DICTIONARY OF

Life-Saving Appliances 201 Lightning
Life-Saving Appliances. All boats, rafts, buoys, jackets, line-throwing apparatus, and other
appliances and stores carried for life-saving purposes.
Life-Saving Rocket. Pyrotechnic missile fired from shore to pass over a stranded vessel and
carry a line for establishing communication between ship and shore.
Lifting Gear. Derrick and cranes, with all their furniture and attachments, used when lifting
and lowering weights.
Lifting Screws. Screw propellers that were formerly carried in ships carrying sails and
engines. When under sail alone, propeller was lifted, by tackles, into a specially-built recess
in counter—the rail end shaft being withdrawn. See Banjo Frame.
Lifts. Ropes from mast to arms of a yard, and used for supporting, canting, and squaring the
yard.
Ligan. 'Lagan.'
Light. Opening in deck or sides of a vessel for admitting light. 2. Established navigational
beacon light. 3. State of a vessel when without cargo, or when not submerged to her load
line. 4. To assist in carrying a fall or rope in a desired direction. 'Light to!'
Light Airs. Intermittent wind that does not exceed three knots.
Light Along. To lift or carry a rope in the direction that it lies.
Light Bill. Receipt for light dues paid.
Light Boat. Unattended vessel moored in a fixed position to emit a light as a navigational
aid or warning.
Light Breeze. Wind with velocity between four and six knots. Force 2 Beaufort Scale.
Light Draught. State of a vessel when her submerged volume is least. Technically, her
draught when she has no cargo but her bunkers are full, stores complete, and boilers filled to
working level.
Light Dues. Money chargeable on a vessel as part payment of cost of maintaining
lighthouses, light vessels, and similar navigational aids.
Lightening Hole. Opening in a member, or fitting, when arising from removal of
unnecessary material to reduce weight.
Lighter. Craft of barge type and without means of propulsion. Used for transport of goods to
and from ships. Formerly used for taking goods out of a vessel to lighten her, and so allow
her to cross a bar.
Lighterage. Loading or unloading of a lighter. 2. Carriage of goods in a lighter. 3. Charge
made for loading or unloading into a lighter.
Light Hand. Youthful but smart seaman.
Light-Handed. When applied to crew, means 'Short-handed'.
Lightning. Brilliant and momentary light due to discharge of atmospheric electricity from
cloud to earth, or from cloud to cloud.