DICTIONARY OF

Deck Light 109 Deep Sea Lead
Deck Light. Strong glass bull's eye fitted in a deck to light a compartment below. 2. A
permanent light fitted on a deck.
Deck Line. Horizontal mark, cut in plating of side and painted in a distinct colour, that
indicates position of freeboard deck.
Deck Load. Deck cargo.
Deck Log. Log book kept by officer of watch and entered with events, changes of course,
weather, log readings, work done and other items occurring during the watch. In harbour, is
kept by duty officer.
Deck Nail. Large nail, of diamond section, used for securing deck plank to beam of a
wooden ship.
Deck Officer. In general, an officer whose duties are connected with the deck department.
Sometimes applied to the duty officer of 1 he deck or watch.
Deck Passage. Voyage of a passenger for whom no accommodation is available. Confined
to short voyages and trades, such as the carrying of pilgrims.
Deck Pipe. Navel pipe, through which chain cable passes to chain locker.
Deck Sheet. Studdingsail sheet that leads directly from sail to deck.
Deck Stopper. Formerly, length of very strong rope to which cable could be lashed; one end
of a stopper being secured to deck. Name is sometimes given to any fitting on deck for
holding cable for a short time.
Deck Transom.* Formerly, a horizontal timber under counter of a ship.
Deck Watch. Watch that is used for timing sights taken on deck. Is compared with
chronometer before and after sights are taken, so avoiding disturbance of chronometer.
Declaration of London, 1909. Rules and regulations framed by an International Naval
Conference, but not formally ratified.
Declaration of Paris, 1856. Abolished privateering; declared that neutral flag covers enemy
goods, but not contraband of war; neutral goods, other than contraband, not liable to capture;
blockade must be effective to be legal.
Declination. Angular distance, of a heavenly body, north or south of Equinoctial. 2. Former
name for variation of compass.
Declination Circle. Great circle, of celestial concave, that is perpendicular to Equinoctial.
Also called hour circle, of circle of Right Ascension.
Declination Inequalities. Variations in heights or intervals of high and low waters of tides
when due to variations in declination of Sun and Moon.
Deep. Navigable channel bounded by shoal water. 2. Applied to frames and stringers that
have been widened, by extending plate between angle bars, to give additional strength.
'Deep.' Leadsman's call before naming a sounding in fathoms that is not marked in lead line.
Deep Sea Lead. 28-lb. lead used for taking soundings by hand in deep water.