Whether you're a budding sailor, a maritime enthusiast, or just someone who loves talking about ships, you've probably come across nautical terms that are a bit… confusing. Let's be real—ship terminology can feel like another language entirely. And to make things trickier, many of us unknowingly misuse these terms.
Let's clear the fog! Here are 10 ship terms and definitions that people often get wrong—plus helpful explanations so you can talk like a true salty sea dog (or at least sound like one!).
Let's start with a classic mix-up: the difference between a bollard and a bitt.
Bollard
A mooring bollard is a strong, vertical post on a dock or quay. Ships tie their lines around it to stay in place. Bollards are typically mushroom-shaped or cylindrical and are designed to handle very high loads—especially from large vessels.
Bitt
A bitt, on the other hand, is usually found on the ship itself. It's a pair of strong vertical posts welded to the deck. Sailors use bitts to secure mooring lines or tow lines onboard.
So, what's the difference between a bollard and a bitt?
A bollard is usually onshore, used to tie the vessel to the dock.
A bitt is on the ship, used to fasten or guide the lines coming from the shore.
Don't say: "Tie that line to the bollard on deck."
Do say: "Secure it to the bitt."
You've probably heard these before—but which side is which?
Port = Left side of the ship (when facing the bow/front)
Starboard = Right side of the ship (when facing the bow)
Easy trick: "Port" and "left" both have four letters!
Another pair that gets jumbled.
Bow: The front of the ship
Stern: The back of the ship
So when someone says "head toward the bow," they mean "go to the front."
Same word, totally different meanings.
A knot (as a speed measurement) equals 1 nautical mile per hour.
A knot in rope work refers to an actual twist or tie in a line.
Don't mix them up—especially when someone says, "We're doing 15 knots!"
People often call the ship's control center the deck—but it's actually called the bridge.
The bridge is where the ship is navigated and steered.
The deck is the flat surface where people walk or cargo is loaded.
So, the captain isn't shouting orders from the deck—he's on the bridge.
Both are ropes, but they serve different purposes.
A mooring line secures a ship to a mooring bollard or dock.
A tow line is used when one vessel is pulling another.
Using the wrong one in conversation could leave you all tied up—literally.
These are both parts of the ship's structure, but they're not the same.
The hull is the outer shell of the ship—what you see when you look at it from the side.
The keel is the backbone or spine underneath the ship, running along the bottom centerline for stability.
Think of the hull as the skin and the keel as the skeleton.
Yes, both keep the ship in place—but they work differently.
Anchoring means dropping an anchor into the seabed to hold position.
Mooring means tying the vessel to a dock using ropes or mooring bollards.
So when you're tied to a pier, you're moored, not anchored.
Ever hear someone say"walk the plank"? Dramatic, yes. Accurate? Not really.
A gangway is the safe, movable bridge used to board or exit the ship.
A plank… well, that's more pirate lore than maritime practice.
Use "gangway" unless you're staging a mutiny.
Both float in water and help with navigation, but there's a difference.
A buoy floats and often drifts slightly with the current.
A beacon is usually fixed (like a light tower or pile structure) and marks hazards or routes.
So that floating marker in the harbor? That's a buoy, not a beacon.
Many people assume mooring bollards are just "any metal post" on the pier—but there's more to it.
Mooring bollards are engineered for strength, often tested to withstand tons of mooring line tension. They're essential for safely docking cargo ships, tankers, ferries, and even cruise ships.
Fun fact: There are different types of mooring bollards, like:
T-head bollards
Double bitt bollards
Pillar bollards
Each type is chosen based on location, load requirements, and vessel size.
The sea has its own language, and misusing nautical terms can leave you sounding more like a landlubber than a shipmate. Now that you know the difference between a bollard and a bitt, and why a mooring bollard isn't just any old post, you're one step closer to fluent ship speak.
Whether you're tying up a dinghy or docking a cargo ship, the right terminology matters. Sail on!
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