Nautical Term: Pilot house

Definition of Pilot house

A structural compartment primarily designed for navigational purposes. It is typically situated forward of the midship section and built with an unobstructed view in all directions except directly aft along the centerline of the vessel. Commonly, the smokestack interferes in this area.

For instance, imagine a captain standing in the pilot house of a cargo ship during a storm. Despite the severe weather conditions, the captain has an unobstructed view in all directions except directly aft along the centerline of the vessel, thanks to the pilot house’s design. This enables the captain to navigate the ship safely through the storm.

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