RUNS AGROUND Meaning and
Definition
-
"Runs aground" is a nautical term used to describe the situation where a ship or boat unintentionally runs onto the bottom of a body of water, such as a river, lake, or sea, causing it to become stuck or stranded. This condition occurs when the vessel's keel or hull makes contact with an underwater obstruction, such as a sandbar, rocks, shoals, or a coral reef, preventing the vessel from moving or navigating freely.
When a ship runs aground, it may cause various difficulties and potential dangers, such as loss of control, damage to the hull or equipment, and the risk of capsizing in adverse conditions or during changing tides. Extensive grounding can even lead to the vessel breaking apart and sinking, posing a significant threat to the crew's safety and the environment due to potential fuel or cargo leakage.
To resolve the situation, specialized vessels, such as tugboats or salvage ships, are often called upon to help refloat the grounded vessel by applying various techniques, such as pulling it off the obstruction at high tide or using water cannons to dislodge sand or mud from around the ship. In some cases, unloading cargo or transferring fuel may be necessary to lighten the vessel and increase the chances of refloating it successfully.
Overall, running aground is considered a hazardous and undesirable occurrence in maritime operations, emphasizing the importance of navigational skills, awareness of underwater hazards, and the effective use of navigational aids to ensure the safe passage of ships and boats.
Common Misspellings for RUNS AGROUND
- run ground
- run a ground
- euns aground
- duns aground
- funs aground
- tuns aground
- 5uns aground
- 4uns aground
- ryns aground
- rhns aground
- rjns aground
- rins aground
- r8ns aground
- r7ns aground
- rubs aground
- rums aground
- rujs aground
- ruhs aground
- runa aground
- runz aground
Etymology of RUNS AGROUND
The phrase "runs aground" is a maritime term that originated from the combination of two separate words.
The first part, "runs", comes from the verb "run", which in this context means to sail or move upon the water. It can also refer to the action of a ship traveling from one place to another.
The second part, "aground", is derived from the Old English word "on grunde", which means on the ground. It signifies that a vessel has come into contact with the solid ground beneath the water surface, such as a sandbar, reef, or shallow area.
Therefore, when a ship "runs aground", it means that it has unintentionally driven or sailed onto a shallow portion of the seafloor, causing the vessel to become stranded and stuck.
Infographic
Add the infographic to your website:
