17 - Ship types

Abstract

This chapter discusses the characteristics of different ship types designed to meet the specific needs of an owner. The development of merchant ship types is dictated largely by the nature of the cargo and the trade routes. They can be classified accordingly with the major types: general cargo ships, container ships, tankers, dry bulk carriers, passenger ships, and tugs. The general cargo carrier is a flexible design of vessel, which can go anywhere and carry a wide variety of cargo. Such vessels have several large clear open cargo-carrying spaces or holds. The container ships are a good example of an integrated approach to the problem of transporting goods. Tankers are designed for wheeled cargo, often in the form of trailers. For heavy cargo, bulk carriers are used. Most bulk carriers are single deck ships, longitudinally framed with a double bottom, with the cargo-carrying section of the ship divided into holds or tanks. Passenger ships carry people and fall under two categories, the cruise ship and the ferry. Finally, Tugs perform a variety of tasks and their design varies accordingly. They move dumb barges, help large ships manoeuvre in confined waters, tow vessels on ocean voyages and are used in salvage and firefighting operations.