Comprehensive Guide to Types of Ships and Their Functions

A Guide to Types of Ship

There are many types of ships. Cargo ships are one of them, and these cargo ships are classified into many different types based on their size, purpose, and type of cargo.

The economic factor is primarily important in designing a merchant ship. Every shipowner wants max return on their investment, which means the construction of the ship depends on the current economy’s necessity and adaptability to the future factor.

Ships Type Depends on the Cargo Carriage

Ships are divided into various types depending on cargo carriage.

Cargo Ships

Container ships
General cargo ships
Bulk carriers
Roll on, Roll off ships

Ships Carrying Liquid

Chemical Tanker
Oil Tanker

Ships for Passenger

Cruise Ships

Ferries Passenger Ship

Offshore Supply Vessel
Fishing Vessels
Yacht
Dredgers
ICE Breaker

In this article, we are discussing ships and their various types and different parts of ships. In this article, you intention obtain all the knowledge connected to ships.

Cargo Ships

Container ships
General cargo ships
Bulk carriers
Roll on, Roll off ships

#1. Container Ship

The shipping lines apply various utilizations, measured to reduce the rip-off and discharge a similar amount of cargo. These cargoes get loaded at the port of load. Examples of unitization are palletization, ro-ro ships, pre-slinging of cargoes, barge-carrying ships, and containerization.
Nowadays most of the goods are transported with the help of containers. These receptacle ships are the essence of intermodal conveyance. The containerization system is used to pack small parcels into large packages for easy handling during transportation.
In recent years, there encloses existed a drastic change in the transport of particular parts of shipment from unrestricted cargo ships to standard containers suitable for road, sea, and rail transport and specially organized for receptacle ships.

1.1. Liner Trade in the Container Ship

The ships used in the sector like linear have changed radically from traditional liner ships of world war two to today’s ships which are highly sophisticated, fully cellular containers.
As the year’s pass, the size also increases. Commonly, this is based on the number of 20 feet receptacles they can maintain. The ships with large containers call only the limited number of loads, and the mother ships are referred to as discharge ports.
The feeder ships are the smaller ships that transship the containers from large ports to the ports that are small in that region.

#2. General Cargo Ships

This form of the ship is the oldest form that used to carry various types of cargo simultaneously, but it is in smaller parcels.
The goods are carried individually; bales, barrels, crates, bundles & packages in the boxes it is unitized or palletized; these are called general cargo.
In non-specialized compartments, such cargoes are carried. Such ships have their arrangement for loading and discharging cargo. The structure of the pallets is like wooden trays supported by the bearers.

#3. Bulk Carrier Ship

These types of Bulk ships are predominantly utilized to enter shipment in bulk excesses. In these ships, the cargo that gets transported is loose cargo without any packaging. It contains items such as food grains, coal and ores, and even cement also. Other forms of cargo which are dry are Tramps and Cargo Liners.
Tramps mean a boat or any ship that engages in the tramp does not have a published port of call or a fixed schedule. Nowadays, there are various types of cargo ships present. Their range ranges from a small 100 meter long to 350,000 tonnes of capacity.
Today’s cruisers are distinguished by single-screw ships with a high block coefficient. Has low water resistance, which increases its performance.

#4. Roll On, Roll Off Ships

The ships like Roll on Roll off use the system of non-container cargo. The cargo unit has wheels and tracks, which means it is to be rolled either by its power or pushed /pulled with the external motive power which is into the ship.
This ship is designed with extensive covered decks with ramps or elevators to stow the cargo units. The ship carries vehicles like trucks, cars, and other vehicles.
These Ro-Ro may be designed specially to carry cars or heavy loads into it and transport the vehicle from one place to another. Some of these Ro-Ro ships are assigned to the military to make them capable of carrying an armored bridge together and supporting the vehicles.
The Ro-Ro ships have a stern or supplementary side ramp for handling the cargo.

Ships Carrying Liquid

Chemical Tanker
Oil Tanker

#1. Chemical Tanker

The operation of chemical tankers is very distinguishable from other liquid cargo transport, where large quantities of cargo with different possessions and characteristics and associated risks are transported at the same time.
The chemical taker, which is less sophisticated, is more complex to operate than the oil tanker.
Chemical tankers are additional dangerous than tankers, so earnings are higher in this type of vessel.
Oil Tanker
On the tankers, various types of liquid cargo get transported. There are basically two distinguishable types of tankers. One of them is an oil truck, which mainly carries the same type of oil.
But some ultra large crude carriers, also called ULCCs, can be up to 500,000 deadweights.
The other types of tankers are product carriers that can carry different types of cargo simultaneously.
These tankers are smaller than crude oil tankers. Most tankers are originated or assembled to accept the departure of the oil from one dockyard to another. Replenishment oilers are present there, which will ferry fuel to vessels at sea to refuel them.
While there is a mother ship that only stays in the deep water and brings bulk oil from the oil wells at a depth of the sea to the outer deep water limits of the ports.
The oil tankers load the oil from the ships and then empty this into the oil refineries on the coast.
When the sea-bound tankers evolve too old or become uneconomical to operate, these tankers are utilized as paddling storehouse departments.

There Are Seven Different Categories of Oil Tankers

#2. Oil Tankers

Single hull
OBO
Double hull
LR1
LR2
VLCC
ULCC

1.1. Single Hull

The construction of the hull indicates that the ship has exclusively one style of skill between the water of the ocean and the laden oil inside the container.
But these types are not in production, and the remaining existing one is banned in most countries.

1.2. OBO

The OBO is also known as the ore-bulk-oil; these ore-bulk-oil carriers have been made up of the idea of bringing something or getting something on the return of their trips so they can make money from both ways.
That’s why on the return trips, the ore of bulk iron is carried in the same compartment where the oil had previously.

1.3. Double Hull

The meaning of the double hull construction is that this type of ship has two hulls, the number one is inside, and the other is like the double skin.
It is a required design that is featured on the oil takers, which are newly built.

1.4. LR1

The LR1 is meant by Large range 1 – these tankers have a DWT of between 45,000 to 80,000 tonnes.

1.5. LR2

The LR2 is meant by Large range 2 – these tankers have a DWT of between 80,000 to 159,999 tonnes.

1.6. VLCC

These VLCCs are very large crude carriers; they carry DWT between 160,000 and 319,99. The carriers of oil of this size or above are known as the super tanks.

1.7. ULCC

This ULCC is known as the Ultra Large Crude Carriers. The deadweight tonnage of these is 320,000 tonnes or above it. Its size of it is like a mammoth; it is a giant.

Ships for Passengers.

The passenger ship is designed to transport individuals from one establishment to another. As per the provision of the (SOLAS) international convention of the “Safety of Life at sea,” if any of the ships have the accommodation of more than 12 people, then the ship is the passenger ship.

The people who remain other than passengers are regarded as the crew.

#1. Cruise Ships

These cruise ships are mainly used for recreational activities, like luxurious hotels with many facilities. These ships also take use for the function of professional people.
It is also classified as cruiser ships, Coastal Ferries, Antarctic Cruises and Harbour Ferries, and Pilgrimage ShipsCross Ferries.

Ferries Passenger Ship

Vessels utilized for spanning passengers for short-distance passages stand anointed ferries. Other Different Types of the Ships

#1. Offshore Supply Vessel

The vessels supplying the food and storage etc., to offshore rigs are also known as the supply vessel.
Because of the rolling and the pitching, life gets difficult in the supply vessel.
It has advantages like getting fresh food and availability of the mobile network etc.

#2. Fishing Vessels

The vessels the fishing can be trawlers or also non-trawlers. The trawler fishing vessel required additional power because it had to pull the nets.
The non-trawler vessels it has many different types of varieties. Many types of factors are taken into consideration.
While fishing, a vessel is like a hold size of the cargo, power of the engine, temperature to freeze it, the temperature of the carriage, and the method to do fishing.

#3. Yacht

There are two types, one is a motor yacht, and the second one is a sailing yacht. Generally, these yachts are used by wealthy business people or rich men for parties and trips or racing.

#4. Dredgers

The user of the dredgers is to remove mud and other sediments from the narrow channel, which makes the passage clear of the deposits of sand which come from the sea towards the port or harbor area.
There are two different types of Dredgers one is Mechanical Dredgers and the second one is Hydraulic Dredgers.
The work of the Dredgers is to remove the mud and the sediments and store them in the hopper, which is a tank used to store the debris and mud.
During dredging, both the water and the mud come to the hopper.
The ground remains in the tank and the water streams from the shelter. All this happens after the precipitation.

#5. ICE Breaker

This icebreaker is the ship that breaks the sheet of ice from the seawater. They operate it in the region of sub-zero, which is near the area of Russia.
The ship’s presuming part is made strong through the ice promenade; because of the significance of the diagonal onward part of the ship, some ice vacations.

Different Parts of the Ship

Monkey island
Bridge
Funnel
Accommodation
Funnel deck
Boat deck

#1. Monkey Island

This is the sorted deck located on the top accessible height of the ship, just above the ship’s bridge.
This part of the ship is also known as the flying bridge. It is an integral part of the ship.

#2. Bridge

This bridge is the commanding station of the whole ship. By its navigation equipment, it controls the ship’s movement.
The bridge controls the ship’s machinery deck, main engine, and navigation system.
The functions performed on the ship’s bridge are it controls the ship’s speed and navigation and also the ship’s position, condition of the sea, weather monitor, and facilitate internal and external communication.

#3. Funnel

The use of the funnel is to discharge the engine and the boiler smoke; the constitutional purpose of the funeral is to lift the exhaust gasses and clear the deck.

#4. Accommodation

The accommodation area is the house or the home for the crew and lives. It has all the facilities, including a gym, salon, hospital, hotel, crew cabin, office, freshwater system, toilet, etc.
It is an important part of the ship, with all the facilities for relaxation, medical facilities, and food courts.

#5. Funnel Deck

The funnel releases the exhaust gasses from the ship’s exhaust room into the atmosphere. Its function is similar to chimneys in factories.
But nowadays, they take extra care while discharging shoots from the funnel to prevent or preserve the earth’s atmosphere from pollution.
These funnels are never installed at a straight angle, but it is inclined at a certain angle.

#6. Boat Deck

The deck floor of the ship covers the hull structure of the ship. There are multiple types of decks or the deck section on the ship.
The deck which is at the top that bears maximum exposure to the weather is the main deck, or it is a weather deck.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about Types of Ships

What are the different types of cargo ships?

Cargo ships include container ships, general cargo ships, bulk carriers, and roll-on, roll-off ships. Container ships specialize in transporting standardized containers, while general cargo ships carry various types of cargo in smaller parcels. Bulk carriers handle loose cargo like grains and ores, and roll-on, roll-off ships transport vehicles.

What are the main types of ships carrying liquid cargo?

Ships carrying liquid cargo include chemical tankers and oil tankers. Chemical tankers transport large quantities of different chemical cargoes, each with specific properties and risks. Oil tankers primarily transport crude oil or refined petroleum products.

What are some common types of passenger ships?

Passenger ships include cruise ships, ferries, and specialized vessels for short-distance travel. Cruise ships are known for their luxury and recreational facilities, while ferries are used for transporting passengers across short distances, often between islands or coastal areas.

What are some specialized types of ships used in specific industries?

Specialized ships include offshore supply vessels, fishing vessels, yachts, dredgers, and icebreakers. Offshore supply vessels support offshore rigs with essential supplies. Fishing vessels vary from trawlers to non-trawlers depending on their fishing methods. Yachts are used for leisure and racing, while dredgers clear sediment from channels, and icebreakers navigate through icy waters.

What are the essential parts of a ship and their functions?

Key parts of a ship include the bridge (navigation control center), accommodation (crew living quarters), funnel (smokestack for exhaust gases), monkey island (observation deck), and various decks (like the boat deck and funnel deck) for operational and living purposes.

How are oil tankers classified based on size and design?

Oil tankers are classified into categories such as VLCC (Very Large Crude Carriers) and ULCC (Ultra Large Crude Carriers), based on their deadweight tonnage (DWT) and capacity to carry crude oil. They may also be single-hull or double-hull designs for safety and environmental protection.

What are some historical and technological developments in container ships?

Container ships have evolved from traditional liner ships to modern, fully cellular vessels capable of transporting large volumes of standardized containers. Advancements include larger ship sizes, improved efficiency in loading/unloading, and global integration through intermodal transport systems.

How do icebreakers operate and where are they commonly used?

Icebreakers are ships designed to navigate through icy waters by breaking apart ice sheets, ensuring safe passage for other vessels. They are essential in regions with sub-zero temperatures, such as Arctic and Antarctic waters, and play a crucial role in maintaining maritime routes during harsh winter conditions.

What are the safety regulations and international conventions governing passenger ships?

Passenger ships must adhere to international safety standards set by conventions like SOLAS (Safety of Life at Sea), ensuring safety for passengers and crew. These regulations cover aspects such as ship construction, safety equipment, emergency procedures, and environmental protection.

How do different types of ships contribute to global trade and transportation?

Ships play a vital role in global trade by transporting goods and commodities across oceans and connecting markets worldwide. Each type of ship, from container ships to oil tankers and passenger vessels, fulfills specific transportation needs, contributing to economic growth and international commerce.