Ballast Water or weight carried to improve stability and trim. Beam The widest part of the vessel. Bow The forward end of a ship. The part that cuts through the water. Bridge The control centre of the ship, where navigation and watch- keeping occur. Bulkhead A vertical wall inside a ship, creating compartments for strength and safety. Bulwark The solid wall along the edge of a deck. Cabin A crew member’s sleeping quarters. Companionway A stair or ladder leading from one deck to another. Deck A horizontal platform on a ship, similar to a floor. Deck-head The ceiling of a compartment. Draft How deep the ship sits in the water, measured from keel to waterline. Forecastle (Foc’sle) The forward part of the ship, often housing equipment. Freeboard The height of the ship’s side from the waterline to the main deck. Galley The ship’s kitchen. Heads Toilets Hold An enclosed space used for cargo storage. Hull The main body of the ship, including the framework and outer shell. Keel The structural backbone of the ship, running along the bottom. Mess The dining area for crew or officers. Port The left side of the vessel when facing forward. Scupper A deck drain that allows water to escape overboard. Starboard The right side of the vessel when facing forward. Stern The aft end of the ship. The opposite of the bow. Superstructure The part of the ship built above the main deck.