DICTIONARY OF

Disembark 115 Ditch
Disembark. To come out of a ship. To put out of ship and put ashore.
Disengaging Gear. Applied to fittings, to boat and falls, that release a boat from her falls
simultaneously and rapidly.
Dismast. Carry away, or remove, the mast or masts of a vessel.
Dispatch. 'Despatch.'
Dispatch Money. 'Despatch Money.'
Dispatch Note. 'Despatch Note.'
Displacement. Amount of water displaced by a floating vessel in a given condition. May be
expressed in tons, or volume in cubic feet; tons being weight of vessel and contents, volume
being that of immersed part of vessel.
Display. Visual presentation of received radar signals. Relative Display. The observer's
position remains stationary and the movement of targets (coastline, ships, etc.) is thus
relative to the observer. Stabilised Display in which the heading marker and bearings of
targets are stabilised by a transmitting compass. True-motion Display. The observer's
position moves across the display in accordance with his ship's course and speed. Movements
of targets are thus in their proper direction and at their proper speed.
Disrating. Degrading from one rank or rating to a lower. Withdrawal of a rating given to a
man.
Distance. Length in a particular direction of course. Length of shortest track between two
places. Length of customary track between two places. Time difference between two given
meridians. Angular value, at a given point, between two other points.
Distance of Visible Horizon. Varies with height of observer's eye. Can be found, in miles,
from product of square root of height of eye, in feet, and constant factor of 1-15.
Distance Recorder. In general, any log or log mechanism that records distance. In
particular, see 'Forbes Distance Recorder'.
Distant Signals. System of shapes used between ships when far apart in daytime, and
colours of flags were indistinguishable. With development of brilliant Morse lamps and
radio the system became unnecessary.
Distiller. Combined condenser and aerator used when converting steam to drinking water.
Distortion of Charts. See 'Chart Distortion.'
Distraint. Legal seizure of ship or goods in satisfaction of a debt.
Distress. In a state of danger and in need of assistance. Also alternative name for 'Distraint'.
Distressed Seaman. Seaman, who, through no fault of his own but through some event in
his employment, is in need of assistance, to maintain himself and to return home or to a
proper return port.
Distress Signals. Customary and statutory indications that a vessel, or her personnel, are in
danger and in need of assistance.
Ditch. Colloquial name for the sea. To ditch is to throw overboard.