A container ship

Ship transport is primarily used for the carriage of people and non-perishable goods, generally referred to as cargo. Cargo (or freight) refers to goods or produce transported generally for Commercial gain by ship, aircraft, train,

Although the historic importance of sea travel for passengers has decreased, due to the rise of commercial aviation, it is still very effective for short trips and pleasure cruises. See also Merchant ship A ferry is a form of transport usually a Boat or Ship, used to carry (or ferry) passengers and A cruise ship or cruise liner is a Passenger ship used for pleasure voyages where the voyage itself and the ship's amenities are part of the experience Sea transport remains the largest carrier of freight in the world.

While slower than air transport, modern sea transport is a highly effective method of moving large quantities of non-perishable goods. More than 6 billion tons of cargo were delivered by sea in 2005. Transport by water is significantly less costly than transport by air for trans-continental shipping. Aviation refers to activities involving man-made flying devices ( Aircraft) including the people organizations and regulatory bodies involved with them Shipping is physical process of Transporting goods and Cargo.

Ship transport is often international by nature, but it can be accomplished by barge, boat, ship or sailboat over a sea, ocean, lake, canal or river. BARGE, the Big August RecGambling Excursion is a yearly convention held in Las Vegas during the first weekend of August A boat is a Watercraft of modest size designed to float or plane on water and provide transport over it A ship /ʃɪp/ is a large vessel that floats on water Ships are generally distinguished from Boats based on size In some cases less is more The purpose of this article is to give an overview This article is about the body of water For other uses see SEA and Seas. An ocean (from Greek, ''Okeanos'' (Oceanus) is a major body of saline water, and a principal component of the Hydrosphere. A lake (from Latin lacus) is a Terrain feature (or Physical feature) a body of Liquid on the surface of a world that is localized to the Canals are artificial channels for water There are two types of canals water conveyance canals which are used for the conveyance and delivery of water and Waterways "Riverine" redirects here For the use of that term in Maritime geography, see there This is frequently undertaken for purposes of commerce, recreation or military objectives. Commerce is a division of trade or production which deals with the exchange of goods and services from producer to final consumer Recreation or fun is the expenditure of time in a manner designed for therapeutic refreshment of one's Body or Mind. A military is an Organization authorized by its Nation to use force usually including use of Weapons in defending its Country (or by attacking When a cargo is carried by more than one mode, the transport is termed intermodal or co-modal. The co-modality is a notion introduced by the European commission in 2006 in the field of the Transport policy to define an approach of the globality

Ships have long been used for warfare, with applications from naval supremacy to piracy, invasions and bombardment. Naval warfare is Combat in and on Seas Oceans or any other major bodies of water such as large Lakes and wide Rivers History A naval force has command of the sea when it is so strong that its rivals cannot attack it directly Piracy is Robbery committed at sea or sometimes on shore without a commission from a sovereign Nation (as distinct from Privateering An invasion is a military offensive consisting of all or large parts of the Armed forces of one geopolitical entity aggressively entering territory A bombardment is an attack by Artillery fire directed against Fortifications, troops or towns and buildings Aircraft carriers can be used as bases of a wide variety of military operations. An aircraft carrier is a Warship designed with

Ship transport is used for a variety of unpackaged raw materials ranging from chemicals, petroleum products, and bulk cargo such as coal, iron ore, cereals, bauxite, and so forth. See also Merchant ship A chemical tanker is a type of tanker designed to transport Chemicals in bulk History The technology of oil transportation has evolved alongside the oil industry Definition There are various ways to define the term bulk carrier Iron ores are rocks and Minerals from which Metallic Iron can be economically extracted Bauxite is the most important Aluminium Ore. It consists largely of the minerals Gibbsite Al(OH3 Boehmite γ-AlO(OH and So called "general cargo" covers goods that are packaged to some extent in boxes, cases, pallets, barrels, and so forth. Since the 1960s containerization has revolutionized ship transport. Containerization (or containerisation) is a system of Intermodal freight transport Cargo Transport using standard ISO containers

Merchant shipping

2005 registration of merchant ships (1,000 gross register tons (GRT) and over) per country. Gross Register Tonnage (abbreviated variously as GRT, grt, gr ^[1]

A nation's merchant fleet comprises the ships that are used to transport cargo during times of peace and war. A country's merchant marine or Merchant Navy is the combination of the fleet with the people who man it. The British Merchant Navy, known simply as the Merchant Navy is the maritime register of the United Kingdom, and describes the seagoing commercial interests There are a number of terms applied to the people who operate the ships, from merchant sailor to merchant mariner, to simply sailor or mariner.

According to the 2005 CIA World Factbook, the world total number of merchant ships of 1,000 Gross Register Tons or over was 30,936. The World Factbook ( ISSN; also known as the CIA World Factbook) is an annual publication of the Central Intelligence Agency of the Gross Register Tonnage (abbreviated variously as GRT, grt, gr Statistics for individual countries are available at the List of merchant marine capacity by country. Countries Number of major vessels 25 registered 24 owned Total tonnage ( Vessel types 24 cargo 1 roll on/roll off

Professional mariners

For more details on this topic, see Seafarer's professions and ranks. See also Ship transport Seafarers hold a variety of professions and ranks, and each of these roles carries unique responsibilities which are integral to the

Seafarers hold a variety of professions and ranks, each of which carry unique responsibilities which are integral to the successful operation of a seafaring vessel. A ship's complement can generally be divided into four main categories: the deck department, the engineering department, the steward's department, and other.

Deck department

For more details on this topic, see Deck department. The Deck Department is an organizational unit aboard naval and merchant ships

An able seaman stands iceberg lookout on the bow of the freighter USNS Southern Cross during a re-supply mission to McMurdo Station, Antarctica; circa 1981. McMurdo Station is an American Antarctic research center located on the southern tip of Ross Island on the shore of McMurdo Sound, 2200

Officer positions in the deck department include but not limited to: Master and his Chief, Second, and Third officers. The Deck Department is an organizational unit aboard naval and merchant ships Captain is the traditional customary title given to the person in charge in command of a Ship at sea See also Seafarer's professions and ranks A Chief Mate (C/M or Chief Officer, usually also synonymous (except on Passenger liners which See also Seafarer's professions and ranks A Second Mate (2/M or Second Officer is a licensed member of the Deck department See also Seafarer's professions and ranks A Third Mate (3/M or Third Officer is a licensed member of the Deck department of The official classifications for unlicensed members of the deck department are Able Seaman and Ordinary Seaman. See also Seafarer's professions and ranks An Able Seaman (AB is an unlicensed member of the Deck department of a Merchant ship. See also Seafarer's professions and ranks An Ordinary Seaman (OS is an unlicensed member of the Deck department of a Merchant ship.

A common deck crew for a ship includes:

• (1) Chief Officer/Chief Mate
• (1) Second Officer /Second Mate
• (1) Third Officer / Third Mate
• (1) Boatswain
• (2-6) Able Seamen
• (0-2) Ordinary Seamen

A deck cadet is person who is carrying out mandatory seatime to achieve his/her officer of the watch certificate. See also Seafarer's professions and ranks A Chief Mate (C/M or Chief Officer, usually also synonymous (except on Passenger liners which See also Seafarer's professions and ranks A Second Mate (2/M or Second Officer is a licensed member of the Deck department See also Seafarer's professions and ranks A Third Mate (3/M or Third Officer is a licensed member of the Deck department of A boatswain or bosun /ˈbosn̩/ is an unlicensed member of the Deck department of a Merchant ship. See also Seafarer's professions and ranks An Able Seaman (AB is an unlicensed member of the Deck department of a Merchant ship. See also Seafarer's professions and ranks An Ordinary Seaman (OS is an unlicensed member of the Deck department of a Merchant ship. Their time onboard is spent learning the operations and tasks of everyday life on a merchant vessel.

Engineering department

For more details on this topic, see Engineering department. Marine Engineers are the members of a ship's crew that operate and maintain the propulsion and other systems on board the vessel

A ship's engineering department consists of the members of a ship's crew that operate and maintain the propulsion and other systems on board the vessel. Marine Engineering staff also deal with the "Hotel" facilities on board, notably the sewage, lighting, air conditioning and water systems. Sewage is the mainly liquid Waste containing some solids produced by humans which typically consists of washing water Feces, Urine, laundry waste and other The term air conditioning refers to the cooling and dehumidification of indoor air for Thermal comfort. They deal with bulk fuel transfers, and require training in firefighting and first aid, as well as in dealing with the ship's boats and other nautical tasks- especially with cargo loading/discharging gear and safety systems, though the specific cargo discharge function remains the responsibility of deck officers and deck workers. Distinguish from a Firefight, which means a battle with firearms On LPG and LNG tankers however, a cargo engineer works with the deck department during cargo operations, as well as being a watchkeeping engineer. Not to be confused with Natural Gas Liquids (NGL Liquefied natural gas or LNG is Natural gas (primarily Methane, CH4

A common Engineering crew for a ship includes:

• (1) Chief Engineer
• (1) Second Engineer / First Assistant Engineer
• (1) Third Engineer / Second Assistant Engineer
• (1-2) Fourth Engineer / Third Assistant Engineer
• (0-2) Fifth Engineer / Junior Engineer
• (1-3) Oiler (unlicensed qualified rating)
• (0-3) Greaser/s (unlicensed qualified rating)
• (1-5) Entry-level rating (such as Wiper (occupation), Utilityman, etc)

Many American ships also carry a Qualified Member of the Engine Department. See also Seafarer's professions and ranks A Chief Engineer is a Licensed mariner in charge of the Engineering department on a Merchant vessel See also Seafarer's professions and ranks A First Assistant Engineer (also called the Second Engineer in some countries is a licensed member of See also Seafarer's professions and ranks A Second Assistant Engineer or Third Engineer is a licensed member of the Engineering department See also Seafarer's professions and ranks The Third Assistant Engineer, also known as the Fourth Engineer, is a licensed member of the Engineering See also Seafarer's professions and ranks An oiler is an unlicensed member of the Engineering department of a Merchant ship. See also Seafarer's professions and ranks A wiper is the most junior crewmember in the Engine room of a Ship. See also Seafarer's professions and ranks A Qualified Member of the Engineering Department also known as an Unlicensed Junior Engineer or QMED is Other possible positions include Motorman, Machinist, Electrician, Refrigeration Engineer, and Tankerman. A machinist is a person who uses Machine tools to make or modify parts primarily Metal parts a process known as Machining. An electrician is a Tradesman specializing in electrical wiring of buildings and related equipment Engine Cadets are trainee engineers who are completing sea time necessary before they can obtain a watchkeeping license.

Steward's department

For more details on this topic, see Steward's department. See also Ship transport Seafarers hold a variety of professions and ranks, and each of these roles carries unique responsibilities which are integral to the

A typical Steward's department for a cargo ship would be composed of a Chief Steward, a Chief Cook, and a Steward's Assistant. See also Ship transport Seafarers hold a variety of professions and ranks, and each of these roles carries unique responsibilities which are integral to the See also Seafarer's professions and ranks A Chief Steward is the senior unlicensed crew member working in the Steward's Department of a ship See also Seafarer's professions and ranks A Chief Cook (often shortened to Cook is a senior unlicensed crewmember working in the Steward's department of a See also Seafarer's professions and ranks A Steward's Assistant ( SA) is an unlicensed entry-level crewmember in the Steward's Department All three positions are typically filled by unlicensed personnel.

The chief steward directs, instructs, and assigns personnel performing such functions as preparing and serving meals; cleaning and maintaining officers' quarters and steward department areas; and receiving, issuing, and inventorying stores.

On large passenger vessels, the Catering Department is headed by the Chief Purser and managed by assistant pursers. A ship's purser (also purser or pusser) is the person on a Ship responsible for the handling of Money on board Although they enjoy the benefits of having officer rank, they generally progress through the ranks to become pursers. Under the pursers are the department heads - such as chief cook, head waiter, head barman etc. They are responsible for the administration of their own areas.

The chief steward also plans menus; compiles supply, overtime, and cost control records. May requisition or purchase stores and equipment. May bake bread, rolls, cakes, pies, and pastries.

A chief steward's duties may overlap with those of the Steward's Assistant, the Chief Cook, and other Steward's Department crewmembers. See also Seafarer's professions and ranks A Steward's Assistant ( SA) is an unlicensed entry-level crewmember in the Steward's Department See also Seafarer's professions and ranks A Chief Cook (often shortened to Cook is a senior unlicensed crewmember working in the Steward's department of a

In the United States Merchant Marine, in order to be occupied as a chief steward a person has to have a Merchant Mariner's Document issued by the United States Coast Guard. Overview The merchant marine is a civilian auxiliary of the U Countries with a Merchant Navy or Merchant Marine require identifying credentials for their mariners Because of international conventions and agreements, all chief cooks who sail internationally are similarly documented by their respective countries.

Other Departments

For more details on this topic, see Seafarer's professions and ranks#Other. See also Ship transport Seafarers hold a variety of professions and ranks, and each of these roles carries unique responsibilities which are integral to the

Various types of staff officer positions may exist on board a ship, including Junior Assistant Purser, Senior Assistant Purser, Purser, Chief Purser, Medical Doctor, Professional Nurse, Marine Physician Assistant, and Hospital Corpsman, are considered administrative positions and are therefore regulated by Certificates of Registry issued by the United States Coast Guard. A ship's purser (also purser or pusser) is the person on a Ship responsible for the handling of Money on board Doctor of Medicine ( MD or MD, from the Latin Medicinæ Doctor meaning "Teacher of Medicine" is a doctoral A nurse is responsible—along with other Health care Professionals —for the treatment safety and recovery of acutely or chronically Hospital Corpsman (HM is a rating in the United States Navy and a member of the Navy's Hospital Corps Pilots are also merchant marine officers and are licensed by the Coast Guard. A pilot is a Mariner who guides Ships through dangerous or congested waters such as Harbours or River mouths Legally the master remains Formerly, there was also a radio department, headed by a chief radio officer and supported by a number of radio officers. Since the introduction of GMDSS (Satellite communications) and the subsequent exemptions from carrying radio officers if the vessel is so equipped, this department has fallen away, although many ships do still carry specialist radio officers, particularly passenger vessels. Many radio officers became 'electro-technical officers', and transferred into the engineering department.

Life at sea

The tanker SS Overseas Alice takes seas over the bow during a 1981 run from New Orleans to Panama.

Mariners live on the margins of society, with much of their life spent beyond the reach of land. They face cramped, stark, noisy, and sometimes dangerous conditions at sea. Yet men and women still go to sea. For some, the attraction is a life unencumbered with the restraints of life ashore. Sea-going adventure and a chance to see the world also appeal to many seafarers. Whatever the calling, those who live and work at sea invariably confront social isolation.

Findings by the Seafarer's International Research Center indicate a leading cause of mariners leaving the industry is "almost invariably because they want to be with their families. " U. S. merchant ships typically do not allow family members to accompany seafarers on voyages. Industry experts increasingly recognize isolation, stress, and fatigue as occupational hazards. Advocacy groups such as International Labor Organization, a United Nations agency, and the Nautical Institute are seeking improved international standards for mariners.

Ocean voyages are steeped in routine. Maritime tradition dictates that each day be divided into six four-hour periods. Three groups of watchkeepers from the engine and deck departments work four hours on then have eight hours off watchkeeping. However there are many overtime jobs to be done daily. This cycle repeats endlessly, 24 hours a day while the ship is at sea. Members of the steward department typically are day workers who put in at least eight-hour shifts. Operations at sea, including repairs, safeguarding against piracy, securing cargo, underway replenishment, and other duties provide opportunities for overtime work. Piracy is Robbery committed at sea or sometimes on shore without a commission from a sovereign Nation (as distinct from Privateering refueling USS Badger (DE-1071 April 1975]] Underway replenishment (UNREP (US Navy or replenishment at sea (RAS (Royal Navy is a method of transferring fuel munitions One’s service aboard ships typically extends for months at a time, followed by protracted shore leave. However, some seamen secure jobs on ships they like and stay aboard for years.

In rare cases, veteran mariners choose never to go ashore when in port. Further, the often quick turnaround of many modern ships, spending only a matter of hours in port, limits a seafarer's free-time ashore. Moreover, some foreign seamen entering U. S. ports from a watchlist of 25 high-risk countries face restrictions on shore leave due to security concerns in a post 9/11 environment. However, shore leave restrictions while in U. S. ports impact American seamen as well. For example, the International Organization of Masters, Mates & Pilots notes a trend of U. Template talkInfobox Union for usage -->The International Organization of Masters Mates & Pilots or MM&P is a S. shipping terminal operators restricting seamen from traveling from the ship to the terminal gate. Further, in cases where transit is allowed, special "security fees" are at times assessed.

Such restrictions on shore leave coupled with reduced time in port by many ships translate into longer periods at sea. Mariners report that extended periods at sea living and working with shipmates who for the most part are strangers takes getting used to. At the same time, there is an opportunity to meet people from a wide range of ethnic and cultural backgrounds. Recreational opportunities have improved aboard some U. S. ships, which may feature gyms and day rooms for watching movies, swapping sea stories, and other activities. And in some cases, especially tankers, it is made possible for a mariner to be accompanied by members of his family. However, a mariner’s off duty time is largely a solitary affair, pursuing hobbies, reading, writing letters, and sleeping.

On modern ocean going vessels, typically registered with a flag of convenience, life has changed immensely in the last 20 years. A flag of convenience (FOC vessel or ship is one where the nationality of the owner is different from the country of registration Most large vessels include a gym and often a swimming pool for use by the crew. Since the Exxon Valdez Incident, the focus of leisure time activity has shifted from having Officer and Crew bars, to simply having lounge-style areas where officers or crew can sit to watch movies. With many companies now providing TVs and DVD players in cabins, and enforcing strict smoking policies, it is not surprising that the bar is now a much quieter place on most ships. In some instances games consoles are provided for the officers and crew. The officers enjoy a much higher standard of living on board ocean going vessels. Crews are generally poorly paid, poorly qualified and have to complete contracts of approx 9 months before returning home on leave. They often come from countries where the average industrial wage is still very low, such as the Philippines or India. The Philippines ( Filipino: Pilipinas, officially known as the Republic of the Philippines (fil ''Republika ng Pilipinas'' RP India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country Officers however, come from all over the world and it is not uncommon to mix the nationality of the officers on board ships. Officers are often the recipients of university degrees and have completed vast amounts of training in order to reach their rank. Officers benefit on board by having larger, more comfortable cabins, table service for their meals, etc. Contracts average at the 4 month mark for officers, with generous leave. Most Ocean going vessels now operate an Unmanned Engineroom System allowing engineers to work days only. The engine room is computer controlled by night, although the duty engineer will make inspections during unmanned operation. Engineers work in a hot, humid, noisy atmosphere. Communication in the engineroom is therefore by hand signals and lip-reading, and good teamwork often stands in place of any communication at all.

Merchant Navy/Merchant Marine

Many countries have their own merchant fleets.

Greek Merchant Navy

For more details on this topic, see Greek shipping. Shipping is arguably the oldest form of occupation of the Greeks

According to the BTS and the World Factbook, the Greek maritime fleet is today the largest in the world, with 3,099 vessels of 1000 Tonnes or more (December 13, 2007) accounting for 18% of the world's fleet capacity. About half of the vessels fly the Greek flag and the remainder mainly flags of convenience. The Flag of Greece ( Σημαία της Ελλάδος, popularly referred to as the Γαλανόλευκη or the Κυανόλευκη A flag of convenience (FOC vessel or ship is one where the nationality of the owner is different from the country of registration Greek vessels consist about half of total EU tonnage and created 7. The European Union ( EU) is a political and economic union of twenty-seven member states, located primarily in 6% of Greece's GDP in 2007 (about 17 billion euros) [1]. Greece (Ελλάδα transliterated: Elláda, historically, Ellás,) officially the Hellenic Republic (Ελληνική Δημοκρατία Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Thus Greece is the largest shipping-nation in the world with a total of 141,931,000 metric tons of deadweight (DWT). Deadweight tonnage (also known as deadweight and variously abbreviated as DWT, D [30] In terms of ship categories, Greece ranks first in both tankers and dry bulk carriers, fourth in the number of containers, and fourth in other ships. In the 1970's Greece was even bigger with circa 5000 ships.

British Merchant Navy

For more details on this topic, see British Merchant Navy. The British Merchant Navy, known simply as the Merchant Navy is the maritime register of the United Kingdom, and describes the seagoing commercial interests

The British Red Ensign.

The British Merchant Navy or simply Merchant Navy comprises the British merchant ships that transport cargo and people during time of peace and war.

For long periods of the last millennium, the Merchant Navy had the largest merchant fleet in the world, but it has slipped down the rankings. Today, there are 429 ships of 1,000 GRT or over, making a total of 9,181,284 GRT (9,566,275 DWT). These are split into the following types: bulk carrier 18, cargo 55, chemical tanker 48, container 134, liquefied gas 11, passenger 12, passenger/cargo 64, petroleum tanker 40, refrigerated cargo 19, roll on/roll off 25, vehicle carrier 3. There are also 446 ships registered in other countries, and 202 foreign-owned ships registered in the UK. (2005 CIA estimate)

Canadian Merchant Navy

For more details on this topic, see Canadian Merchant Navy. Fleet World War II Canadian-Registered Beacon Hill Elk Island Park Erik Boye (HX-48 Magog (HX-52

Canada, like several other Commonwealth nations created its own Merchant Navy in a large-scale effort in World War Two. Country to "Dominion of Canada" or "Canadian Federation" or anything else please read the Talk Page The Canadian Merchant Navy played a major role in the Battle of the Atlantic bolstering the Allies' merchant fleet due to high losses in the British Merchant Navy. Eventually thousands of Canadians served in the Merchant Navy aboard hundreds of Canadian merchant ships, notably the "Park Ships", the Canadian equivalent of the American "Liberty Ship". History and service In 1936 the American Merchant Marine Act was passed to subsidize the annual construction of 50 commercial merchant vessels to be used in wartime by A school at St. Margarets Bay, Nova Scotia trained Canadian merchant mariners. "Manning Pools", Merchant Navy barracks were built in Canadian ports. Considered a fourth branch of the Canadian military, after the Canadian Army, Royal Canadian Navy, and Royal Canadian Air Force, the Canadian Merchant Navy suffered a higher casualty rate of the four services. Sadly, after the war, Canadian Merchant Navy veterans were denied veterans benefits and official recognition for decades. This injustice was not corrected until the 1990s and many individual cases remain unresolved.

Swiss Merchant Marine

For more details on this topic, see Merchant Marine of Switzerland. Somewhat unusual for a Landlocked country Switzerland has a long tradition of civilian navigation both on its lakes and rivers and on the high seas

Switzerland has a civilian high seas fleet of merchant vessels, whose home port is Basel, in Switzerland. "Basilia" redirects here For the Fly Genus, see Basilia (fly. Switzerland (English pronunciation; Schweiz Swiss German: Schwyz or Schwiiz Suisse Svizzera Svizra officially the Swiss Confederation The first ships were purchased and operated by the government in order to ensure the supply of critical resources during World War II. The Swiss Federal Council (Schweizerischer Bundesrat Conseil fédéral suisse Consiglio federale svizzero Cussegl federal World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including After the war, a privately owned merchant fleet emerged, spurred in part by government subsidies that paid for the fleet's operation up until 1953.

As of 2006, 26 ships (mostly container carriers) totalling 479,624 tons, operated by five shipping companies, fly the Swiss flag. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Containerization (or containerisation) is a system of Intermodal freight transport Cargo Transport using standard ISO containers Tonnage is a measure of the size or Cargo capacity of a Ship. The Flag of Switzerland consists of a red square with a bold equilateral white cross in the center

United States Merchant Marine

Seal of the US Merchant Marine

For more details on this topic, see United States Merchant Marine. Overview The merchant marine is a civilian auxiliary of the U

The United States Merchant Marine is made up of the nation's civilian-owned merchant ships and the men and women that crew them. The merchant marine transports cargo and passengers during peace time. In time of war, the merchant marine^[2] is an auxiliary to the Navy, and can be called upon to deliver troops and supplies for the military.

The people of the merchant marine are called merchant mariners, and are civilian except in times of war, when, in accordance with the Merchant Marine Act of 1936 they are considered military personnel. The Merchant Marine Act of 1936 is a United States federal law.

As of 2006, the United States merchant fleet numbered 465 ships^[3] and approximately 69,000 people. Seven hundred ships owned by American interests but registered, or flagged, in other countries are not included in this number.

Ships and watercraft

Further information: Ship and Merchant ship

Ships and other watercraft are used for ship transport. A ship /ʃɪp/ is a large vessel that floats on water Ships are generally distinguished from Boats based on size A merchant vessel is a Ship that transports Cargo and Passengers during peace time A ship /ʃɪp/ is a large vessel that floats on water Ships are generally distinguished from Boats based on size A watercraft is a Vehicle, vessel or craft designed to move across (or through Water, including saltwater and freshwater for pleasure recreation physical Various types can be distinguished by propulsion, size or cargo type. Marine propulsion is the act of moving a floating object over or through water Recreational or educational craft still use wind power, while some smaller craft use internal combustion engines to drive one or more propellers, or in the case of jet boats, an inboard water jet. Recreation or fun is the expenditure of time in a manner designed for therapeutic refreshment of one's Body or Mind. Education encompasses both the Teaching and Learning of Knowledge, proper conduct, and technical competency The internal combustion engine is an engine in which the Combustion of Fuel and an Oxidizer (typically air occurs in a confined space called a A propeller is essentially a type of fan which transmits power by converting Rotational motion into Thrust for propulsion of a vehicle such as an In shallow draft areas, such as the Everglades, some craft, such as the hovercraft, are propelled by large pusher-prop fans. Everglades is also the name of a city in Collier County Florida A hovercraft, or air-cushion vehicle (ACV is an Amphibious vehicle or craft, designed to travel over any sufficiently smooth surface supported by

Most modern merchant ships can be placed in one of a few categories, such as:

	Bulk carriers are cargo ships used to transport bulk cargo items such as ore or food staples (rice, grain, etc. Definition There are various ways to define the term bulk carrier A cargo ship or freighter is any sort of Ship or vessel that carries Cargo, goods and materials from one port to another Bulk cargo is Commodity Cargo that is transported unpackaged in large quantities An ore is a volume of rock containing components or Minerals in a mode of occurrence that renders it valuable for mining ) and similar cargo. It can be recognized by the large box-like hatches on its deck, designed to slide outboard for loading. A bulk carrier could be either dry or wet. Most lakes are too small to accommodate bulk ships, but a large fleet of lake freighters has been plying the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway of North America for over a century. Lake freighters, or Lakers, are Cargo vessels that ply the Great Lakes. The Laurentian Great Lakes are a chain of freshwater lakes located in eastern North America, on the Canada–United States border. The St Lawrence Seaway is the common name for a system of Canals that permits ocean-going vessels to travel from the Atlantic Ocean to the Great Lakes
	Container ships are cargo ships that carry their entire load in truck-size containers, in a technique called containerization. Container ships are Cargo ships that carry all of their load in truck-size containers in a technique called Containerization. A cargo ship or freighter is any sort of Ship or vessel that carries Cargo, goods and materials from one port to another Containerization (or containerisation) is a system of Intermodal freight transport Cargo Transport using standard ISO containers They form a common means of commercial intermodal freight transport. Intermodal freight transport involves the transportation of freight in a container or Vehicle, using multiple modes of Transportation ( Informally known as "box boats," they carry the majority of the world's dry cargo. Most container ships are propelled by diesel engines, and have crews of between 20 and 40 people. A diesel engine is an Internal combustion engine which operates using the Diesel cycle (named after Dr They generally have a large accommodation block at the stern, directly above the engine room. The stern is the rear or aft part of a Ship or Boat, technically defined as the area built up over the Sternpost, extending upwards from the Counter In a Ship, an engine room is where the main engine(s generators compressors pumps fuel/lubrication oil purifiers and other major machinery are located
	Tankers are cargo ships for the transport of fluids, such as crude oil, petroleum products, liquefied petroleum gas, liquefied natural gas and chemicals, also vegetable oils, wine and other food - the tanker sector comprises one third of the world tonnage. A cargo ship or freighter is any sort of Ship or vessel that carries Cargo, goods and materials from one port to another Petroleum ( L petroleum, from Greek πετρέλαιον, lit Petroleum ( L petroleum, from Greek πετρέλαιον, lit Liquefied petroleum gas (also called LPG, GPL, LP Gas, or Autogas) is a mixture of Hydrocarbon Gases used as a Fuel Not to be confused with Natural Gas Liquids (NGL Liquefied natural gas or LNG is Natural gas (primarily Methane, CH4 A chemical substance is a Material with a definite chemical composition. Wine is an Alcoholic beverage made from the fermentation of Grape juice
	Reefer ships are cargo ships typically used to transport perishable commodities which require temperature-controlled transportation, mostly fruits, meat, fish, vegetables, dairy products and other foodstuffs. A reefer ship is a type of Ship typically used to transport perishable commodities which require temperature-controlled transportation mostly Fruits A cargo ship or freighter is any sort of Ship or vessel that carries Cargo, goods and materials from one port to another The term air conditioning refers to the cooling and dehumidification of indoor air for Thermal comfort. The term fruit has different meanings dependent on context and the term is not synonymous in Food preparation and Biology. In modern English usage meat most often refers to Animal tissue used as food mostly Skeletal muscle and associated Fat, but it may also refer Fish are aquatic Vertebrate animals that are typically ectothermic (previously Cold-blooded) covered with scales, and equipped with two The term " vegetable " generally means the edible parts of Plants The definition of the word is traditional rather than Scientific, however Dairy products are generally defined as Foodstuffs produced from Milk. Food is any substance usually composed primarily of Carbohydrates Fats water and/or Proteins that can be eaten or drunk by an
	Roll-on/roll-off ships are cargo ships designed to carry wheeled cargo such as automobiles, trailers or railway carriages. See also Merchant ship Roll-on/roll-off (RORO or ro-ro Ships are ferries designed to carry wheeled Cargo such as A cargo ship or freighter is any sort of Ship or vessel that carries Cargo, goods and materials from one port to another Cargo (or freight) refers to goods or produce transported generally for Commercial gain by ship, aircraft, train, A Trailer is generally an unpowered vehicle pulled by a powered vehicle A railroad car or railway carriage is a Vehicle on a rail transport system (railroad or railway that is used for the carrying of Cargo or RORO (or ro/ro) vessels have built-in ramps which allow the cargo to be efficiently "rolled on" and "rolled off" the vessel when in port. While smaller ferries that operate across rivers and other short distances still often have built-in ramps, the term RORO is generally reserved for larger ocean-going vessels. "Riverine" redirects here For the use of that term in Maritime geography, see there
	Coastal trading vessels, also known as coasters, are shallow-hulled ships used for trade between locations on the same island or continent. See also Merchant ship Coastal trading vessels, also known as coasters, are shallow-hulled Ships used for trade between locations on the same island A ship /ʃɪp/ is a large vessel that floats on water Ships are generally distinguished from Boats based on size Their shallow hulls mean that they can get through reefs where sea-going ships usually cannot (sea-going ships have a very deep hull for supplies and trade etc. In nautical terminology a reef is a rock, sandbar, or other feature lying beneath the surface of the water (six fathoms or less at low water ).
	Ferries are a form of transport, usually a boat or ship, but also other forms, carrying (or ferrying) passengers and sometimes their vehicles. See also Merchant ship A ferry is a form of transport usually a Boat or Ship, used to carry (or ferry) passengers and A boat is a Watercraft of modest size designed to float or plane on water and provide transport over it A ship /ʃɪp/ is a large vessel that floats on water Ships are generally distinguished from Boats based on size Ferries are also used to transport freight (in lorries and sometimes unpowered freight containers) and even railroad cars. Most ferries operate on regular, frequent, return services. A foot-passenger ferry with many stops, such as in Venice, is sometimes called a waterbus or water taxi. Venice ( Italian: Venezia, Venetian: Venesia or Venexia) is a city in Northern Italy, the capital of the A water taxi or water bus is a Boat used to provide Public transport, usually but not always in an urban environment Ferries form a part of the public transport systems of many waterside cities and islands, allowing direct transit between points at a capital cost much lower than bridges or tunnels. A bridge is a Structure built to span a Gorge, Valley, Road, railroad track, River, Body of water A tunnel is an underground passageway The definition of what constitutes a tunnel is not universally agreed upon Many of the ferries operating in Northern European waters are ro/ro ships. See the Herald of Free Enterprise and M/S Estonia disasters. Construction In the late 1970s Townsend Thoresen decided to commission the design and construction of three new identical ships for their Dover – Calais route Construction The ship was originally ordered from Meyer Werft by a Norwegian shipping company led by Parley Augustsen with intended traffic between
	Cruise ships are passenger ships used for pleasure voyages, where the voyage itself and the ship's amenities are considered an essential part of the experience. A cruise ship or cruise liner is a Passenger ship used for pleasure voyages where the voyage itself and the ship's amenities are part of the experience A passenger ship is a Ship whose primary function is to carry passengers Cruising has become a major part of the tourism industry, with millions of passengers each year as of 2006. This article is about yacht cruising For cruising on cruise liners see the article Cruise ship. Tourism is Travel for Recreational or Leisure purposes The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people who "travel Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. The industry's rapid growth has seen nine or more newly built ships catering to a North American clientele added every year since 2001, as well as others servicing European clientele. Year 2001 ( MMI) was a Common year starting on Monday according to the Gregorian calendar. Smaller markets such as the Asia-Pacific region are generally serviced by older tonnage displaced by new ships introduced into the high growth areas. The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth 's Oceanic divisions
	Cable layer is a deep-sea vessel designed and used to lay underwater cables for telecommunications, electricity, and such. A cable layer or cable ship is a deep-sea vessel designed and used to lay underwater cables for telecommunications electricity and such A ship /ʃɪp/ is a large vessel that floats on water Ships are generally distinguished from Boats based on size A cable is one or more Wires or Optical fibers bound together typically in a common protective jacket or sheath A large superstructure, and one or more spools that feed off the transom distinguish it. A superstructure is an upward extension of an existing structure above a baseline
	A tugboat is a boat used to manoeuvre, primarily by towing or pushing other vessels (see shipping) in harbours, over the open sea or through rivers and canals. TUGboat (ISSN 0896-3207 is a journal published three times per year by the TeX Users Group. A boat is a Watercraft of modest size designed to float or plane on water and provide transport over it Towing is the process of pulling or drawing behind a chain line bar or some other form of coupling A ship /ʃɪp/ is a large vessel that floats on water Ships are generally distinguished from Boats based on size Shipping is physical process of Transporting goods and Cargo. A harbor or harbour (see spelling differences) or haven, is a place where ships may shelter from the Weather or are stored "Riverine" redirects here For the use of that term in Maritime geography, see there Canals are artificial channels for water There are two types of canals water conveyance canals which are used for the conveyance and delivery of water and Waterways They are also used to tow barges, disabled ships, or other equipment like towboats. BARGE, the Big August RecGambling Excursion is a yearly convention held in Las Vegas during the first weekend of August A towboat is a Boat designed for pushing Barges Towboats are characterized by a square bow with steel knees for pushing and powerful engines
	A dredger (sometimes also called a dredge) is a ship used to excavate in shallow seas or fresh water areas with the purpose of gathering up bottom sediments and disposing of them at a different location. Dredging is an Excavation activity or operation usually carried out at least partly underwater in shallow seas or Fresh water areas with the purpose of Freshwater is a word that refers to bodies of water such as Ponds lakes rivers and streams containing low concentrations of dissolved Salts and other Total dissolved Sediment is any particulate matter that can be transported by fluid flow and which eventually is deposited as a layer of solid particles on the bed or bottom of a body of
	A barge is a flat-bottomed boat, built mainly for river and canal transport of heavy goods. BARGE, the Big August RecGambling Excursion is a yearly convention held in Las Vegas during the first weekend of August A boat is a Watercraft of modest size designed to float or plane on water and provide transport over it "Riverine" redirects here For the use of that term in Maritime geography, see there Canals are artificial channels for water There are two types of canals water conveyance canals which are used for the conveyance and delivery of water and Waterways Most barges are not self-propelled and need to be moved by tugboats towing or towboats pushing them. TUGboat (ISSN 0896-3207 is a journal published three times per year by the TeX Users Group. A towboat is a Boat designed for pushing Barges Towboats are characterized by a square bow with steel knees for pushing and powerful engines Barges on canals (towed by draft animals on an adjacent towpath) contended with the railway in the early industrial revolution but were outcompeted in the carriage of high value items due to the higher speed, falling costs, and route flexibility of rail transport. A towpath is a Road or Trail on the bank of a River, Canal, or other inland waterway "Railroad" and "Railway" both redirect here For other uses see Railroad (disambiguation. The Industrial Revolution was a period in the late 18th and early 19th centuries when major changes in agriculture manufacturing and transportation had a profound effect on the The British Canal system of Water transport played a vital role in the United Kingdom 's Industrial Revolution at a time when Roads "Railroad" and "Railway" both redirect here For other uses see Railroad (disambiguation.

Ships do exist that fall outside these categories, such as Semi-submersible heavy-lift ships. A semi-submersible or semisubmersible is a Watercraft that can put much of its bulk underwater

Typical in-transit times

A cargo ship sailing from a European port to a US one will typically take 10-12 days based on water currents and other factors.

Ship transport infrastructure

Further information: Port

For a port to efficiently send and receive cargo, it requires some infrastructure. ||-||-|-||-||-||-||-||-||-|} A port is a facility for receiving Ships and transferring cargo Infrastructure typically refers to the technical structures that support a society such as Roads Water supply, Wastewater, Power grids Harbors, seaports and marinas host watercraft, and consist of components such as piers, wharfs, docks and roadsteads. A harbor or harbour (see spelling differences) or haven, is a place where ships may shelter from the Weather or are stored ||-||-|-||-||-||-||-||-||-|} A port is a facility for receiving Ships and transferring cargo For other uses of this word see Marina (disambiguation. A marina is a sheltered Harbor where Boats and Yachts A pier is a raised Walkway over water supported by widely spread Piles or pillars. A wharf is a landing place or Pier where ships may tie up and load or unload A dock (from Dutch 'dok' is a man-made feature involved in the handling of boats or ships A roadstead is a place outside a Harbor where a Ship can lie at Anchor.

A port is a facility for receiving ships and transferring cargo to and from them. A ship /ʃɪp/ is a large vessel that floats on water Ships are generally distinguished from Boats based on size Cargo (or freight) refers to goods or produce transported generally for Commercial gain by ship, aircraft, train, They are usually situated at the edge of an ocean or sea, river, or lake. An ocean (from Greek, ''Okeanos'' (Oceanus) is a major body of saline water, and a principal component of the Hydrosphere. This article is about the body of water For other uses see SEA and Seas. "Riverine" redirects here For the use of that term in Maritime geography, see there A lake (from Latin lacus) is a Terrain feature (or Physical feature) a body of Liquid on the surface of a world that is localized to the Ports often have cargo-handling equipment such as cranes (operated by stevedores) and forklifts for use in loading/unloading of ships, which may be provided by private interests or public bodies. A crane is a lifting machine equipped with a Winder, Wire ropes or Chains and sheaves that can be used both to lift and lower materials and to Often, canneries or other processing facilities will be located very close by. Canning is a method of preserving food in which the food is processed and sealed in an airtight container Harbour pilots, barges and tugboats are often used to safely maneuver large ships in tight quarters as they approach and leave the docks. A pilot is a Mariner who guides Ships through dangerous or congested waters such as Harbours or River mouths Legally the master remains TUGboat (ISSN 0896-3207 is a journal published three times per year by the TeX Users Group. Ports which handle international traffic will have customs facilities. Customs is an Authority or agency in a Country responsible for collecting and safeguarding customs duties and for controlling the flow of goods

Access to other transport systems, such as rail and truck terminals can contribute to a port's efficiency. Some ports feature canals, allow further movement inland. Canals are artificial channels for water There are two types of canals water conveyance canals which are used for the conveyance and delivery of water and Waterways

The presence of deep water in channels or berths, the provision of protection from the wind, waves and storm surges and access to intermodal transportation such as trains or trucks are critical to a good port. Water is a common Chemical substance that is essential for the survival of all known forms of Life. Physical geography, a channel is the physical confine of a River, slough or ocean Strait consisting of a bed and banks The term berth is used to describe a bed on a boat or train or a location in a port or harbour used specifically for mooring vessels while not at sea (or as a verb to describe Wind is the flow of Air or other Gases that compose an Atmosphere (including but not limited to the Earth's) A wave is a disturbance that propagates through Space and Time, usually with transference of Energy. Storm surge or tidal surge is an offshore rise of water associated with a low pressure weather system typically a Tropical cyclone. A train is a connected series of vehicles that move along a track ( Permanent way) to transport freight or passengers from one place to another This article is about the semi-truck For the North American use of the word see Pickup truck. A port must also have navigational aids such as lighthouses, buoys and sea marks. A lighthouse is a Tower, building or framework designed to emit light from a system of lamps and lenses or in older times from a fire and used as an A sea mark, also seamark and Navigation mark, is a Pilotage aid which identifies the approximate position of a maritime channel hazard

See also

• The Marine Society
• List of merchant marine capacity by country
• List of maritime colleges
• List of notable mariners
• Lloyd's War Medal for Bravery at Sea
• Merchant ship
• History of ship transport

This article is part of the Transport series

Modes. The Marine Society was the world's first seafarers’ charity. Countries Number of major vessels 25 registered 24 owned Total tonnage ( Vessel types 24 cargo 1 roll on/roll off Africa Algeria Governmental Institut des Sciences de la Mer et de l'Aménagement du Littoral (ISMAL Governmental Institut Supérieur This list of Sailors includes any seagoing person who does not qualify for the List of naval commanders and/or List of sea captains. Beginning in 1836 Lloyd's of London began to issue medals for saving life at sea in 1893 for meritorious service and in 1913 for services to the firm A merchant vessel is a Ship that transports Cargo and Passengers during peace time Maritime history is a broad thematic element of History that often uses a global approach although national and regional histories remain predominant Transport or transportation is the movement of people and goods from one place to another Mode of transport (or means of transport or transport mode or transport modality or form of transport) is a general term for the different . .

Animal-powered Aviation Cable Human-powered Pipeline Ship Space Rail Road

See also. (Non-human animal-powered Transport is a broad category of the Human use of non-human Working animals (also known as "beasts of burden" for the Aviation refers to activities involving man-made flying devices ( Aircraft) including the people organizations and regulatory bodies involved with them Cable transport refers to the broad class of Transport modes that rely on vehicles pulled by cables rather than having an internal power source Human-powered transport is the Transport of person(s and/or goods using Human Muscle power Pipeline transport is the transportation of goods through a pipe. Space transport is the use of Spacecraft to Transport people or cargo through Outer space. "Railroad" and "Railway" both redirect here For other uses see Railroad (disambiguation. Road transport ( British English) or road transportation ( American English) is Transport on Roads of passengers or goods . .

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Notes

References

• Office of Data and Economic Analysis (July 2006). The World Factbook ( ISSN; also known as the CIA World Factbook) is an annual publication of the Central Intelligence Agency of the World Merchant Fleet 2001–2005 (PDF). United States Maritime Administration. Retrieved on March 13, 2007. Events 1138 - Cardinal Gregorio Conti is elected Antipope as Victor IV, succeeding Anacletus II. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century.
• Thompson, Mark L. (1994). Queen of the Lakes. ISBN 0814323936.  
• United Nations Council on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) (2005). Review of Maritime Transport, 2005. New York and Geneva: United Nations.  
• United Nations Council on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) (2006). Review of Maritime Transport, 2006. New York and Geneva: United Nations.  

External links

• Mercantile Marine community
• Merchant Navy officer's community
• Water Transportation Marine companies
• Social & Economic Benefits of Marine Transport from "NOAA Socioeconomics" website initiative