Decline
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A companionway on a ship is a steep, narrow staircase or fixed ladder that connects one deck with another.
Companionways are usually equipped with handrails (for example round profiles) on both sides to ensure safe use even in rough seas. In order to avoid collisions with other people or similar accidents, a companionway, even if it is arranged vertically, is always descended as if on a staircase forwards (i.e. not backwards on a ladder), with the back to the rungs, whereby one slide along the handrails with both hands. For the same reason, the German Navy announces the use of a companionway with the shout “up!” Or “down!”.
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Wiktionary: decline - explanations of meanings, word origins, synonyms, translations
