Nautical Term: Altar
Definition of Altar
An elevated platform, often constructed from timber or metal, found within the confines of a graving dock. It serves as a vital aid in the process of lowering or raising a vessel by allowing the dockworkers to step on and off the dock more easily. For instance, a ship has been successfully docked, and the crew now needs to lower the vessel’s gangway so that passengers can disembark. In the meantime, the dockworkers will step onto the altar to gain access to the ship and assist in the operation of lowering the gangway. Once the gangway is lowered and the passengers have disembarked, the dockworkers will then step back onto the altar to prepare for the next docking operation.
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