Types of vessels
A merchant vessel is a ship that transports cargo and passengers during peace time.
A cargo ship or freighter is any sort of ship or vessel that carries cargo, goods, and materials from one port to another.
Dry cargo ships today are mainly bulk carriers and container ships. Bulk carriers or bulkers are used for the transportation of homogeneous cargo such as coal, rubber, copra, tin, and wheat. Container ships are used for the carriage of miscellaneous goods.
Tankers
A tanker is a ship designed to transport liquids in bulk, such as fresh water, crude oil, petroleum products, liquefied petroleum gas, liquefied natural gas and chemicals, also vegetable oils, wine and other food; hydrocarbon products such as oil, LPG, and LNG; chemicals, such as ammonia, chlorine, and styrene monomer.
Specialized ships
Specialized ships, e.g. for heavy lift goods or refrigerated cargo (Reefer ships), roll-on/roll-off cargo (RoRo) ships for vehicles and wheeled machinery
Coasters
Coasters, smaller ships for any category of cargo which are normally not on ocean-crossing routes, but in coastwise trades. Coasters are shallow-hulled ships used for trade between locations on the same island or continent
Passenger ships
A passenger ship is a ship whose primary function is to carry passengers.
A cruise ship or a cruise liner is a passenger ship used for pleasure voyages.
A ferry is a form of transportation, usually a boat or ship, but also other forms, carrying (or ferrying) passengers and sometimes their vehicles.
Crew
A crew is a body or a class of people who work at a common activity, generally in a structured or hierarchical organization.
Engineering department
A ship's engineering department consists of the members of a ship's crew that operate and maintain the propulsion and other systems on board the vessel. Marine Engineering staff also deal with the "Hotel" facilities on board, notably the sewage, lighting, air conditioning and water systems. They deal with bulk fuel transfers, and require training in firefighting and first aid, as well as in dealing with the ship's boats and other nautical tasks- especially with cargo loading/discharging gear and safety systems.
A common Engineering crew for a ship includes:
Chief Engineer
Second Engineer / First Assistant Engineer
Third Engineer / Second Assistant Engineer
Fourth Engineer / Third Assistant Engineer
Fifth Engineer / Junior Engineer
Oiler (unlicensed qualified rating)
Greaser/s (unlicensed qualified rating)
Other possible positions include Motorman, Machinist, Electrician, Refrigeration Engineer, and Tankerman.
Stevedore ( dockworker, docker, dock labourer and longshoreman) deals with loading and unloading ships, according to place and country. Loading and unloading ships requires knowledge of the operation of loading equipment, the proper techniques for lifting and stowing cargo, and correct handling of hazardous materials.
Freight rate
A freight rate is a price at which a certain cargo/freight is delivered from one point to another. The price depends on the form of the cargo, the mode of transport (truck, ship, train, aircraft), the weight of the cargo, and the distance to the delivery destination.
Marine insurance
Marine Insurance covers the loss or damage of ships, cargo, terminals, and any transport or cargo by which property is transferred, acquired, or held between the points of origin and final destination.
Marine salvage
Marine salvage is the process of rescuing a ship, its cargo, or other property from peril. Salvage encompasses rescue towing, refloating a sunken or grounded vessel, or patching or repairing a ship. Today the protection of the environment from cargoes such as oil or other contaminants is often considered a high priority.