Glossary of Marine Terms
F
facility
as defined by section 1001 of the OPA means any structure, group of structures, equipment, or device (other than a vessel) which is used for one or more of the following purposes: exploring for, drilling for, producing, storing, handling, transferring, processing, or transporting oil. This term includes any motor vehicle, rolling stock, or pipeline used for one or more of these purposes.
fairing
re-forming distorted steel to its original form or shape.
fairlead
a device consisting of pulleys or rollers arranged to permit the reeling in of a cable from any direction; often used in conjunction with winches and similar apparatus.
fatigue
the phenomenon of the progressive fracture of a metal by means of a crack which spreads under repeated cycles of stress.
Federal Response Plan (FRP)
means the agreement signed by 25 federal departments and agencies in April 1987 and developed under the authorities of the Earthquake Hazards Reduction Act of 1977 and the Disaster Relief Act of 1974, as amended by the Stafford Disaster Relief Act of 1988.
fender
any device used to absorb and distribute shock and to prevent chafing between a vessel and another object.
ferrous
metals or alloys that contain appreciable amounts of iron.
file hardness
hardness as determined by the use of a file of standardized hardness on the assumption that a material which cannot be cut with the file is as hard as, or harder than, the file. files covering a range of hardnesses may be employed.
first federal official
means the first federal representative of a participating agency of the National Response Team to arrive at the scene of a discharge or a release. This official coordinates activities under the NCP and may initiate, in consultation with the OSC, any necessary actions until the arrival of the predesignated OSC.
flame screen
a corrosion-resistant fine wire mesh screen used to cover certain openings on tank vessels to prevent the passage of flame into the tank.
flange
that portion of a steel shape which projects at a right angle to provide strength or a means of attachment to another part.
fleet boat
a boat which primarily tends, tows within, or otherwise services a fleeting area.
fleeting area (fleet)
a designated portion of a waterway where vessels are regularly moored and tended.
F.O.B.
Free on Board; cargo delivered to and placed on board a carrier at a specific point without charge.
fracture testing
breaking a specimen and examining the fractured surface with the unaided eye or with a low-power microscope to determine such things as composition, grain size, case depth, soundness, or presence of defects.
freeboard
the distance from the waterline to the main deck of a boat or barge.
fully found
a vessel completely equipped and manned for service.
FWPCA
Federal Water Pollution Control Act; the U.S. federal statute that establishes the legal and financial responsibilities of those persons or companies which discharge or dispose of oil or hazardous substances into or upon the navigable waters of the U.S. Primarily administered by the U.S. Coast Guard.
