Overview
ISO 3828:2008 - Shipbuilding and marine structures - Deck machinery - Vocabulary and symbols defines the standardized vocabulary and diagrammatic symbols used for ship deck machinery. Published by ISO/TC 8 (Ships and marine technology), this third edition provides English definitions for general and specific terms related to anchoring and mooring, cargo handling, towing, ancillary deck equipment and special deck machinery used on working and oceanographic research ships. The standard standardizes only suitable terms (and avoids perpetuating obsolete terms) and includes diagrammatic symbols to represent combinations and types of deck machinery.
Key topics and requirements
- Scope and intent: Standardizes descriptive terms and symbols for deck machinery to ensure consistent technical communication across design, manufacturing and operation.
- Power source and control symbols: Definitions and schematic symbols for prime movers (electric, hydraulic, pneumatic, steam, internal combustion), and control modes (non-automatic, remote control, automatic).
- Types of machinery and components: Clear definitions for winches, windlasses, capstans, cable lifters, drums (split, unpowered, warping ends), towing and mooring equipment, cargo cranes (derrick, jib, cantilever, telescopic), and special-purpose winches (trawl, hydrographic, umbilical).
- Performance terms: Standardized terms for mechanical performance and testing, including nominal size, drum load, holding load, stalling load, recovery/ mooring/ light-line/ creep speeds, and safe working load.
- Testing vocabulary: Definitions for prototype test, individual test and type test to describe test regimes and reporting.
- Illustrative symbols: Diagrammatic symbols accompanying terms to represent equipment types and combinations in drawings and technical documentation.
Applications and users
ISO 3828:2008 is practical for:
- Shipbuilders and naval architects - for consistent drawings and specifications of deck machinery.
- Marine equipment manufacturers - to label product documentation, performance data and symbols.
- Classification societies and regulators - for harmonized terminology in surveys and certification.
- Ship operators and crew training - to standardize operational manuals and safety procedures.
- Procurement and technical authors - for unambiguous contract and instruction documents.
Typical uses include design documentation, equipment specifications, installation manuals, testing reports and crew training materials where precise, internationally accepted terms and symbols reduce miscommunication and improve safety.
Related standards
ISO 3828:2008 was prepared by ISO/TC 8 (Ships and marine technology). Users may also consult other ISO and IEC standards covering ship systems, marine terminology and electrotechnical interfaces to ensure full compliance and interoperability when specifying deck machinery.
