This document provides an overview of the various types of ships used in the maritime industry, categorized by their primary function.
Carry standardized shipping containers. Ideal for transporting manufactured goods.
Transport bulk goods like grain, coal, ore, and cement.
Carry liquid cargo such as oil, chemicals, and liquefied natural gas (LNG).
Specifically designed to transport liquefied natural gas.
Versatile ships that carry various goods, often in smaller quantities compared to bulk carriers or container ships.
Designed to carry large, heavy cargo that can't be disassembled, like industrial machinery or offshore structures.
Specialized for transporting perishable goods that require refrigeration, like fruits, vegetables, meat, and dairy.
Designed to carry wheeled cargo, such as cars, trucks, and trailers.
Transport live animals, ensuring proper ventilation and care during the journey.
Transport people and often some cargo, though primarily focused on passenger service.
Short-distance vessels that transport passengers, vehicles, and sometimes cargo across rivers, seas, or straits.
Support offshore oil and gas platforms by transporting equipment, supplies, and personnel.
Powerful, small vessels used to maneuver larger ships in harbors or through narrow waterways.
Specialized ships used to remove sediment from the bottom of water bodies to maintain navigation channels.
Used to lay underwater cables for telecommunications or power transmission.
Equipped with firefighting equipment, primarily used in port areas.
Serve as floating medical treatment facilities, often used during wars or disaster relief efforts.
Equipped for oceanographic, geological, or biological research missions.
Includes aircraft carriers, destroyers, submarines, and amphibious assault ships—used for defense and combat operations.
Designed for catching fish and other seafood, includes trawlers, seiners, and factory ships.
Flat-bottomed vessels, usually non-self-propelled, used for transporting cargo in inland waterways or ports.
This list covers a wide range of marine vessels, each with distinct roles and technical specifications. The marine industry relies on this diversity to support global trade, transportation, defense, and exploration.