Every day, various ships ply between different countries of the world, transporting goods, and also making tourist trips. Sea freight is considered one of the least expensive, which is why it is very popular among various trading companies around the world. The cargo carried on ships can be completely different - from petroleum products and natural gas to agricultural machinery. But for the transportation of each type of cargo, there are separate types of sea vessels.
Types of maritime transport
All vessels are divided into different types depending on the type of cargo itself:
Highly specialized vessels transport exclusively a specific type of cargo.
Specialized ships can transport two or three types of cargo.
Dual-specialty vessels are designed for different cargoes.
Multi-purpose vessels not only allow the transportation of various cargoes, but are also characterized by the possibility of both vertical and horizontal loading of cargo on board the vessel.
Universal ships can transport absolutely any cargo.
However, the most important classification is their purpose.
Types of merchant ships depending on purpose
General cargo ships are the most common type of merchant ship. They deliver both general cargo and oversized, or even large-tonnage cargo. They have crane booms on board to perform loading and unloading operations. The goods themselves can also be packaged in completely different ways. Such ships are equipped with two decks and large cargo holds.
Reefer ships are primarily used to transport food products. The holds of this type of ship are equipped with powerful refrigeration units and are characterized by good thermal insulation. They allow you to maintain a certain temperature for a long time, depending on the customer’s wishes.
Container ships, or container ships, transport goods that are packed in containers according to the ISO standard. These vessels can be of different sizes and carrying capacity. They can accommodate on board from 250 to 18 thousand containers at a time. Most often these are automated vessels, and their crew is only about 10-14 people.
Lighter carriers are considered a type of container ship - ships that transport floating barges.
Ro-Ro ships are special types of ships designed to transport various types of equipment. These are essentially cargo ferries.
The bulk carrier transports bulk and bulk cargo without containers. It is also used for transporting coal, grain, construction materials, etc. Some bulk carriers have conveyor belts for easier and faster unloading of the ship.
Timber trucks do an excellent job of transporting timber and lumber. Often these are single-deck ships.
The most popular type of cargo ships are tankers. They are used to transport petroleum products and other liquid cargo. You can find various vacancies on tankers of different classes.
Gas carriers, as the name suggests, transport various gases, such as propane or methane. They are equipped with tanks of various shapes and volumes. They are equipped with special pumps, compressors and piping systems for loading and unloading operations. Jobs on gas carriers are very popular among sailors.
Sea ferries can be of several types. They are used to transport both vehicles and people.
Tugs are used to transport various seagoing vessels that cannot navigate the shallow waters of a port on their own.
