Glossary Papakupu

Explanations of abbreviations and acronyms.
All ' 1 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

    W

    Wagon
    A wagon is a rail vehicle that moves freight on the rail network.
    Warning devices
    Devices that control vehicular and/or pedestrian traffic at level crossings using flashing lights, bells, barrier arms, gates or a combination of these devices.
    Warp
    A synthetic rope used to haul in a trawl fishing net.
    Warping drum
    Devices that provide power to haul on a rope or cable.
    Washout
    A situation where the formation under a rail track has been removed by water, resulting in the remaining track being unsupported and unsafe for rail traffic.
    Watchkeeping alarm
    An automated alarm designed to monitor the alertness of watchkeepers, while the ship is underway.
    Water ingress
    When water makes its way into the boat through a leak or crack
    Watertight
    Capable of preventing the passage of water in any direction under the head of water likely to occur.
    Watertight integrity
    A portion of a vessel, normally below the main working deck, is sealed off to provide buoyancy. If a vessel has watertight integrity it means these spaces have not been breached
    Wav
    Wav stands for waveform audio file, which is an audio file format standard for storing an audio bitstream on personal computers
    Wave height
    The vertical distance from the trough of a wave to the following wave crest
    Wave period
    The time it takes two successive wave crests to pass a specified point.
    Wave spotter buoy
    A drifting waverider buoy.
    Wave trains
    A group of progressing waves of about the same wavelength moving in the same direction at about the same speed.
    Wavelength
    The distance from the trough in front of the wave and the trough behind the wave.
    Waverider buoy
    A buoy fitted with instruments that precisely measure directional waves for direction, heights, periods and energy data.
    Waypoint
    A specified point on a chart for a planned passage
    Weather minima
    The specified limits in visibility and cloud base used to assess against forecasted visibility and cloud base.
    Weather Risk Matrix
    In the Weather Risk Matrix, the four colour codes are Green – no impact, Yellow – minimal impact, Amber – high to very high impact, and Red – widespread impacts across the network.
    WECS
    Wärtsilä engine control system
    Well-decked vessel
    The vessel’s deck is exposed to weather and sea, watertight against a head of 1.2 metres of sea water, and fitted with solid sides that would impede the drainage of water over the side.
    Wet winching
    Retrieval of people from water.
    WETA system
    Work Entry Train Alert system
    WF
    Wanaka
    WH
    Wellington Hospital
    Wharf
    Quayside structure where ships may load or unload
    Wheel climb
    The action of a rail wheel being driven up the running face of a rail, resulting in a derailment.
    Wheelhouse
    Enclosed area on a ship from which it is steered
    Wheelset
    Two rail wheels mounted on a joining axle.
    Wiggle wire
    A wiggle wire is a continuous wire rope used to tighten the log cargo by passing the wire from side to side over a log deck cargo and through a series of blocks held in place by foot wires.
    WIL
    Wallace Investments Limited
    Winch
    A mechanical device used to pull in or let out or otherwise adjust the tension of a rope or wire
    Winch drum
    The winch drum is made up of the storage drum and the tension drum
    Wind backs
    When wind backs, the direction moves anti-clockwise. It veers when moving clockwise.
    Wind shadow
    A space downwind of an obstacle where the wind flow is affected by the obstacle.
    Winding points
    Sometimes referred to as ‘hand winding points’; refers to manually operating a set of points by utilising a hand crank or lever to set the route
    Windlasses
    A horizontally mounted mechanical device used for handling heavy anchor chains, often also equipped to work as a winch.
    Windward side
    The side from which the wind is blowing
    Wire eye
    A loop of rope or wire, usually spliced or clamped with a ferrule.
    Wire rope terminations
    The end or ends of a wire rope made by forming an eye through splicing or using engineered fittings
    Witness mark
    A physical mark made when a wheel flange climbs up and across a railhead (the bulbous upper part of a rail section).
    Witness marks
    Physical marks such as those made on a rail by a derailed wheel.
    WN
    Wellington Airport
    Work train
    A non-revenue train delivering equipment or materials to or collecting them from a worksite.
    Workside boards
    A set of boards that indicates the start and finish points of an individual worksite in a PWA.A place where people and equipment cannot be struck by passing rail traffic.
    Worksite
    An area with defined limits that is protected so that work can be undertaken.
    WP
    Whenuapai Airport Auckland
    WU
    Whanganui