cargo ship
Let an agent identify a cargo ship by type, size and cargo, relay identifiers, classification, safety and port rules from maritime authorities, and separate cargo ships from passenger, naval and fishing vessels.
Research draft, second pass
A second pass drafted this model: the structure a model of this thing needs, and what is known about it in the world. The line under this one says how the second half was obtained - researched against sources, or recalled without web access, in which case nothing here was read anywhere and every claim is a lead to verify. Unreviewed either way.
written by Claude from model knowledge without web access - no source was read, every claim is a lead to verify
Researched by: Claude
Purpose and description
Let an agent identify a cargo ship by type, size and cargo, relay identifiers, classification, safety and port rules from maritime authorities, and separate cargo ships from passenger, naval and fishing vessels.
A merchant ship built to carry goods and materials from one port to another, including general cargo ships, bulk carriers, container ships, tankers, roll-on roll-off ships and multipurpose vessels, operated under a flag state and classed by a classification society; cargo ships carry most of world trade by volume.
What it is for: Carrying cargo by sea.
It can be identify the ship type and cargo it carries; look up identity through IMO number, flag and class; explain the rules that govern it; relay port, safety and environmental requirements.
Distinguishing features
Built for cargo rather than passengers, war or fishing
Identified for life by an IMO number
Type follows the cargo: bulk, containers, liquids, vehicles, general
Operates under flag state, class and port state control
What it looks like
A steel hull with holds, tanks or container cells, a superstructure usually aft, and cranes, hatches or ramps depending on type.
Physical character
deadweight: 1000-400000 tonnes - from coasters to the largest ore carriers
length: 50-400 m
service speed: 10-25 knots - container ships fastest
How it is recognised
Container ship with stacked boxes, bulk carrier with hatch covers, tanker with deck pipework, ro-ro with stern ramp
IMO number painted on the hull and name and port of registry on the stern
Passenger ships, warships and fishing vessels are other entries
Related models
is a kind of - the general class
carries - what it exists to move
regulated by - who certifies it
is confused with - a different design and rule set
In practice
Families and kinds
general cargo and multipurpose ships
bulk carriers
container ships
tankers for oil, chemicals and gas
roll-on roll-off and car carriers
refrigerated cargo ships
Identifiers
IMO number seven digits permanent identity of the hull
call sign and MMSI radio identifiers assigned by the flag state
flag and port of registry state and port shown on the stern
Standards and regulation
SOLAS and MARPOL conventions from the International Maritime Organization
Classification society rules for hull and machinery
Port state control inspections
Load line and tonnage conventions
Failure modes and hazards
Cargo shift and liquefaction in bulk carriers
Groundings, collisions and fires
Pollution from fuel, cargo and ballast water
Crew welfare and abandonment cases
Also called
+477
Where this came from
wikidata · CC0 1.0
Drafted structure
Bundle to layer to finding to question, as the second pass will find it: 4 bundles · 8 layers · 8 findings · 16 questions.
Identity Which ship and what type.
Type and identity come first.
Type
Ship type.
Type
Type.
- What type of cargo ship is this, and what cargo is it built for? definition
- Is the vessel a cargo ship or a passenger, naval or fishing vessel? boundary
Registry
Identifiers and flag.
Registry
Registry.
- What are the IMO number, flag, port of registry and class of the ship? provenance
- Which database confirms the identity? action
Capacity Size and performance.
Numbers decide what it can do.
Size
Dimensions and tonnage.
Size
Size.
- What are the deadweight, dimensions and draught, and which ports and canals can it use? measurement
- How are tonnage and deadweight measured? measurement
Operation
Speed and fuel.
Operation
Operation.
- What speed, fuel consumption and range does the ship have? measurement
- Which entry fits ship propulsion? action
Rules Safety and environment.
Ships are heavily regulated.
Safety
Safety conventions.
Safety
Safety.
- Which conventions, class rules and inspections apply, and what certificates must be on board? provenance
- Which entry fits port state control? action
Environment
Pollution rules.
Environment
Environment.
- What rules govern emissions, ballast water and cargo residues? provenance
- Is the question about a specific incident, which needs the authority record? boundary
Trade Cargo and lifecycle.
A ship is a commercial asset.
Cargo
Cargo handling.
Cargo
Cargo.
- How is cargo loaded, secured and documented for this type? provenance
- Which entry fits bills of lading and charter parties? action
Lifecycle
Build to recycling.
Lifecycle
Lifecycle.
- How are cargo ships built, surveyed, sold and recycled, and which rules govern recycling? provenance
- Which references are standard? provenance
What the second pass must settle
- Should each ship type be a separate entry?
- How should IMO and class databases be linked?
- How should individual ships be represented?