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Maintenance

Necessary measures to keep the vessel in operating condition. See "Seaman’s Rights and Remedies."

Mandatory Settlement Conference - See "Alternative Dispute Resolution."

Manifest

An itemized list by Bill of Lading number of the kind and quantity of all cargoes loaded aboard a vessel or other conveyance prepared by the transporter.

Marina

A docking facility for private pleasure boats. There may be several hundred berths at one location. The facility often contains a fuel dock, other marine supplies, a parking lot, a ramp or haul out facility for trailered boats, and other commercial facilities.

Marine Extension Clauses (M E C)

A clause in the Cargo Policy extending the Warehouse to Warehouse Clause to provide continuous coverage on the cargo during any deviation, delay, forced discharge, reshipment, transshipment or other interruption in the due course of transit that is beyond the control of the Assured.

Note: this clause

  • only extends the policy during delays;
  • does not add "delay" as an insured peril.

See "Ambit," " Delay Clause" and "Warehouse to Warehouse Clause."

Marine Insurance Act

1906 English law which codified marine insurance case law into a comprehensive code for consistent application. U.S. lacks a counterpart code and depends on case law precedent for its legal decisions.

Marine League - See "Weights and Measures" Appendix E.

Marine Railway

A set of tracks extending from on shore into the water on an incline, used to haul vessel in and out of the water to allow access to their underbodies. A vessel is floated onto a submerged cradle or ways table (similar to a railroad flat-car) which are winched up the tracks into the shipyard. See also "Ways."

Maritime

Matters pertaining to commerce or navigation upon the sea or in seaports. See "Admiralty Court."

Maritime Lien - See "General Average Security" and "Lien."

Marks

  1. Indications on a lead line showing the depth of the water.
  2. Buoys or other navigation aids marking a channel or obstruction.
  3. Letters, numbers or symbols placed on packages for identification.

Marline Spike

A pointed metal spike used by deck crew to separate strands of rope for splicing or untying knots. Something done in a skillful manner is called "marline spike seamanship."

Mast

A vertical spar on a vessel used to carry sails, navigational lights or signals, and rigging for loading and unloading cargo or equipment.

Master

Person who has command of a vessel; the captain.

Master's Protest

  1. Sworn statement of the captain describing any unusual happening during the voyage, and disclaiming vessel responsibility therefor.
  2. Accident report submitted by the captain on a hull claim.

 

Maximum Cure - See "Seaman’s Rights and Remedies."

MEC-See "Marine Extension Clauses."

Mediation - See"Alternative Dispute Resolution."

Metacenter - See "Vessel Stability."

Mini-Trial - See "Alternative Dispute Resolution."

Mooring / Moorage

Where a vessel is secured and held in place by chains, ropes, lines, or two anchors; e.g. to a mooring buoy, wharf or pier. A buoy securely anchored to the bottom by a heavy weight is used for tying up vessels.

Multimodal

The transportation of cargo using two or more modes of transportation. Same as Intermodal. See page 104 for illustration.