Shipping Vessel Accidents | Types of Shipping Vessels
FREE Case ReviewTopics Covered on This Page:
Cable Ships · Cargo Ships · Chemical Ships · Container Ships · Dry Bulk Carriers · Freighter Vessel · Roll-On/Roll-Off Ships · Supply Boat Vessels · Supply Boat · Tankers
Historically, waterways are some of the world's oldest avenues of transporting cargo. Land routes over uncharted or unfriendly territory were fraught with peril, so ancient people turned to the relative safety and speed of the water to ship goods to their destinations.
The tradition of shipping cargo across the water remains one of the most vital industries in the American economy. Unfortunately, the reality is that shipping of any type is a risky, dangerous, and sometimes fatal business. The following crafts are the most common vessels where serious accidents and injury occur.
These ships are responsible for laying the cable for telecommunications, electricity, and transport in modern industries. Without the hard work and dedication of these ships and their crews the world would not have the ability to call across the oceans or enjoy the power provided by distant generating stations. Unfortunately, laying an undersea cable is dangerous and hazardous work, and many of the crewmembers of these ships suffer serious and debilitating injuries in the line of duty.
Cargo ships are a familiar sight to anyone who lives in or near a seaport. These vessels transport materials, goods, and products from their place of manufacture to anxious customers in far away lands. Although initially cargo referred to transported goods, while freight was the compensation for the cargo, but now both terms refer to the transport of goods.
Chemical ships are similar to tankers in that they transport bulk liquids, but these ships have extra precautions because their cargos are often more volatile or poisonous than standard oil. These extra safeguards reduce the cargo capacity of the holds, but when transporting acids, pesticides, or other dangerous chemicals it is best never to take chances.
Container ships are cargo vessels that carry their payload in truck-sized boxes which makes them easy to ship as well as unload and transport once in port. These ships are designed so that no amount of space is wasted, but unfortunately large amounts of heavy cargo require dedicated port facilities where accidents and injury are as frequent and regular as the tide.
These enormous ships are one of the most important vessels in modern shipping. Dry bulk carriers ship and transport enormous supplies of rice, grain, wheat, and other vitally needed foodstuffs to a demanding and hungry world. These vessels are easily recognized by the large hatches its crew uses for loading and unloading cargo. Designed with no-frills and for maximum capacity, these ships are essentially giant ocean-going boxes with an engine attached.
A freighter vessel is a type of craft that carries good or materials from one place to another. These ships range from small tramp steamers to huge bulk freighters that ply seas and make international trade possible. Freight used to refer to the compensation received by a ship for the cargo it delivered, but now freight and cargo are virtually interchangeable.
Roll-on/ Roll-off ships are special types of container ships that allow crews and dock workers to load and unload cargo through the use of dockside ramps. "Ro-Ros", as they are called, have become the one of the most popular types of cargo vessels in use today, as they are flexible and relatively fast, compared to older ships. These containers can be unloaded at ports without dedicated crane facilities which in turn allows customers greater access to their goods.
Supply boat vessels are the types of craft that provide larger ships, rigs, and other vessels with supplies when they cannot reach the shore themselves. Supply boats carry fuel, food, materiel, and people to and from larger vessels. Without these craft the modern world could not function, because bulk transport would be prohibitively difficult if not impossible.
Supply boats are virtually identical to supply boat vessels, except that they lack the additional qualification of being a "vessel." A vessel is traditionally considered to be "a craft capable of floating on water larger than a rowboat", so most supply boats are tiny craft such as dinghies, life rafts, and other waterborne support vehicles that can bring provisions, fuel, and other supplies to larger craft.
Tankers are ships that are designed to carry large quantities of liquids. Petroleum, natural gas, water, chemicals, or any type of bulk fluid are the stock in trade of tankers the world over. These ships frequently have a hull within a hull in order to prevent leaks or spills should they run aground or suffer any other mishap. Tankers and their larger sisters Supertankers frequently account for some of the largest ships in the world.
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