Definition

Noun: * A portable ladder, typically made of rope or metal with wooden or metal rungs, designed to be lowered over the side of a ship or boat to allow people to climb aboard from the water or from a smaller vessel.

Usage

• The term is specifically used in a nautical (sailing/shipping) context.
• It refers to the physical object (the ladder) and the action of deploying it (lowering the sea ladder).
• It is often stored on deck and secured to the ship's railings or bulwarks when in use.

Examples

• After the swim, the crew lowered the sea ladder so we could climb back onto the yacht.
• The rescue boat pulled alongside, and the survivors used the sea ladder to board the larger ship.
• For safety, always check that the sea ladder is securely fastened before using it.

Advanced Usage

• The term can be part of operational commands or procedures, e.g., "Prepare the sea ladder for boarding."
• It is a standard piece of safety equipment on many vessels.

Variants and Related Words

• Boarding ladder: A very close synonym, often used interchangeably with "sea ladder."
• Jacob's ladder: A specific type of rope ladder with wooden rungs used on ships, which can serve as a sea ladder.
• Gangway: A more substantial, often fixed, walkway for boarding a ship, typically used when docked.

Synonyms

• Boarding ladder
• Ship's ladder
• Accommodation ladder (though this often refers to a more substantial, sometimes fixed, set of steps)

Antonyms / Contrasting Terms

• Gangplank: A rigid walkway, usually used in port.
• Embarkation deck: The area where one boards, not the means of climbing.

Related Phrases

• To lower the sea ladder: The action of deploying it.
• To climb the sea ladder: The action of using it.

Noun

1. (nautical) ladder to be lowered over a ship's side for coming aboard