SHIP TYPES

History of Modern Shipbuilding

The period from 1800 until the 2nd World War saw the rise of

service liners (passenger and cargo vessels). This was the result of

the transport of cargo and passengers between Europe and the

colonies in the East and the West and the increasing number of

immigrants leaving for North America.

Since 1900, the new vessels developed are:

Oil tankers

Chemical tankers

Container ships

Heavy cargo ships

Cattle ships

Reefers

The main developments in shipbuilding throughout the history are:

Wood was replaced by iron and steel

Sailing ships were replaced by steam ships and motor ships

New types of ships like tankers and reefers were developed

A gradual improvement in speed, size and safety

Passenger liners are mostly replaced by aeroplanes because of the

large distances involved.

After 1990 luxury cruises have increased enormously.

Categorizing Ships

The term ship can be used to represent a wide range of vessels

operating on, above or below the surface of the water. Ships are

often categorized into groups based on either usage or means of

support while in operation.

A list of classification by usage might include the following but it

is by no means a complete overview.

Merchant Ships

Naval and Coast Guard Vessels

Recreational and Pleasure Ships

Utility Tugs

Research and Environmental Ships

Ferries

Merchant Ships: These ships are intended to earn a profit in the

distribution of goods (cargo). A cash flow analysis is done of income

versus costs in the calculation of a rate of return on the investment.

Engineering economy studies must include receipts earned, acquisition costs,

operating and maintenance costs, and any salvage value remaining when the

ship is sold in a time value of money study.

Naval and Coast Guard Vessels: Classified as combatants or

auxiliaries. These ships tend to be extremely expensive because

their missions require many performance capabilities such as

speed, endurance, weapons payload, ability to operate and survive

in hostile environments and reliability under combat conditions.

Recreational and Pleasure Ships: Personal pleasure craft such as

motoryachts, sailing ships. Cruise liners are a specialized class of

ships that are run to earn a profit by providing recreational services

to the passengers on board the ship. Comfort and safety are of

utmost importance.

Utility Tugs: Designed for long operation and easy maintenance

approach.

Research and Environmental Ships: Highly specialized equipment

must be kept and often deployed into and out of the water.

Ferries: People and vehicles must be able to be loaded and

unloaded with efficiency and safety in accordance with a strict time

schedule.

Lets try to get into more detailed classification on usage, but it is not

an easy task, some vessels can be placed in more than one category.

1. TRANSPORT OF CARGO AND PASSENGERS

Unit cargo

o Multipurpose vessels

o Container vessels

o Heavy cargo vessels

o Cattle ships

Refrigerated cargo

o LPG/LNG carriers

o Reefers- Conventional refrigerated ships

o Fishing vessels

Bulk cargo

o Crude carriers

o Product tankers

o Chemical tankers

o Bulk carriers

Roll-on/Roll-off

o Ro-Ro freighters

o Car and passsenger ferries

Recreation

o Cruise ships

o Sailing/motor yachts

2. OTHER SHIPS

Fishing vessels

o Trawlers

o Other types

Vessels providing services for shipping industry

o Seagoing tugs

o Harbour tugs

o Icebreakers

o Pilot vessels

o Coast guard vessels

o Research vessels

Salvage

o Tugs

o Shear legs

o Diving vessels

o Barges

Construction

o Dredgers

o Cable layers

Navy

o Aircraft carriers

o Cruisers

o Destroyers

o Frigates

o Submarines

o Mine sweepers

Offshore

o Seismic survey vessels

o Drilling rigs

o Semi-submersible drilling units

o Floating (production) storage and offloading vessels

o Supply vessels

o Construction vessels

Multi-Purpose Ships

Multipurpose means these ships can transport many types of

cargo. These ships use hatch covers to seal the holds which makes

loading and discharching easier. Cargo like wood or containers can

be carried on top of the hatches. Bulwark usually heightened for

containers.

Possible cargo

Containers

General cargo

Dry bulk cargo like grain

Wood

Cars

Characteristics

Deadweight (t)

Hold capacity (m3, ft3 )

No. of containers and their

dimensions

Max. deck load (t/m2 )

Lifting capacity of cargo gear

Coastal trade liner- Coaster

Container Ships

13000

1500 (1966)

(2010)

a) Intercontinental Container Ships

Big container ships can only go to the largest ports because of the

ships size and the transfer capacity of the port.

Large container vessels usually do not have their own loading gear.

After 1991 ships without hatches were built, they are called

cellular ships. These ships are of a revolutionary design,

answering the question "who needs hatch covers?

Advantages of cellular ships:

Efficient cargo handling

Reduced lay time and harbour fees

Guide rails to keep containers in position instead of lashings

No hatch covers to be carried

High freeboard due to the guide rails

Disadvantages of cellular ships:

High freeboard has an adverse effect on the GM measurement of

the vessel and therefore on stability.

The price is high because of the amount of steel used and the

intricate engineering

Container vessels are classified on the basis of the passage that is

just suitable

Panamax ships- width less than 32.25 metres to pass the locks in

the Panama canal.

Post Panamax ships- width exceed 32.5 metres.

Suezmax ships- draught less than 19 metres allow them to pass

the Suez Canal

b) Container Feeders

They are small to medium sized ships starting at 200 TEU that

specializes in transporting cargo from small to large ports. Often

multi-purpose ships are employed as feeders

Heavy Cargo Ships

The Sea Based X-Band Radar is slowly loaded onto the heavy lift vessel MV Blue Marlin as the

ship semi-submerges in the Gulf of Mexico, Nov. 14, 2005

Refrigerated Ships- Reefers

Tankers

LPG

1.

!Slop tank - A tank in a tanker into

which slops are pumped. These

represent a residue of the ship's cargo

of oil together with the water used to

clean the cargo tanks. They are left to

separate out in the slop tank.

2.

!AFRA max: Average Freight Rate Assessment

3.

Chemical tankers 4.

Bulk Carrier

Roll on Roll off

Cruise Ships

Cattle Ships

Yachts

Fishing Vessels

Tugs

Icebreakers

Dredgers

Rainbowing

Cable laying ships

Navy Vessels

USS Roosevelt

USS Philippine Sea

Arleigh Burke Class Destroyer

Russia's Mirazh corvette

Roussen Class FAC -Greece

River Class OPV-UK

Avenger Class, USA

Support Ships