Ship types and their technical installations
From fishing cutter to offshore vessel — why the type determines what you work with
One of the competency objectives you must fulfil as a ship fitter apprentice is not about spanners or welding equipment but something more fundamental: knowing the different types of ships their layout and their technical installations and the terminology the industry uses for them. This makes good sense because a 15-metre fishing vessel and an 80-metre offshore supply ship are so different in structure that it affects your whole approach to the task when you stand in the engine room.
§From cutter to coaster
A cutter was originally the term for a smaller vessel and today the word fishing cutter typically refers to a smaller motorized fishing vessel. A coaster is another classic ship type: a smaller cargo ship with a cargo capacity of around 3000 gross tons sailing in coastal trade between ports — hence the name. Both types are frequent customers at Danish shipyards and repair shops because they are numerous along the Danish coast.
- 01Fishing cutter — smaller, motorized fishing vessel with relatively simple engine room
- 02Coaster — smaller cargo ship in coastal navigation typically under 3,000 gross tonnes
- 03Tank ship — transports liquid cargo, with its own pump and safety systems
- 04Container ship — large main engines and comprehensive deck equipment for cargo handling
- 05Offshore vessel (e.g., a supply ship to platforms)—built to operate near and service platforms at sea
- 06Ferry — frequent start/stop cycles place special demands on engine and propulsion
§Offshore vessels are a world of their own
An offshore supply ship (often called a PSV — Platform Supply Vessel) is specifically developed to supply oil and gas platforms at sea. That type of vessel typically has advanced propulsion with multiple thrusters dynamic positioning that keeps the ship at a fixed location without anchors and extensive hydraulics and crane inventory to handle cargo. If you are to work on such vessels it therefore requires broader knowledge of hydraulics control systems and electronics than on a simpler vessel.
§Why the ship type matters for your task
Ship type is not just a name — it tells you something about what you can expect to find when you open the engine room door. A fishing cutter typically has one main engine and a relatively simple system of pumps and pipe routing. A container ship has a much larger main engine several auxiliary engines complex cooling systems and heavy deck cranes for cargo handling. An offshore vessel adds dynamic positioning and advanced hydraulics on top. Being able to read the ship type — and the drawings and manuals that belong to that particular type — is therefore a prerequisite for planning your work correctly.
| Ship type | Typical machinery/installation |
|---|---|
| Fishing cutter | One main motor single cooling and pipe system smaller winch |
| Coaster | Main motor and auxiliary motors, load pumps depending on load, deck cranes |
| Container ship | Large main engine, several auxiliary systems, heavy deck cranes |
| Offshore vessel (PSV) | More thrusters dynamic positioning extensive hydraulics and cranes |
§Terminology you should master
Beyond the ship types themselves the trade uses a number of fixed terms for the ship's parts and layout — frame deck aft and forward starboard and port engine room and bridge. Speaking the same language as the rest of the crew and your colleagues at the shipyard makes cooperation easier and avoids misunderstandings when a task needs to be described or a fault reported.
“If you know the ship type, you already know quite a lot about what awaits you in the engine room before you've even opened a hatch.”