Nautical Term: ABT

Definition of ABT

ABT is an abbreviation commonly used in the nautical community, which stands for All Back Tight. This term is used to describe the precise positioning of a ship’s anchor and chain. For instance, if a captain wishes to set anchor in a shallow or rocky area, they would first check that the ship is a safe distance from other vessels and that the wind and current conditions are favorable. Once all these conditions have been met, the crew would then lower the anchor and chain, paying out the cable gradually as the anchor bites into the seabed. The captain would then give the order to Make it snug, and the crew would pull in the excess chain, keeping it taut against the anchor’s stock. Finally, the captain would give the order to Secure the anchor, and the crew would take various measures to prevent the anchor from dragging or swinging excessively. Once all these procedures have been completed, the ship would be considered to be securely anchored, and the crew could then set about attending to their other duties and responsibilities.

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