Ships are the main tools for water transportation and engineering operations, with many types and huge numbers.

According to the purpose, there are civilian ships and military ships; according to the hull material, there are wooden ships, steel ships, cement ships and fiberglass ships, etc.; according to the navigation area, there are ocean-going ships, offshore ships, coastal ships Ships and inland river ships, etc.; according to the power device, there are steam engine ships, internal combustion engine ships, steamships and nuclear power ships, etc.; according to the propulsion mode, there are paddle wheels, propeller ships, flat-rotating propeller ships and sail-assisted ships, etc.; according to navigation According to the mode of navigation, there are self-propelled ships and non-self-propelled ships; according to the navigation status, there are displacement ships and non-displacement ships.

Civilian ships are usually classified according to their uses. Due to different classification methods, the same ship can have different names. According to different uses, they can be divided into: passenger and cargo ships; general cargo ships; container ships, ro-ro ships, barge-carrying ships; bulk grain ships, coal ships, dual-purpose ships; dual-purpose ships (ore/oil tankers, ore/bulk carriers/oil tankers) Special cargo ships (timber ships, refrigerated ships, car carriers, etc.); oil tankers, liquefied gas ships, liquid chemical tankers, timber ships, refrigerated ships, salvage ships, shipwreck rescue ships, icebreakers, cable-laying ships, scientific research ships and fishing ships wait.