating the force of the wind by the amount of sail a ship could carry; or by observing the appearance of the sea.  Devised in 1806, it has been used, with slight revisions, ever since.  The author later became Rear Admiral Sir Francis Beaufort and a distinguished Hydrographer of the Navy."*









 

 

*A Dictionary of Sea Terms, A. Ansted, Brown, Son & Ferguson, LTD., Glasgow


** Traditions of the Navy, Cedric W. Windas, Our Navy Inc. 1 Hanson Place, Brooklyn New York