| AB | Able Bodied Seafarer |
| ACEP | American College of Emergency Physicians |
| ACLS | Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support |
| ADA | Americans with Disability Act |
| AED | Automatied External Defibrillatior |
| AGE | Acute GastroEnteritis |
| AJMEDP | Allied Joint Medical Planning Doctrine (from the NATO) |
| AJMP | Allied Joint Medical Publication (from the NATO) |
| AJP | Allied Joint Publication (from the NATO) |
| ALRS | Admiralty List of Radio Signals (from Admiralty Maritime Data Solutions, UK) |
| ALS | Advanced Liffe Support |
| AMedP | Allied Medical Publication (from the NATO) |
| ANVISA | Agência Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária (Brazil National Health Surveillance Agency) |
| AoS | Apostleship of the Sea |
| APLS | Advanced Paediatric Life Support |
| APS | Assigned Protection Factor |
| ARI | Acute Respiratory Infection |
| ATC system | Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical Classification System (for classification of medicines) |
| Athens Convention / PAL | Athens Convention relating to the Carriage of Passengers and their Luggage by Sea (PAL) (from the IMO) |
| ATLS | Advanced Trauma Life Support |
| ATV | Akademiet for de Tekniske Videnskaber (Denmark) |
| BIMCO | Baltic and International Maritime Council |
| BLU | Bande Latérale Unique (fr.), corresponding to Single Side Band (SSB) |
| BMA | Bahamas Maritime Authority |
| BMJ | British Medical Journal |
| BPM | Best Management Practice |
| BRM | Bridge Resource Management |
| BS | British Standard – BS denotes Britain's National Standards which are controlled by the British Standards Institute (BSI) |
| CBA | Collective Bargaining Agreement (contracts of seafarer's employment) |
| CCNR | Central Commission of the Rhine |
| CDC | Center for Disease Control (USA) |
| CEM | Crew Endurance Management |
| CEMAC | Communauté économique et monétaire d’Afrique centrale |
| CESNI | The European Committee for drawing up Standards in the field of Inland Navigation”, or in French: «Comité européen l’élaboration de standards dans le domaine de la navigation intérieure |
| CHIRP | Aviation and Maritime Confidential Incident Reporting |
| CICOS | Commission Internationale du bassin Congo-Oubangui-Sangha |
| CIE | Comission International d'Éclairage (International Commission on Illumination) |
| CIRM | Centro Internazionale Radio Medico (Rome) |
| CLIA | Cruise Lines International Association |
| CLIA | Cruise Line International Association |
| CMSS | Center for Maritim Sundhed og Sikkerhed (Centre for Maritime Health and Safety) (Denmark) |
| CO | Carbon monoxide |
| COLREG | Convention on International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea |
| COVID-19 | Coronavirus disease 2019 |
| CRM | Crew Resource Management |
| CRPD | UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, 2007 |
| CTV | Crew Transfer Vessel |
| DAN | Divers' Alert Network |
| DCI | Decopmression Illness |
| DCS | Decopmression sickness |
| DMLC | Document of Maritime Labour Compliance |
| DOHSA | Death on the High Seas Act (USA) |
| DON | Dysbaric osteonecrosis |
| DSV | Diving Support Vessel |
| DWT | Dead weight tonnage |
| ECDC | Europeand Centre for Disease Prevention and Control |
| ECG | ElectroCardioGraphy / ElectroCardioGram |
| ECSA | European Community Shipowners' Association |
| EDTC | European Diving Technology Committee |
| EEZ | Economic Exclusion Zone according to UNCLOS |
| EHS | Environment, Health and Safety (see also: HSE: Health, Safety and Environment) |
| EMCIP | European Marine Casualty Information Platform |
| EMSA | European Maritime Safety Agency |
| EN | EN denotes a Standard which is adopted by the European community and is controlled by the European Committee for Standardisation (CEN). |
| ENT | Ear, Nose and Throat |
| ERM | Engine Resource Management |
| ETF | European Training Foundation |
| EUSIS | EU SHIPSAN ACT Information System |
| FMC | [US] Federal Maritime Commission |
| FOC | Flag of Convenience |
| FPSO | Floating production storage and offloading vessel |
| GDP | Gross Domestic Product |
| GMDSS | Global Maritime Distress and Safety System |
| GPS | Global Position System |
| GRIB | (GRIdded Binary) |
| GSM | Global System for Mobile Communications |
| HELIOX | Breathing gas mixture fontaining Helium |
| HELIVAC | Medical evacution by the means of a helicopter |
| HEPA filter | High efficiency particulate air filter |
| HF | High frequency (HF) is the ITU designation for the range of radio frequency electromagnetic waves (radio waves) between 3 and 30 megahertz (MHz). |
| HRA | High Risk Area |
| HRS | High Risk Ships (according to PSC) |
| HSC | High-spees craft |
| HVDC | High Voltage Direct Current |
| IACS | International Association of Classification Societies |
| IAMSAR Manual | International Aviation and Maritime Search and Rescue Manual, jointly published by IMO and ICAO |
| ICAO | International Civial Aviation Organisation |
| ICCPR | International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, 1976 |
| ICD-10 | International Classifiaction of Diseases, 10th edition (From the WHO) |
| ICESCR | International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, 1966 |
| ICMA | International Maritime Christian Association |
| ICNIRP | The International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection |
| ICS | International Chamber of Shipping (an association of national shipping companies' associations) |
| ICSW | The International Committee on Seafarers' Welfare (established to implement ILO Conventions9 |
| IDLH | Immediate Dangerours to Life or Health |
| IEC | International Electrotechnical Comission |
| IFC | Information Fusion Centre |
| IG [P&I] | International Group of P&I Clubs |
| IHR | International Health Regulations (from the WHO) |
| ILI | Influenza-like Illness |
| ILO | International Labour Organisation (a UN Agency) |
| ILO C 188 | ILO Work in Fishing Convetntion 2007 |
| ILO C016 | Medical Examination of Young Persons (Sea) Convention, 1921 (from the ILO) |
| ILO C073 | Medical Examination (Seafarers) Convention, 1946 (from the ILO) |
| ILO C159 | Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (Disabled Persons) Convention, 1983 (from the ILO) |
| ILO C163 | Seafarers' Welfare Convention, 1987 (ILO) |
| ILO R048 | Recommendation concerning the Promotion of Seamen’s Welfare in Ports 1936 (ILO) |
| ILO R138 | Recommendation concerning Sefarers' Welfare in Ports 1936 (ILO) |
| ILO R173 | Seafarers' Welfare Recommendation, 1987 (ILO) |
| IMB | the ICC International Maritime Bureau, is a specialised division of the International Chamber Of Commerce (ICC). |
| IMB PRC | International Maritime Bureau Piracy Reporting Centre ( of the ICC) |
| IMCA | International Maritime Contractrs' Association |
| IMDH | International Maritime Declaration of Health |
| IMGS | International Medical Guide for Ships - a WHO publication |
| IMHA | International Maritime Health Association |
| IMHF | International Maritime Health Foundation |
| IMO | International Maritime Organisation (A UN Agency) |
| IMPA | International Maritime Pilot's Association |
| INMARSAT | International Mobile Satellite Organization |
| INTERCARGO | International Association of Dry Cargo Shipowners |
| INTERMANAGER | An organisation representing ship and crew managers as well as associated organisations worldwide |
| INTERTANKO | Independent tanker operators |
| IPWP | International Port Welfare Partnership |
| ISAN | International Committee on Seafarers' Welfare |
| ISM Code | International Safety Mangement Code (from the IMO) |
| ISO | International Standards organisation |
| ISO | ISO denotes a worldwide standard issued by the International Organisation for Standardisation. |
| ISWAN | International Seafarers' Welfare and Assistance Network |
| ITF | International Transport Workers' Federation |
| IWMS | Integration of Women in the Maritime Sector (a global programme by IMO) |
| JRCC | Joint Rescue Coordination Centre |
| LGBT | LGBT is an initialism that stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender. |
| LL | 1972 International Convention on Load Lines |
| LNG | Liquefied Natural Gas |
| LRS | Low Risk Ships (according to PSC) |
| MARPOL | International Convention for the Prevention on Pollution from Ships 1973 (from the IMO) |
| MCA | Maritime and Couastguard Agency (UK) |
| MCI | Mass Casualty Incident |
| MDAT-GOG | Maritime Domain Awareness Trade - Gulf of Guinea |
| MDH | Maritime Declaration of Health (according to the IHR) |
| MEDEVAC | Medical Evacuation |
| MENA region | Middle East and North Africa region |
| MEPC | Marine Environment Protection Committee - and IMO committee |
| MF | Medium frequency is the ITU designation[1] for radio frequencies (RF) in the range of 300 kilohertz (kHz) to 3 megahertz (MHz). |
| MFAG | Medical First Aid Guide for Use in Accidents Involving Dangerous Goods (IMO) |
| MLC 2006 (or only MLC) | Maritime Labour Convention 2006 (from the ILO) |
| MMPG | Maritime Medical Planning Guide (a Nato Publication) |
| MMR vaccination | Measles, Mumps and Rubella Vaccination |
| MOB boat | Man over board boat |
| MoU | Memorandum of Understanding |
| MPHRP | Maritime Piracy and Humanitarian Response Programme |
| MRCC | Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre |
| MRM | Maritime Resource Management |
| MSC | Maritime Safety Committee (an IMO committee) |
| MSDS | Material Safety Data Sheet |
| NATO | North Atlanctic Treaty Organisation |
| NEMAM | North European Maritime Authorities Medical Group |
| NIR | New Inspection Regime (From EMSA) |
| NIS | Norwegian International Register |
| NMT | Nordic Mobile Telephone, the first automatic mobile telephone system in the world |
| NOGEPA | Netherlands Oil and Gas Exploration and Production Association |
| NORTRASHIP | Norwegian Shipping and Trade Mission (during the 2nd world war) |
| NSA | Norwegian Shipowners' Association |
| NYK Group Europe | NYK Group Europe is the European regional site for the global transportation company, Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha |
| OCIMF | Oil Companies International Marine Forum |
| OEL | Occupational Exposure Limits |
| OGUK | Oil&Gas UK |
| OOW | Officer of the Watch |
| OPEC | Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries |
| OR | Open registry (where shipowners from any nation may register their ship) |
| OSH | Occupational Safety and Health |
| OSV | Offshore Supply Vessel (see also PSV: Platform supply vessel) |
| P&I | Protection and Indemnity |
| P&I Club | Mutual insurance club of shipowners regarding protection and indemnity insurance |
| PAL | Athens Convention relating to the Carriage of Passengers and their Luggage by Sea (PAL) (from the IMO) |
| Paris MoU | Port state control organisation with 27 member states from the North Atlantic basin |
| PCASP | Private Contracted Armed Security Personnel |
| PEME | Pre-employment medical examination |
| PEOEA | Philippine Overseas Employment Administrationg |
| PER | Regional Economic Programme |
| PLO | Palestine Liberation Organisation |
| PPA | Philippine Port Authority |
| PPE | Personal Protective Equipment |
| PPU | Personal Pilot Unit |
| PRC | Piracy Reporting Centre |
| PSC | Port State Control |
| PSCO | Port State Control Officer |
| PSV vessel | Platform Supply Vessel (see also OSV: Offshore supply vessel) |
| PTC | Passenger Ticket Contract |
| RAND Corporation | RAND (Research and Development) is an American nonprofit global policy think tank[1] created in 1948 by Douglas Aircraft Company to offer research and analysis to the United States Armed Forces. |
| RCCL | Royal Caribbean Cruise Line |
| RIB | Rigid Inflatable Boat |
| Ro-Ro-ferries | Roll-on Roll-off Ferries |
| ROV | Remote Operated Vessel (or Vehicle) |
| RPE | Respiratory Protective Equipment |
| SAR service | Search and Rescue service |
| SCI | Seamens' Church Institute |
| SCUBA | Self-contained underwater breathing apparatus |
| SDU | Syd-Danske Universitet (University of Southern Denmark, Esbjerg) |
| SEV | Security Escort Vessel |
| SHIP | Seafaers' Health Information Programme (Project by ISWAN) |
| SHS | Seafaers Hospital Society |
| SIM | Social Interaction Matter (a project by ISWAN to help shiping sompanies improve seafarers' social interaction on board |
| SMCP | Standard Marine Communications Phrases |
| SMLC | Ship's Maritime Labour Certificate |
| SMS | Safety Management System (according to the ISM Code) |
| SOLAS | The Internaitonal Convention on the Safety of Life at Sea 1914 (from the IMO) |
| SOV | Service Operation Vessel |
| SRP | Ship Risk Profile (according to PSC) |
| SRS | Standard Risk Ships (according to PSC) |
| SS | The Sailors Society |
| SSB | Single Side Band Radio |
| SSB | An SSB radio modulates a special type of wave during transmission, also known as short-wave radio. Short-wave radio equipment on ships is part of the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) established under SOLAS, the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea. |
| SSC | Ship Sanitation Certificate |
| STANAG | Standardization Agreement (from the NATO) |
| STCW | International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers 1978 (from the IMO) |
| Stella Maris | Stella Maris is an International Maritime charity supporting seafarers, fishers, and their families in the UK and around the world. |
| SUA | Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Act against the safety of maritime navigation (1988) |
| TEU | Twenty-foot equivalent unit. One TEU refers to the dimensions of a twenty-foot container and is used as a standard unit of measure in container shipping |
| THETIS | An information system developed by EMSA to monitor port state control |
| TMAS | Telemedical Maritime Assistance Service |
| TOCA | Transfer of Class Agreement (between IACS members) |
| UDE | Union douanière équatoriale |
| UDEAC | Union douanière équatoriale-Cameroun (UDE-Cameroun) |
| UDHR | Universal Declaration of Human Rights,1948 |
| UKMTO | UK Maritime Trade Operations Office |
| UMAC | Central African Monetary Union |
| UNCLOS | United Nations' Convention on the Law of the Sea, 1982 |
| UNCTAD | United Nations Conference on Trade and Development |
| UNSC | United Nation's Security Council |
| USCG | United States Coastguard |
| VHF | Very High Frequency (radio) is the ITU designation[1] for the range of radio frequency electromagnetic waves (radio waves) from 30 to 300 megahertz (MHz). |
| VOC | Verenigde Oost-Indische Fompagnie |
| VOC | Volatile Organic Compound |
| VPD | Vessel protection detachment |
| VRA | Voluntary Reporting Areas: Established by regional reporting centers such as UKMTO, IFC, or the new MDAT-GOG. |
| VSP | Vessel Sanitation Program |
| WHO | World Health Organisation (a UN Agency) |
| WLAN | Wireless Local Area Network |