HR glossary of terminology
Pilot
A Pilot is someone with a deep knowledge of a certain area of a waterway such as the entrance and exit to a port or harbor. They are licensed navigational guides who are brought onboard by means of a pilot boat to help guide a vessel through difficult locations and uniquely local conditions.
Parcel Tanker
A Parcel Tanker is a type of Tanker that is specially designed to carry a variety of different liquids at one time. These could be chemicals or liquids that come in different grades such as petroleum.
Project Cargo
Project Cargo is a term used to refer to cargo that consists of the equipment and materials needed to assemble a project. This project could be anything from a bridge to a factory to an oil rig.
Platform Supply Vessel
Often shortened to PSV a Platform Supply Vessel are vessels that are designed to carry supplies to offshore oil and gas drilling units or installations.
Pilotage Dues
The Pilotage Dues are the fee paid by a ship's owner or operator for the services of a pilot. The fee is usually worked out in accordance with the vessel's tonnage.
Pure Car and Truck Carrier
A Pure Car and Truck Carrier (PCTC) is a cargo ship which mainly transports new vehicles of any description.
Pumpman
A Pumpman is an unlicensed seafarer (a rating) who works almost exclusively on tankers. Their main responsibility is ensuring the safe and correct operation of the vessel’s liquid cargo transfer system.
Plimsoll Line
Also called the Load Line the Plimsoll Line is a physical marking on a ship's hull indicates the maximum depth to which that vessel can sink when loaded with cargo.
Painter
Painter is the name of the bow line by which a tender boat or a dinghy is moored or towed by.
Panamax Vessel
Panamax is a term used to denote the size of a vessel that has been designed to be just small enough to be able to transit the Panama Canal. A Panamax Vessel can be a container ship bulk carrier warship or passenger ship.
PCC
PCC stands for Pure Car Carrier - a cargo ship which mainly transports new cars.
PCTC
PCTC stands for Pure Car and Truck Carrier - a cargo ship which mainly transports new vehicles of any description.
Pier
In Maritime Terms a Pier is a manmade structure which juts out from land into a waterway. Piers are used for mooring vessels and cargo handling.
Pilotage
Pilotage is the act of piloting a vessel - see pilot above.
Pilot House
A Pilot controls the vessel from the Pilot House which is an enclosed space on the bridge.
Port
A Port is the place where ships dock as well as a general term for the port authority or agency which oversees the use of a public harbor or wharf as well as properties at that Port.
Portside
Or more commonly just called Port this refers to the left hand side of a vessel facing forwards. At night the Portside of a ship is identified by a red light.
Port-of-Call
As the name suggests a Port-of-Call is a port at which a cruise ship or liner makes a scheduled stop on its voyage. Occasionally also referred to as destination port or transit port a call itself can last anywhere from five to 24 hours long allowing passengers to disembark and explore the local area.
Post-Panamax Vessel
A Post-Panamax Vessel is a vessel that is too large to transit the Panama Canal. (See Panamax Vessel above.)
Products Tanker
A Products Tanker is a tanker that has been designed to carry refined oil and petroleum products in bulk.
Propane Carrier
A Propane Carrier is a vessel that has been designed to carry propane in liquid form. Propane Carriers are also used to transport butane
Propeller
The Propeller on a boat or ship is a type of rotating fan which uses the power generated and transmitted by the main engine to propel the vessel.
Propeller Hub
The Propeller Hub (also called Boss Hub) is the central portion of a screw propeller to which the blades are attached and through which the propeller shaft end passes.
PSV
PSV is short for Platform Supply Vessel - vessels that are designed to carry supplies to offshore oil and gas drilling units or installations.
Pure Car Carrier
A Pure Car Carrier (PCC) is a cargo ship which mainly transports new cars.
Purser
Most commonly referred to as the Hotel Manager on the majority of cruise ships these days the Purser is a ship’s officer who is in charge of accounts - most commonly on a passenger ship.