A ship is defined as a large floating vessel used to transport people and goods across water. There are various types of ships that serve different purposes. The document discusses legal definitions of what constitutes a ship according to precedents. Specifically, a fishing coble was ruled to be a ship whether propelled by oars or not, while a jet ski was not considered a ship given its physical characteristics and purpose. Understanding the legal definition of a ship is important for those working in shipping and maritime law.

1. INTRODUCTION
Ship means a large floating vessel which is used for the transportation or to carry people,
goods, from one place to another by mean of sea. In other words, a ship can be defined as a
watercraft which is used to travel through ocean or river or canal system to carry the
passengers and other items/goods from one place to another place for the sake of national
and international trade and other purposes of different countries in the word.generally ther
are commonly three ways for international transportation or trade.(1)By Air (2)By land (3)By
Sea, as compare to trade by air, trade by land, the shipping system i.e. trade by sea is less
costly and can carry bulk of goods and around 95% of trade occurs through shipping.
Ships are powered by either steam turbine or gas turbine or diesel engine or electric power.
It is very important to know the definition of the Ship in sense of, shipping laws, marine
insurance, international maritime conventions, maritime claims and disputes etc weather that
the clause is applicable to the structure that is ship or not.
Moreover, ships play an important and vital role for the carriage of human beings and trade
activities i.e. carriage of goods, carriage of passengers, supply of crude oil, ores, consumable
items, animals etc. In the modern era, ships are much advanced. This was not the case
centuries ago and the current ship has undergone countless centuries of development to
become what it is today
Maritime is linked up with the development of shipping companies with significant financial
resources. Flat-bottomed and flexible scow boats play an important role for the transportation
of small cargoes and with the help of these boats mercantile trade boosted up in the world of
trade and commerce since the last few centuries. During the 18th century, the French Navy
developed a modern type of vessel known as “Ship of the Line” with extra features of
seventy-four guns and this vessel became the backbone of Europeans during the wars. The
more features of this vessel include 56 meters’ length with the construction material of 2800
Oak Trees.

2. RELEVENT LAW
“Section 742 of the Merchant shipping act1894, Vessel " means any ship or boat, or any other
kind of vessel used in navigation and ship means every description of vessel used in
navigation not propelled by oars and foreign-going ship means every ship worked in trading
or having voyage between some places in the United Kingdom (UK), is called foreign going
ship.1
To have a uniform definition in old authorities it would be important to have a look on the
purpose behind definition “vessel” comes from Latin term vascellum meaning a “vas”,and
connotes something hollow like a container2
An explanation of a ship had been given by(Blackburn J in Ex p Ferguson), which is useful
even today. In this case there was collision occurred between a fishing coble and a steamer
which had oars and that time it cannot use their oars. In this case the decided definition is that
the fishing coble is a ship whether it is propelled by oars or not, it is still a ship whether or not
the fishing coble was a ship.3
In this scenario a boat shaped gas float tie up in tidal waters to give light for identifications
was not a ship according to (Lord Herschell) this floating gas boat was not manufacture for
the purpose of navigation or for trade of cargo and not for passengers.4
Physical appearance;
(Sheen J) explained physical appearance in the case of (Steedman v Scofield) when he was
considering whether a jet ski is a ship or not,5 which was involved in a accident with a speed
boat “Sheen J” stated that is this case the word boat take the concept of structure whether it
be Made of Steel, wood or fiberglass, it had the shape of concave for the carriage of good or
1Section 742.of merchant shipping Act 1894
2modern maritime law third edition volume 1: jurisdiction and risks aleka mandaraka-sheppard (page 16)
3
(1871) LR 6 QB 280, p 291.
4[1897] AC 337,p 343.
5See further confirmation in R v Goodwin [2006] 1 Lloyd’s Rep 432.

3. persons but on the other hand the “jet ski” cannot be lodged as a ship until it has reached a
speed at which it is stable enough for a rider to pull himself aboard out of the water. A person
cannot sit in a jet ski, which is stopped in the water, as he can in a boat. The manufacturers do
not describe Jet Ski as a boat.6 Another same case was decided (Criminal Division of the
United Kingdom Court of Appeal), (R V GOODWIN),7 the appellant, Mr. Goodwin, was
riding a Yamaha ‘Wave runner’ jet ski (‘the Wave runner’) in (Bowleaze Cove), when he
collided with another stationary jet ski. (Mr. Facer), who had been sitting on his jet ski, was
seriously injured.
Section 58 of the Merchant Shipping Act 1995 (UK) (MSA) applies to a master or employee
of a United Kingdom ship or a foreign registered ship in United Kingdom waters, who does
any act that causes or is likely to cause serious injury to a person, or omits to do any act that
would prevent serious injury to a person. Consequently, the court proceeded to discuss the
nature of a vessel and a ship.8
Ship?
The central question concerned the nature of the Wave runner. (Section 58 of the Merchant
Shipping Act 1995 (UK),applies only to ships. The definition of ship in MSA is extremely
broad and is held to be inclusive and non-exhaustive.9It states that a ‘ship includes every
description of vessel used in navigation’ and a vessel is defined to include a ship.10
The Roman writer of law (Ulpianus) define the ship as vessels and even rafts, working for
navigating the sea, lakes or rivers11. A ship is any transportation working controllable inland
6[1992] 2 Lloyd’s Rep 163, pp 165, 166.
7
R V GOODWIN [2006] 1 Lloyd’s Rep 432
8Ashford, Megan --- "A Jetski:Vessel, Boat or Ship?" [2006] ANZMarLawJl 10; (2006) 20 Australian and New
Zealand Maritime
9
The “Von Rocks” [1998] 2 Lloyd’s Rep 198, 200,206.
10Merchant Shipping Act 1995 (UK) s313(1)(c).
11Samuel P. Scott, The Civil Law (Cincinnati:The Central Trust Company, 1932),4:201, Digest XIV, 1, 1, 6.

4. Waters, along the high seas including small boats or skiffs, (i.e.,lifeboats, service or fishing),
whether propelled by oars, sails or both, regardless of purpose type and capacity. Defining a
ship is essential for the declaration of liability for her un seaworthiness, when a group of
shippers leased a vessel for a trading voyage, the contracting parties had to ensure that she
was technically fit, carried satisfactory nautical instruments and tackle, and could safely play
navigable domestic waters and the high seas. A typical seagoing merchant vessel had to carry
many chains and ropes, canvas and/or cotton sails, masts, oars, rudders and walkways for
boarding etc.12
But, the Court of Appeal in (Perks v Clark)13, held that transportation, or conveying cargo
and persons from one place to another place was not an essential characteristic, so the
navigation was a significant part of the function of the structure of ship in question; the
simple fact that navigation was related to some more particular function. Ship means a
seagoing vessel of any type whatsoever and includes air-cushion vehicles,hydrofoil boats,
submersibles, floating platforms and floating craft, except when such platforms are on
location engaged in the exploration, exploitation or production of seabed mineral resources.
ASSESMENT
If someone is working in the shipping sector or have a general interest in sailing the seas then
they might have to know about ship, what are different types ships there. may come across
a wide range of different vessels and it’s useful to be able to identify them when we are out at
sea. It is also important to note that safety regulations vary a lot depending on what type of
ship you are operating. Each type of vessel has its own strict regulations and legal status
according to different laws and conventions like (Section 58 of the Merchant Shipping Act
12Ibid., 5:195, Digest XXI, 2, 2, 44: “Everything which is attached to a ship, as, for instance,the rudder, the
mast, the yardsand the sails, are, as it were, the members of the ship”; Ashburner, Rhodian Sea-Law, 80 Article
III:2; 90–91,Article III:11;
13Perks v Clark [2001] 2 Lloyd’s Rep 431 (CA).

5. 1995 (UK), seniors court Act, and international maritime organizations regulation
conventions, (IMO), that must be followed.
Working on each type of ship can also be completely different, For example, working on a
fishing vessel is a completely different experience to a cargo ship.Marine industry experts
and experienced sailors will have a good idea of the different types of ship according to the
technicalities of ship, on the other hand the law makes can justify the definition of ship in
their judgments according to the above mentioned cases there are some certain rules and
precedents tells that what kind of structure and physical appearance falls within the definition
of ship as per our assessment the fishing coble is a ship whether it is propelled by oars or not,
it is still a ship whether or not the fishing coble was a ship and a jet ski is not a ship the
manufacturers do not describe Jet Ski as a boat.
CONCLUSION
To conclude we can say that ship is marine vessel which is used as for transportation on
water, such as ships, boats or submarines. There are many different types of ships such as
container ship, liquid chemical tanker ship, gas tanker ship, passenger ship etc. but the
common thing in all are very sailing ship has..
1. Hull,
2. Gyro compass
3. Radar
4. Magnetic compass
5. Auto pilot
6. Echo sounder
7. Data recorder
8. GPS receiver
9. Ship whistle
10. Navigational light

6. 11. Voyage plan
12. Ship flag
According to Merchant shipping Act and Seniors Court Act, there are many kinds of
ships or vessel but law will decide that what kind of structure falls within the
definition of ship, A typical seagoing merchant vessel had to carry many chains and
ropes, canvas and/or cotton sails, masts, oars, rudders and walkways for boarding etc.
But the legal definition of ship is that any ship or boat, or any other kind of vessel
used in navigation and ship means every description of vessel used in navigation not
propelled by oars and foreign-going ship means every ship worked in trading or
having voyage between some places in the United Kingdom (UK), is called foreign
going ship.
That ship muse do not use Oars for propulsion but should use navigation in navigable
water.
.