Like many other specialized industries, shipbuilding and the marine environment has a certain set of definitions that must be understood by professionals. Without a fundamental knowledge of these concepts and ideas, working within a shipyard can feel more complicated than it needs to be. But what happens if you misuse common shipyard terms? Well, don’t feel so bad because there are several terms that even the most informed people use incorrectly. Let’s take a look at a few important definitions.
Gulf vs. bay.
It can be easy to confuse a gulf with a bay. When it comes to the designations of water, the definitions can be pretty imprecise. Bodies of water are divided into a variety of categories like oceans, seas, gulfs, bays, rivers, estuaries, lakes, straits, canals and more. When two bodies of water are very similar, like gulfs and bays, it can be difficult to discern which is which. A gulf is typically considered an extension of a sea where the entrance is constricted by a straight. A gulf is usually almost entirely enclosed by land. A bay, on the other hand, is smaller and usually has a wider entrance. However, there are exceptions to these rules that make the classification between a bay and a gulf difficult to determine.
Weathertight vs. watertight.
While not commonly known by people outside of the shipbuilding industry, the difference between weathertight and watertight is critical. A weathertight door is above the ship’s water line. They are designed to keep water out, typically employing an outward swing that creates a tight seal when closed. Watertight doors, which appear below deck, are designed to stop water from either direction. So if there is a breach, water can’t escape into other parts of the ship and damage or destroy.
Gross tonnage vs. net tonnage.
While one might imagine these definitions are easy to determine based on the definitions of gross and net that are commonly used in other industries, simplicity on this level might be an incorrect assumption. Gross tonnage is the volume of all enclosed spaces on the ship, including the engine area, cargo, and non-cargo spaces. On the other hand, the net tonnage only refers to the volume of the cargo carrying areas of the ship. There are complex formulas used to determine the tonnage of any ship, both gross and net.
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