storm oil

English

Noun

storm oil (uncountable)

1. Oil carried by a ship and dispersed into an area of water to calm it (as it absorbs some of the energy of waves, and covers a large area in a slick film upon which wind can get less traction to produce waves).
   • 1914, Leslie's, page 322:

     While bound east, latitude 41 degrees, longitude 56 degrees 54 minutes, during a northerly gale with very high rolling seas, used storm oil through forward waste pipe with good effect.

   • 1956, All Hands, page 15:

     With the appearance of more modern ships, storm oil lost much of its importance, but even today power-driven U. S. merchant ships of more than 200 gross tons are required to carry 30 gallons of it and those of 5000 tons or more ...

   • 2000, Earl R. Hinz, Heavy Weather Tactics Using Sea Anchors & Drogues, Paradise Cay Publications, →ISBN, page 151:

     The diameter at the mouth is 36 inches; the length is approximately 54 inches, with a 1-gallon storm oil container. This would be a very awkward item to stow on board, to say nothing about storing additional storm oil.

Translations

oil

• German: Wellenberuhigungsöl n, Wellenöl n
• Hebrew: שֶׁמֶן סְעָרָה (he) m (shemen se'ara)

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