Nautical Terms

I enjoyed Mr. Gauvin’s article on standardizing tug and towboat terms. But it seems that tugs and towboats are not the only parts of the marine industry that need help in that department.
 
Mr. Haig-Brown’s article on Richmond Inner Harbor has tugs making fast “midship aft” (no port or starboard) and on the “forward port quarter”. And, in maritime casualties, the fishing vessel MICHAEL BRANDON collided with WEST BAY‘s “forward port quarter”.
 
I never heard these terms aboard ship in all my years at sea. And like Steve Huttman, I would go aft to the vessel’s quarter. Not “back aft” though, Capt Johansson. That’s redundant.
 
Bill MacFaden Leadville, CO
By Professional Mariner Staff