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Importance of Shipping
A ship is a floating vessel used for transporting cargo across the oceans and through rivers. Ships come in different sizes and arrangements to carry different types of cargo. Ships have served mankind since pre historic times. Modern ships made of steel, equipped with very powerful engines, very large, operate at different speeds though much slower than trucks, trains, and planes.
Importance of the role of shipping and ships can be appreciated from the fact that ships transport about 95% of world’s cargo (including that by road, rail, air, and other means). The economy of the world depends upon shipping. All attempts are made to make ships suitable and economical for carrying different types of cargo.
Types of Ships
Ships can be categorized as follows:
There are two major categories (not counting the ships for defense – Navy) - namely Cargo Ships and Passenger Ships. Cargo Ships are further subdivided into Dry Cargoes and Wet Cargoes as given in the chart below. There are other types that can be placed under ‘special category’.
| Cargo Ships |
Passenger Ships |
| Dry Cargo Ships |
Liquid Cargo Ships (Tankers) |
Cruise Liner |
| General Cargo |
General Cargo
(Boxes, Machinery, etc) |
Oil Tankers |
Crude oil, refined oils,
and petroleum products |
Ferries |
| Container Vessel |
Containers |
Chemical Carriers |
Chemicals in bulk |
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| Bulk Carriers |
Bulk Cargoes
(Ore, Grain, Coal,
Cement, etc) |
Gas Carriers |
Liquefied Gases
(LNG, LPG, and other gases in liquid state) |
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| Roll On - Roll Off Vessel |
Trucks, trailers, vehicles |
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| Other ships: Tug Boats, Offshore supply vessels, Cable laying ships, survey ships, Oil platforms, etc. |
Small floating vessels used for different purposes are called boats.
Pictures of Ships
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General Cargo Ships: Are used for carrying different types of dry cargo in different sizes and shapes. This type is the earliest of cargo ships. First change was in the size of ships, then in method of packaging cargo, several other factors made the ships more and more specialized and thus different categories.
A Container Ship is one such advance version of general cargo ship providing options for different sizes of containers and a very speedy loading and discharging of cargo.
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Roll-on/ Roll-off (RORO or ro-ro) is yet another version of a ‘General Cargo ship’ designed to carry wheeled cargo such as automobiles, trailers or railroad cars. RORO vessels have built-in ramps which allow the cargo to be efficiently "rolled on" and "rolled off" the vessel when in port. Car/Truck Carriers are distinctive looking ships with a box-like superstructure running the entire length and breadth of the hull, fully enclosing and protecting the cargo. They typically have a stern ramp and a side ramp for dual loading of many thousands of vehicles, as well as extensive automatic fire control systems.
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Bulk Carrier, bulk freighter, or bulker is a merchant ship used to transport unpackaged bulk cargo such as grain, coal, ore, cement and other similar cargoes.
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Tanker is a ship designed to transport liquids in bulk. Petroleum tankers are a particular brand of tanker. A wide range of products are carried by tankers, including:
Crude oil, refined oils, and many other liquids
Chemical carrier is yet a specialized version of a tanker
Yet another specialized version of a tanker is liquefied gas carriers - liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), liquefied natural gas (LNG), and other gases in liquid state
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Passenger / Cruise Liners: A passenger ship is a ship whose primary function is to carry passengers. The category does not include cargo vessels which have accommodations for limited numbers of passengers
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Offshore Supply Vessel (OSV): OSV is a ship specially designed to supply offshore oil platforms. These ships range from 65 to 350 feet in length and accomplish a variety of tasks. The primary function for most of these vessels is transportation of goods and personnel to and from the offshore exploration activities.
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Tugboat, or tug, is a boat, with a high-powered engine, used to manoeuvre, primarily by towing or pushing, other vessels in harbors, over the open sea or through rivers and canals. They are also used to tow barges, disabled ships, or other equipment like towboats.
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Reefer is a type of ship typically used to transport perishable commodities which require temperature-controlled transportation, mostly fruits, meat, fish, vegetables, dairy products and other foodstuffs.
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Shipboard Organization
‘Organization’ in simple words means - a group of people that perform tasks necessary for achieving results. In case of a ship, organization means people necessary to operate and maintain a ship.
Tasks involved in moving a ship from one port to the other are:
- Maintain and control the direction of ship across the sea (Navigate the ship)
- Operation and control machinery needed to move the ship, and for different services
- Serve all other needs of people living on board
- Other important needs are safety and security of personnel, cargo and the ship. Loading and discharging cargo efficiently, maintaining the ship and machinery in good condition for efficient and economical performance.
There are two Distinct Departments on the Ship. The Departments are Nautical Department and Engineering Departments
Nautical Department is responsible for Cargo Operations, Navigation of the vessel and General Maintenance of the Ship and Administration
Engineering Department is responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of all Machinery onboard ship and the propulsion system
Each Department consists of Officers and ratings
Nautical Department consists of Master, Chief Officer, 2/0, 3/0, Cadet or Apprentices and deck ratings or GP ratings
Engineering Department consists of Chief Engineer, 2/E, 3/E, 4/E, Electricians or Fitter and engine ratings or GP ratings.
Master is overall in charge of the ship.
Crews are either Deck Ratings or Engine Ratings, or G.P. Ratings(General Purpose )
Catering Department includes Chief Cook & G.S who are responsible for cooking food for Officers and Crew and general housekeeping in accommodation.
Duties of a General Purpose Rating (GP Rating)
GP Rating candidates are those who have been trained in both Deck and Engine- Room duties. Such ratings may be employed in either department according to the needs and requirement of the company.
After going on the ship, these candidates are able to work in all seamanship activities on board with deck-side and other work at engine side.
Duties of the Deck-Crew
General upkeep and cleaning of deck area, holds and tanks
Carry out orders from Bosun, Ship Officers and Master
Chipping and painting of the parts of ship
Keep lookout on Bridge, Gangway and Security watch
Steer ship under the direction of the officer on watch
Operate and maintain deck equipment such as winches, cranes, derricks and hatch covers, valves, gangways, anti pollution equipment, LSA, FFA
Handle mooring lines, splice and repair ropes, wire cables and cordage
Mooring and Anchoring
Duties of the Engine-Crew
Assist ship engineer officers in performing routine maintenance work and repair to ship’s engine, machinery and equipments
Monitor engine, machinery and equipment indicators and report abnormalities to ship engineer officer on watch
Lubricate moving parts of engines, machinery and equipments
Operate and maintain off-loading liquid pumps and valves
Clean engine parts and engine room
Career Progression
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Joining 6 months GP Rating Course
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After passing CDC is issued by the DG Shipping which is required for employment
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Eligible to join as either Deck Crew (or) Engine Crew
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Promoted as AB Seaman, Bosun in Deck side (or) promoted in engine side
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Rating forming part of Navigation watch and Engineering watch
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There are possibilities of changing from a ‘Rating’ to a qualified officer on Coastal Ships or Foreign Going ships and a committed person can rise to the levels of a Captain of a ship or a Chief Engineer moving one step at a time.
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