MERCHANT SHIPS

Since the dawn of history boats have been used in rivers, and ships have been used
to cross seas and oceans, to carry goods and people from one place to another. The
volume of cargo carried by ships continues to increase, and ships become larger and
faster. The variety of cargo is also widening. For this reason many ships are built for
particular cargoes.
Merchant ships are designed to carry cargo. Some are also designed to carry
passengers. Merchant vessels can operate in following three basic ways.
They can operate as liners. Liners are employed on regular routes on a fixed
timbletable. A list of their arrival and departure dates is published in advance. They sail
whether they are full or not.
Merchant vessels can also operate as tramps. Tramps do not sail on regular routes.
They do not keep to a fixed timetable. They are employed in all parts of the world
where there is a cargo for them to carry.
A large number of merchant ships operate as specialized vessels. These are
designed to carry a particular type of cargo.
Merchant ships can be classified according to what they carry. Most are designed
to carry cargo, but a few still carry passengers.
Cargo ships can be divided into two basic types. One types carries dry cargo, the
other carries liquid cargo. Multy deck vessels are a traditional type of dry cargo ship.
Their holds are divided horizontally by one or two tween decks. Dry bulk cargo such as
iron ore, grain or timber is carried in bulk carriers. These do not have tween decks.
Container ships are the most modern type of dry cargo carrier. They carry containers of
standard dimensions. Fruit, meat and dairy produce are carried in refrigerated ships.
Oil Tankers are the most common type of liquid cargo carrier. They are often very
large. Tankers known as VLCC (Very Large Crude Carriers) are designed to carry over
200.000 Tons. ULCC (Ultra Large Crude Carriers) can carry over 400.000 Tons of
cargo. Two other types of liquid bulk carrier are liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers
and chemical carriers.
In comparison with cargo vessels, passenger ships are fewer in number and type.
Passenger liner is the traditional type of passenger ship. Nowadays their number has
been greatly reduced. Cruise ships are another type of passenger vessel. These are often
converted passenger liners. Ferries are the most common type of passenger vessel.
Many of them are also designed to carry vehicles.

THE MAIN PARTS OF A SHIP

The main structure of a ship is a hull. Within the hull are the tween decks or
platforms on which the cargo rest. The uppermost platform or the upper deck, covers the
holds in which cargo is stowed. It is loaded and discharged either by cranes on the quay
or by the ships derricks. The derricks are fitted to mast which stands on the upper deck.
The cargo passes into or out of the holds through cargo hatches. The front part of a ship
is called the bow and the rear part the stern. Near the bridge is the funnel. Smoke and
gases pass through the funnel from the engine. The engine is fitted near the bottom of
the ship in the engine room. The engine drives the propeller at the stern of the ship. The
anchors and cables and the windlass are located in the bow of the ship. The right side of
a ship facing the bow is called the starboard side and the other side is the port side.