CONTENTS

1. UNIT 1 SHIPPING …………………………………….3

2. UNIT 2 CREW ROLES AND ROUTINES…………...7

3. UNIT 3 TYPES OF VESSELS…………………………10

4. UNIT 4 THE MAIN PARTS OF A SHIP……………..14

5. UNIT 5 CARGO AND ITS HANDLING……………..16

6. UNIT 6 STEERING A COURSE………………………18

7. UNIT 7 COMMUNICATION AT SEA………………..20

8. UNIT 8 SHIP CONSTRUCTION………………………22

9. UNIT 9 SEAMANSHIP………………..………………..26

10.UNIT 10 NAVIGATION…………….………………….30

11. UNIT 11 MAINTENANCE…………………………… 34

12. UNIT 12 SAFETY ABOARD………………………….37

13. UNIT 13 RADIO COMMUNICATIONS……………..41

14. VHF

PROCEDURE…………………………………….45
 UNIT 1
SHIPPING

Merchant ships are designed to carry cargo. Some are also designed to carry
passengers. Nowadays, most merchant ships are built to carry cargo, but a few still carry
passengers. Merchant vessels can operate in the following three basic ways. They can
operate as liners. These are employed on regular routes on a fixed timetable. A list of
their arrival and departure dates is published in advance and they sail whether full or
not. Liners can be classed as either deep-sea liners or short-sea liners. The former carry
mainly containerized cargo across the oceans of the world; the latter carry containerized
or conventional cargo on shorter routes. Ferries are also classed as liners. These offer a
daily or weekly service for passengers and vehicles across channels and narrow seas. A
few ships are still employed as passenger liners. They not only carry passengers but also
some cargo on routes from Europe to North America and to the Far East. Nowadays the
passenger trade is very small and passenger liners usually operate as cruise ships for
part of the year.
Merchant ships also operate as tramps. These vessels do not sail on regular
routes or keep to a fixed timetable, but are employed where there is cargo for them to
carry. Tramps can be classed as deep-sea tramps or short-sea tramps. A number are
classed as coasters. These ply on coastal routes and up rivers to inland ports. The
traditional tramp cargoes are dry bulk cargoes, but some are designed to carry general
cargoes.
A large number of merchant ships operate as specialized vessels. These are
designed to carry a particular type of cargo. There are several types of specialized
vessel. The most common are oil tankers. They are owned by the major oil companies
or by independent operators. Two other types of liquid bulk carrier of growing
importance are chemical carriers and liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers.

Use your imagination to try to answer these questions:

Why do only a few merchant ships carry passengers nowadays?
Why do passenger liners operate as cruise ships for part of the year?
Why are tramps mainly designed to carry dry bulk cargoes?
What other types of specialized vessel can you think of?

GRAMMAR
(A) Quantifiers

Quantifiers, or amount words, indicate the approximate quantity or

amount of the noun they qualify or represent.
Study the table below which gives the most commonly used quantifiers.

Study the following points and examples:

1. All, most, many, much, some, several, (a few, (a) Little, can be used without a
noun to avoid repetition
e.g. All liners carry passengers or cargo. All follow regular routes.

Some cargo is carried in holds. Some is carried on deck. (Note: Much is normally
used in only negative and interrogative sentences.
e.g. He had not much money so he walked into town. Is there much cargo to
be unloaded?)

2. When a large number, a large amount and a lot are followed by a noun, of
must be used.
e.g. A large number of merchant ships carry bulk cargo.

3. No and none are used as follows:

e.g. No tankers can carry passengers. None should discharge oil into the sea.

4. There is a positive/negative contrast between a little and little and between a few
and few. Study the difference in meaning in these sentence pairs:

 There was a little time before the ship sailed, so he stayed ashore
longer.
 There was little time before the ship sailed, so he went on board
immediately.
 A few people were sitting on deck, because the sun was shining.

Exercise l.
Choose a suitable quantifier and either 'passengers' or 'money' to complete these
sentences:
travel by cargo liner.
 is needed to operate a shipping fleet.
enjoy being at sea when it is rough.
are allowed down in the engine room.
on board ship should be kept in a safe place.

(B) Logical connectives

Structures can be linked in a number of ways. One way is by using connecting words
such as and, or, but.

Study how they are used in these examples:

1. And is a general purpose link
Passenger liners carry passengers.
Passenger liners carry cargo.
(a) + (b) Passenger liners carry passengers and cargo. Here it means they carry both and
suggests at the same time.

2. Or adds an alternative
Cargo liners are designed to carry containerized cargoes.
Cargo liners are designed to carry conventional cargoes.
(a) + (b) Cargo liners are designed to carry containerized or conventional cargoes. If and
were used here it would suggest 'at the same time'.

3. But suggests contrast or the addition of something unexpected

Merchant ships are classified by type and trade.
Warships are classified by type and size.
(a) + (b) Merchant ships are classified by type and trade, but warships are classified by
type and size.

Exercise 1.
Join the following groups of sentences using and, or, but, as appropriate:

(a) A cadet can train as a Deck Officer.

A cadet can train as an Engineer Officer.
(b) The ship was old.
The ship was in good condition.
(c) Passenger liners carry passengers.
Passenger liners carry some cargo.
(d) Tankers usually operate as specialized vessels.
Tankers sometimes operate as tramps.
(e) Merchant ships are designed to carry liquid cargo.
Merchant ships are designed to carry dry cargo.
(f) Warships are designed for speed.
Warships are designed for maneuverability.

Sometimes the linking of two structures can be made more complete by putting a word
before the connecting word. This tells us to expect an addition or an alternative a little
later. Study these samples.
1. Additions: both . .. and; not only .. . but also
Some ferries carry both passengers and cars. Some ferries carry not only passengers but
also cars.
2. Alternatives: either ... or; neither... nor (negative)
Merchant ships are designed to carry either liquid or dry cargo.
The sailor had neither money nor his passport.

Exercise l.
Rewrite these sentences using the above pairs of connecting words as appropriate in as
many ways as possible, but keeping the original meaning:
(a) He failed the practical exam and the written exam. (b) A cadet can train as a Deck
or an Engineer Officer. (c) The crew saved the ship and the cargo.

They had no food and no water for two days.

Some ferries carry passengers and vehicles.
Merchant ships operate as tramps or liners.