The sea has always attracted people. Industry developed, new devices and machines appeared, and soon a huge number of ships and ships were launched. Read about their types in the article.
What is a ship?
According to the explanatory dictionary, a ship is a large ship that can be used for various purposes. Interestingly, this word is not all associated with the sea. So, there are spaceships that are not launched, but soar beyond the borders of our planet. With their help, scientists obtain information about the universe, and also study the changes that occur with the Earth.
Before telling what types of ships are, it is necessary to answer one question. Its essence lies in the fact that in any definition of the word "ship" there is another word "ship". Why is this happening? The fact is that a “ship” is a broader concept that includes all types of floating vehicles, from boats to huge liners.
What are ships like?
There are various classifications of ships. Each of them unites completely dissimilar vessels on a certain basis. So, the type of ship depends on:
- From the area along which the route runs.
- From the method and kind of movement.
- From what the main engine is.
- From the architecture of the vessel and the material from which it is made.
Those methods of classification of ships that are given in this article are considered auxiliary. They are officially accepted all over the world. At the same time, they are not considered basic. The most important classification is the separation of vessels into types according to their purpose.
Ship assignment
Types of ships are different. Most often they are divided into groups according to their purpose. So, in almost all countries of the world the following classification of ships is accepted:
- Transport.
- Service and auxiliary.
- Fishing.
- Ships of the technical fleet.
Transport ships
The foundation of the fleet of any state is transport ships. They, in turn, are also divided into groups. The main types of ships in this category:
- Passenger. It is in them that separate cabins are allocated for people moving from one point on the map to another. They accommodate more than twelve people at a time. Distinguish a large number of such boats. Even some types of sailing ships belong to this group.
- Freight. They are divided into two groups: general purpose ships and specialized.
Dry cargo vessels
As mentioned earlier, cargo ships are divided into two large groups. In turn, they are divided into smaller ones. It all depends on what will be transported with their help. So, general cargoes are moving on general cargo vessels. The design of such vessels holds several holds, one, two or three decks and the engine room.
Specialized ships are used for various purposes. They transport perishable products. Ships loaded with them are called refrigerated. If the cargo was previously placed in a large container, then it will be loaded onto a container vessel. For what is prepared for transportation in a trailer, another type of ship is created - trailer.
Bulk cargo, such as ore, coal, fertilizers, building materials and grain, make up more than seventy percent of what is transported by sea. Therefore, ships that do not have an exact name are becoming more popular and are rapidly flooding the water. Timber trucks are ships for transporting timber, lumber and other things. They are designed so that their speed cannot reach more than 15 knots. However, they are still often used for their intended purpose.
Bulk vessels
If bulk carriers transport what cannot be spilled, then bulk carriers are designed specifically for transporting liquids. These are oil and products based on it, various gases, acids and chemicals. There are a large number of boats that are designed to carry liquid cargo. Next, we list the main types of ships (photos of different boats can be seen in the article) in this category. They make up most of the cargo ships launched.
- Tankers are the most popular in their group. They are designed so that their design includes walk-through bridges, a fire protection system. They can lift a load whose weight is measured in thousands of tons. And that is the minimum. The heaviest cargoes transported on them can weigh even four hundred thousand. Of course, ships that can move such a heavy load are supertankers.
- Gas carriers - ships designed to transport natural, oil and other gases. Substances are carefully packaged and placed in a cool place. The loads that are placed on these ships are explosive, so special fire-fighting systems have been developed for them.
Military ships
Almost all states have armed forces. Since sea and river routes are of great importance, it is necessary to ensure the protection of the country from this side. Therefore, special ships are being built that are used for military purposes. They can also be used to transport technical goods and equipment, such as helicopters.
Ships of the Mistral type are universal. They are created in order to perform several functions at once. So, they can carry out the landing of a motorized military unit on land. They not only receive, but also serve combat helicopters. In addition, they may contain a command center and even a floating hospital.
Types of ships of Russia
On the territory of our country the same classification of ships is used as in the whole world. That is, ships floating in the rivers and seas of Russia are also divided into freight and passenger, transport and military, and others. Of course, every person who is somehow connected with maritime affairs and the construction of ships is also familiar with the less common types of classification of ships.