The vertical distance between the waterline and the lowest point of a vessel's hull, indicating how deep the ship sits in the water. Draft determines the minimum depth of water a vessel can safely navigate. Also spelled "draught" in British English.
Category: Navigation & Seamanship
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CourseThe intended horizontal direction of travel measured as an angle from north.Course Over GroundThe actual direction of a vessel's movement over the earth's surface, as determined by GPS or other positioning systems.Dead ReckoningA method of estimating a vessel's current position by advancing a known position using the course steered, speed through the water, and time elapsed.DraughtThe British English spelling of draft, referring to the depth of water a vessel draws.ECDISElectronic Chart Display and Information System, a computer-based navigation system that complies with IMO regulations and can be used as an alternative to paper nautical charts.Great CircleThe shortest distance between two points on the surface of a sphere, formed by the intersection of the sphere with a plane passing through its center.
Back to DictionaryEntry updated May 2026