SHIP

A ship is a large self propelled watercraft designed and constructed to navigate upon and under open waters including oceans, seas, lakes and rivers for the purpose of transporting people, cargo or military forces and hardware or for performing specialized functions such as fishing, research or offshore operations.

There are several types of ships and they are; container, oil and chemical tankers, bulk carriers, cruise, aircraft carriers, destroyers and frigates, submarines, Ro-RO (roll on/roll off), ferries and passenger vessels, offshore and specialist vessels or ships.

Container ships carry standardized steel boxes, stacked on deck and in below deck cell guides. Container ships have the highest cargo efficiency of any vessel type, they have automated crane loading/unloading facilities in built and have fast port turnaround times.

Oil and chemical tankers are ships that carry liquid bulk cargo such as crude oil, refined petroleum products, liquefied gases or industrial chemicals. They transport the world’s most critical energy commodities. They have a double hull construction with enough safety redundancy.

Bulk carriers are ships that transport unpackaged dry commodities such as iron ore, coal, grain, bauxite, phosphate, fertilizer etc. in their design they have incorporated self-trimming holds, large topside ballast tanks and double bottom tanks for water storage and structural protection. They also have hatch covers which are massive hydraulic weather tight covers over each hold. They are simple, low fuel cost per tonne of cargo and are the backbone of the global mining and agricultural industries.

Cruise ships are floating luxury resorts, self-contained cities at sea carrying thousands of passengers on leisure voyages ranging from weekend getaways to world circumnavigations. They have a massive hotel systems including luxury rooms, restaurants, theaters, pools, ice rink, water parks etc. they generate enormous tourism revenue for port destinations.

Aircraft carriers are the most powerful warships ever built, they are mobile sovereign military airbases capable of projecting air power anywhere on the seas. They have incorporated in their design, nuclear propulsion system, below deck hanger, island superstructure with offset starboard housing the bridge, flight control, radar etc.. they also have below-deck hanger for aircraft maintenance, weapon magazine, aviation fuel etc.

Destroyers and frigates are multi-mission surface combatants which are fast, heavily armed warships that escort carrier groups, hunt submarines, conduct land attacks and defend fleets from air threats. Their stealth design reduces detection risk. They are fast with speeds of over 30 knots and are suitable for multi-mission roles which may include; anti-air, anti-submarine, anti-surface land attack capabilities. They are essential for fleet escort and independent operations.

Submarines are underwater warships, a stealth platform that operates below the surface. They are invisible to radar and most sensors and are capable of operating for extended periods. They are usually powered by nuclear reactors that drive an air-independent propulsion system which are usually fuel cells or stirling engines for conventional submarines. They can operate virtually undectable for extended periods and are considered strategic to the defense of a nation.

RO-RO (ROLL-ON/ROLL-OFF) ships carry wheeled cargo such as vehicles, trucks, heavy equipments etc. that drive on and off via ramps, eliminating the need of cranes entirely.

Ferries and passenger vessels provide essential maritime transport for passengers and vehicles connecting islands, crossing rivers and bridging coastal communities.

Offshore and specialist vessels perform dedicated technical functions in the offshore energy, research, cable and salvage industries. In most cases their design incorporates enormous retractable steel legs towered to the seabed, lifting entire ship clear of waves to create a perfectly stable working platform.

The advantages of ships are; ships carry volumes of cargo that no other transport mode can match and are by far the cheapest mode of transportation. Ships enables global trade as they carry approximately 90% of the world trade by volume. Ships are the most fuel efficient per tonne compared to other modes of transportation. Ships carry virtually any type of cargo such as liquid, gasses, dry bulk, vehicles , containers, refrigerated goods, hazardous chemicals, oversized machinery, livestock and passengers etc. ships are of strategic importance in projecting a nations power by using aircraft carrier, submarines, destroyers etc. to deter aggression, protect sea-lanes, enforce international law and provide humanitarian relief. Research vessels enable humanity to explore and understand the oceans.

The disadvantages of ships are; ships are the slowest mode of transportation. Ships are profoundly affected by weather conditions such as storms, hurricanes, fog, ice and heavy swells can delay voyages, damage cargo, endanger crew and force route diversions. Ships can cause significant environmental pollution such as air pollution, oil spills, ballast water, under water noise, antifouling paint, carbon emission etc. ships require massive, expensive port infrastructure, such as deep water berths, cranes, terminals, warehouses and rail road connections. Ships carries inherent risks such as capsizing and sinking, cargo fires, piracy, collision and grounding etc. ships are severely restricted to navigable waters. Building and operating ships require enormous capital investment. Ships operate under layers of international regulation since they operate across maritime boundaries.

The applications of ships are as follows; ships are employed to transport raw materials, finished goods, energy products, food etc. globally. Ships serve critical security functions such as deterrence, sea lane protection, counter piracy, humanitarian operation, power projection etc. ships serve as the transportation mode for passengers and tourism. Ships are crucial to maritime scientific research such ass ocean floor mapping and geological survey, marine biology and ecosystem monitoring and deep sea resource exploration.

The future of ships is based on the advances and developments of the following technologies; ships wit ne zero emissions, autonomous and remote controlled ships, wind assist ship propulsion technology, electric and hybrid ships, AI integrated ship control systems, advanced materials and construction techniques and so on.

SOURCES:

• Introduction to naval architecture by E.C Tupper.
• Basic ship theory (volume 1 and 2) by K.J Rawson and E.C Tupper.
• Ship design and construction (vol 1 and 2) edited by Thomas Lamb.
• Ship stability, powering and resistance by Jonathan Ridley.
• Seapower: A Guide for the twenty first century by Geoffrey Till.