Ship types and maritime terminology in plain English — each grounded in the open record behind the Marifest registry.
The main classes of commercial vessel.
A vessel built to carry goods — including container ships, bulk carriers and general cargo. The backbone of world trade.
A ship designed to carry liquids in bulk: crude oil, refined products, chemicals or liquefied gas (LNG/LPG). Size classes run from coastal up to VLCC and ULCC.
A large passenger vessel operating multi-day leisure voyages, with cabins, dining and entertainment for thousands of guests.
Ferries, RoPax and high-speed craft that carry passengers (and often vehicles) on scheduled routes.
Support ships for offshore energy: platform supply vessels (PSV), anchor handlers (AHTS), and construction/cable-lay units.
Trawlers, seiners and factory ships engaged in commercial fishing.
Tugs, pilot boats, patrol and rescue craft that operate in and around ports.
What is the difference between an IMO number and an MMSI?
The IMO number is permanent and identifies the hull for life; the MMSI is the current radio identity and can be reassigned. Use the IMO number for reliable identification and compliance.
What is the difference between gross tonnage and deadweight?
Gross tonnage (GT) measures internal volume; deadweight (DWT) measures carrying capacity by weight. GT drives regulations and dues; DWT describes how much cargo a ship can carry.
What is a VLCC?
A Very Large Crude Carrier — a crude-oil tanker of roughly 180,000–320,000 DWT. Larger still are ULCCs (Ultra Large Crude Carriers).
Every type and term maps onto live records in the open Marifest registry — search any ship by name, IMO or MMSI, free.