Nautical Terms Acronyms and Abbreviations

There are many nautical terms, acronyms and abbreviations that facilitate communication on the seas and standardize the international nautical language.  Below is a list of nautical terms acronyms and abbreviations that has been shortened to include only some of the acronyms that are considered international standards.

Condensed List of Nautical Terms Acronyms and Abbreviations

Nautical terms, acronyms and abbreviations are important so you can communicate effectively at sea. Here are some of the most common: 

• ABS American Bureau of Shipping
• AIS automatic identification system 
• AMNI Associate Member of The Nautical Institute 
• AMVER US Coast Guard's Automated Mutual-Assistance Vessel Rescue System 
• BFI Baltic Freight Index 
• Bimco Baltic and International Maritime Council 
• Bimcosale The Bimco standard form of bill of sale 
• BOSVA  British Offshore Support Vessel Owners Association 
• BPI Baltic Panamax Index 
• CCS China Classification Society 
• CEN European Committee for Standardisation 
• DGPS Differential Global Positioning System 
• DLong difference in longitude 
• DNC Digital Nautical Chart 
• DOC document of compliance (as per ISM Code) 
• DSV Diving Support Vessel 
• Dwt deadweight tonnes
• DX.90 Format for digital cartographic data 
• ECDIS electronic chart display and information system 
• EC European Community or European Commission 
• ECS electronic chart system 
• EEZ exclusive economic zone 
• EN European Standard 
• EPIRB emergency position indicating radio beacon 
• EPS  IMO performance standard for ECDIS 
• FNI Fellow of The Nautical Institute 
• FO fuel oil  
• FPSO floating production, storage and offloading system 
• FSA formal safety assessment   
• HO Hydrographic Office, observed height 
• HP high pressure 
• HSC International Code of Safety for High-Speed Craft, IMO 
• HSE health safety and environmental, Health and Safety Executive
• HSWA Health and Safety at Work Act   
• IACS International Association of Classification Societies 
• IBCS Integrated bridge control system 
• IBIA International Bunker Industry Association Ltd 
• IFTPA International Forest Product Transport Association 
• IFSMA International Federation of Ship Masters' Associations
• IGO inter-governmental organisation 
• IGS inert gas system 
• IICL  Institute of Internatioanl Container Lessors 
• ISM Code International Safety Management Code, IMO
• ISMA International Ship Managers' Association 
• IS information systems 
• ISO International Standards Organisation 
• ISSN international standard serial number 
• IT information technology 
• LAN local apparent noon (nautical), local area network 
• Lash lighter aboard ship 
• LOC letter of credit, letter of compliance (USCG)  
• LOR letter of readiness 
• LPG liquefied petroleum gas 
• LR Lloyd's Register (classification society) 
• LSA life saving appliances, Lloyd's standard form of salvage agreement 
• LST local standard time 
• LW low water, winter load line (timber) 
• MAIIF Marine Accident Investigators' International Forum 
• Marisat maritime satellite system
• Mb megabyte 
• MCA Maritime and Coastguard Agency 
• MDO marine diesel oil
• MEO medium earth orbit (satellite configuration) 
• MEPC Marine Environment Protection Committee, IMO 
• MERSAR Merchant Ship Search and Rescue Manual 
• NDT non-destructive testing 
• NECSA  Navigational Electronic Chart System Association 
• NFTZ non free trade zone 
• NI The Nautical Institute 
• OMBO  One man Bridge Operation 
• OOD officer of the deck 
• OOW officer of the watch
• OPA 90 Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (USA)
• Opec Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries 
• OPPR oil pollution preparedness and response 
• P and I (P&I) club protection and indemnity club
• PRS Polish Register of Shipping - classification society 
• PSC port state control 
• PV pressure/vacuum, prime vertical 
• QA quality assurance
• RCC rescue coordination centre 
• RCDS Raster Chart Display Systems 
• RMT National Union of Rail, Maritime And Transport Workers 
• RNC  Raster Navigational Chart
• SCOPIC  Special Compensation P&I Clause 
• SCR  Special Casualty Representative (P&I) 
• SMC safety management certificate (as per ISM Code)
• SPI ship-port interface, IMO 
• SPM single point mooring 
• STCW International Convention on Standards of Training,Certification and Watchkeeping, IMO 
• TF tropical fresh load line 
• TLL timber load line 
• TPI tonnes per inch immersion 
• UFL upper flammable limit
• UN United Nations 
• Unclos United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea 
• UPS uninterrupted power supply 
• USCG United States Coast Guard 
• UTC universal time (coordinated)   
• VDR voyage data recorder 
• VDU visual display unit 
• WHO World Health Organisation 
• WL water line 
• WMO World Meteorological Organisation 
• WMU World Maritime University 
• WT watertight 
• ZD zone description