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Types of passenger ships

Passenger ships are divided into several types.

· Ocean liner- a type of ship that follows a given route and delivers passengers from one part of the world to another. This type of ship was very popular in the last century, particularly for crossing the Atlantic. Now ocean liners have evolved into modern cruise ships.
· Cruise liner- as a rule, makes international flights and transports passengers from one group tourism program, that is, according to a schedule with calls at one or more ports. Modern cruise ships combine a fast ocean liner with the luxury of a tourist hotel.
· River cruise liners travel through the internal waters of one state with stops at designated ports. River liners are much smaller than ocean liners, they can accommodate up to 240 passengers.
· Cruise ferry- a type of vessel that combines the functions of a cruise ship and a ferry.

River passenger ships

All river vessels can be divided into two large categories:

1. Vessels equipped with an engine, that is, self-propelled. This includes motor ships, steamships, boats, motor boats etc.
2. Vessels without an engine, that is, non-self-propelled. These are primarily cargo barges, as well as pontoons and other structures.

The main type of self-propelled vessel is a bulk carrier. Bulk carriers transport cargo in a hold located inside the ship's hull. As the name implies, dry cargo ships carry cargo that is not desirable to be exposed to moisture, which is why dry cargo ships are equipped with special hatches.

Among dry cargo ships, there are three types of vessels:

1. Roller (ro-ro). This vessel is equipped with vertical loading; it transports cars and other equipment.
2. Cars can enter the ship under their own power through folding bow ramps.
3. Bulk carrier. This type of vessel is designed for the transportation of bulk, non-packaged (and sometimes liquid) cargo. For example, if the cargo is river sand for delivery, then most likely it will be delivered on a bulk carrier.
4. Bulk bulk carrier. Such bulk carriers transport various types of liquid cargo, such as oil, ammonia, liquid fuel, etc.

If we talk about non-self-propelled vessels, the leader here is the cargo barge. There are several types of barges:

· Bilge (closed and open), *
· Areas for bulk transportation,
· Tent,
· Self-unloading,
· Car carriers,
· Cement tankers,

and others. However, all these types belong to dry cargo barges; there are also liquid barges.

Advantages of river transport

1. River transportation of goods has a fairly low cost, and this is a big plus for customers. Low cost is possible due to the low speed of transportation and the presence of currents on the rivers.
2. There is no need to build and, accordingly, repair transport routes, as is done for road and rail transport.

Disadvantages of river transport

1. Paradoxically, what provides the main advantage is the main disadvantage. We are talking about the low speed of river vessels and, accordingly, long delivery times.
2. Relatively weak capabilities in relation to transportation volumes.
3. Pronounced seasonality of transportation associated with short navigation. In other words, in winter the rivers freeze and ships are laid up.
4. The different depths and widths of rivers in different places and the sizes of vessels impose additional restrictions on transportation.

A vessel for transporting passengers (at least 12 people) and their luggage. There are P. s. sea, river, mixed (sea and river) navigation, for short and long-distance transportation. On large P. s. (see figure) is located St. 2000 passengers. The peculiarity of P. s.... ... Big Encyclopedic Polytechnic Dictionary

The vessel for transporting passengers and their luggage has cabins and special rooms. There are sea, river and mixed navigation (river-sea). EdwART. Explanatory Naval Dictionary, 2010 ... Marine Dictionary

A vessel designed to transport passengers and their luggage; to ensuring the safety of navigation of P. s. have increased demands. See ship...

PASSENGER SHIP- A transport vessel for transporting passengers (at least 12 people) and their luggage on sea and ocean regular lines (see Liner), inland waterways, as well as for recreation and tourist travel (see Cruise ship). Feature of P.S.... ... Marine encyclopedic reference book

Passenger ship- passenger ship, a vessel designed to transport passengers;... Source: Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation dated 08/12/2010 N 623 (as amended on 09/04/2012) On approval of technical regulations on the safety of inland water transport facilities... Official terminology

This term has other meanings, see Vessel (meanings). Ship ... Wikipedia

A ship, a floating structure designed to perform certain economic and military tasks, scientific research, water sports etc. Classification of conveyors. According to their purpose, conveyors are distinguished: transport, commercial,... ... Great Soviet Encyclopedia

This term has other meanings, see Vessel (meanings). Hydrofoil "Karla" (model "Voskhod", made in Ukraine) in the Netherlands ... Wikipedia

Project A 145 ... Wikipedia

This term has other meanings, see Vessel (meanings). Hovercraft Drive... Wikipedia

Books

Whisper of the wind
Whisper of the Wind, Elizabeth Haran. A touching story of all-conquering love, shamed deceit and the triumph of justice. On small island A small passenger ship is heading near the Australian continent.…

Until the 1880s, all seagoing steamships had basically the same design. True, some had more passengers on board, while others had more goods on board, but this depended only on their destination.

Of course, the ships also differed in size and speed. However, the type of ship itself remained unchanged. Meanwhile, in the last third of the 19th century, the countries of Europe and the United States experienced rapid industrialization.

With the increase in trade turnover, the volume of maritime transport has sharply increased. Accordingly, loading goods onto ships began to take longer. Passengers could not wait long.

In view of this, it was necessary to change the usual course of things. We have already said that in the first half of the 19th century, shipping companies separated from trading companies. Now the division of labor has begun between the shipping companies themselves. Some began to engage mainly in cargo delivery, others - in passenger transportation.

For the most impatient passengers, express ships were invented. They also transported mail and urgent cargo. Cargo ships (which, however, often had passenger compartments) moved more slowly.
At the same time, the first special coal mining vessels appeared. They transported the only source of energy around the world - coal. Following them, refrigerator ships, tankers, ore carriers, etc. began to be built. Let's take a closer look at the different types of ships.

What is a passenger ship?

Passenger ships are designed to transport passengers. They are easily recognized by their high superstructures and long rows of side windows (the so-called round windows in the ship's hull).

Previously, up to four huge chimneys towered above the deck of a passenger ship. Nowadays, such ships have either a single chimney or exhaust struts, which are usually located in pairs at the rear of the stern. Passenger ships vary in size and speed.

Passenger ship MSC LIRICA

In addition, some ships only carry passengers (such as express trains and cruise ships), while others, along with passenger compartments, also have cargo compartments.
Until the 50s of our century, passenger transportation across the Atlantic and other oceans was carried out mainly using steamships. However, later people increasingly began to prefer airplanes, so in the early 1970s, passenger traffic ceased on almost all transatlantic routes.
Nowadays, as a rule, people travel on cruise ships that sail to the most picturesque corners of the world.

Express Steamers and the Atlantic Blue Riband

Already by the beginning of the 1880s, express steamships were distinguished within the class of passenger ships. Every self-respecting ship-owning company strives for the fastest ship in the world - just to attract new passengers.

The governments of a number of countries provide subsidies to shipowners, wanting their country's ship to receive the Atlantic Blue Ribbon prize. This prize, established in 1840, was awarded to the passenger ship that could cross the Atlantic Ocean from east to west the fastest. A special blue pennant was hung on the mast of the winning ship, and its crew received a cash bonus.

"Kaiser Wilhelm" (1897) - the largest and fastest ship of its time

In 1880, the speed record was set by the British ships Arizona and Germanic. With a tonnage of 5,000 gross registered tons, their speed reached 16 knots. Two years later, the ship "Alaska" (tonnage 6932 gross tons) was already reaching a speed of over 16 knots. In 1884, the speed of the ship "Oregon" (tonnage 7375 gross tons) reached 18.56 knots. And in 1886, two vessels of the same type, “Umbria” and “Etruria” (tonnage 7718 gross tons), set new speed records: 18.9 and 19.65 knots, respectively.

In 1888, large luxury express steamships began to be built. The speed of such vessels exceeded 20 knots. In 1893, the ships Campania and Lucania reached a speed of more than 21 knots. In 1898, the Blue Riband was won for the first time by the German steamship Kaiser Wilhelm (14,350 gross tons, 22.29 knots). After this, until 1907, German ships retained their leadership.

The ship "Mauritania", which held the Blue Riband for twenty years - from 1909 to 1929

Then the British took over again. In 1909, the ship "Mauritania" (tonnage 30,000 gross tons) reaches a speed of 26.06 knots. This ship held the Blue Riband until 1929. Other ships, unable to break this record, sought to surpass the Mauretania at least in size. Thus, in 1911 and 1912, steamships with a tonnage of 45,000 tons, the Olympic and the Titanic, sailed across the Atlantic.
For the latter, this voyage is over terrible disaster. The Titanic has already completed its maiden voyage along the Southampton route - NY, when on the night of April 14-15, 1912, 150 kilometers from the island of Newfoundland, it encountered an iceberg. Despite the warning of danger, this heavy-duty steamer, considered unsinkable, continued to move at the highest speed - 25 knots.
The captain of the Titanic and the president of the shipping company who sailed on it relied on the strength of the ship's double bottom and other means of protection. However, the sharp underwater protrusion of the iceberg cut through the hull of the ship with lightning speed.
A hole almost a hundred meters long was formed. The water rushing inside flooded the engine room, and the Titanic stopped. The panic began. The lifeboats had too little space for the 2,206 people on board. At 2:20 a.m. the Titanic sank. The largest shipwreck in history resulted in the death of 1,503 passengers and crew.

In 1913, the largest ship in the world was the German steamer Imperator.

In 1913, three German giant steamships “Emperor”, “Vaterland” and “Bismarck” (each tonnage over 50,000 gross tons) began to operate. For twenty years they remained the largest ships in the world, but they failed to win the Blue Riband. In 1929, this was done by the German steamship Bremen (27.83 knots), and a year later it was overtaken by a ship of the same type, Europe (27.91 knots).
In 1933, the Italian “Rex” won (28.92 knots). In 1935 and 1936, the superships Normandy and Queen Mary appeared, both with a tonnage of 80,000 gross tons. Their speed reached almost 31 knots. The last owner of the Blue Ribbon was the American steamship United States. In 1952, he crossed the Atlantic at a speed of 34.51 knots. There were no new records: with the advent of jet airliners, steamships stopped competing in speed.

Since 1934, the winners began to be awarded a silver cup. Recently, a court forced the Americans to hand over this cup to one of the British companies, on whose order the Hoverspeed Great Briton sea catamaran was built.
In 1990, it crossed the Atlantic Ocean 2 hours 42 minutes faster than the USS United States. Experts, however, have questioned this record.
Firstly, the catamaran was sailing from America to Europe, and in this part of the ocean the wind mainly blows West wind, which - unlike its predecessors - helped the British ship.
Secondly, a catamaran is not a passenger ship. But the court decided otherwise.

What is a refrigerated ship?

In the second half of the 19th century, population growth in the developed industrial countries of the world was so rapid that they Agriculture could no longer feed all the inhabitants. Meanwhile, in the vast expanses of Australia and South America Huge herds of cattle roamed, the meat of which would have been enough for Europeans. But how to preserve it when transporting across the ocean?
And so, in 1875, an ammonia refrigeration compressor unit was designed, which developed the necessary power, and most importantly, it could be mounted on a ship.

In 1877-1880, the first cargo refrigeration holds were equipped on British and French ships.
They carried meat from South America to Europe. Refrigeration units continued to improve - and now it is possible to organize the delivery of meat from Australia. At the beginning of this century, bananas began to be transported from Central America to Europe on refrigerated ships.

At first, cargo ships had only separate refrigeration rooms, but later real floating refrigerators appeared, the entire hold of which was dedicated to refrigeration chambers.
These vessels are shaped like yachts. This impression is completed by their color, usually white. The technical data of modern refrigerated ships are as follows: tonnage of more than 10,000 gross tons, speed of over 20 knots, temperature in the holds down to -20°C.

What is a tanker?

In the middle of the last century, oil production increased sharply in Pennsylvania (USA) and in the Baku region.

At that time, it was mainly used to make kerosene, which was used for lighting homes.

"Gluckauf" - the progenitor of modern tankers

The extracted oil was poured into barrels and delivered to Europe. However, this did not come cheap. And so the German shipowner Riedemann converted the sailing ship Andromeda into some kind of oil tanker.
After this, Riedemann began building the first special tanker “Glückauf” (“Happy Return”) at one of the English shipyards. It was ready in 1886.
At first, people were wary of the new ship. It was called a “floating bomb”, because next to the most dangerous cargo the fire of the steam boilers was blazing with might and main. But technological progress could not be stopped.

The need for liquid fuel was increasing. It increased especially sharply after the invention of internal combustion engines and the diesel engine. In 1914, 340 sea tankers were built in the world, each with a tonnage of more than 1000 gross tons.
And in 1939, the number of such tankers already exceeded 1,700. The largest of them was the German K.O. Shtilman." Its tonnage was 16,436 gross tons, and its carrying capacity was 24,000 tons.

After the Second World War, due to the rapid development of the economy, the demand for energy resources increased significantly. Oil remained the most important energy source, so the countries where it was produced had to supply it in ever larger quantities. New large tankers are being built. Now these ships, and not passenger ships, compete with each other, trying to surpass each other in size.

Tankers are relatively slow-moving ships. Their speed rarely exceeds 16 knots. Until the 1960s, tankers could be recognized from afar by one characteristic feature their design: the chimney was located in the stern, and the captain's bridge rose in the middle of the ship. Later, all superstructures are moved to the stern.

The largest tanker in the world "Batillus"

Tankers are designed to transport any liquid cargo: crude oil, gasoline, vegetable oil, wine... Modern food tankers can simultaneously transport more than twenty types of liquid products, and they are stored at different temperatures.
When transporting fats and tar products, tankers are equipped with special heating systems, because if such cargo hardens, it cannot be pumped out.

What is a bulk carrier?

Bulk carriers are used to transport so-called bulk cargo: for example, ore, coal, cement, fertilizers, grain, sugar and others. Such ships usually do not have cargo rigging; upon arrival at their destination, they are unloaded using special port mechanisms.

These days, the largest bulk carriers are capable of transporting up to 160,000 tons of cargo in one voyage.

Bulk carrier POLA ATLANTIC with cranes

What is a ferry?

Bridges are usually built across rivers and narrow sea straits. Where this is technically impossible (or economically unprofitable), ferries are used for crossing.
The prototype of these ships was the tiny wooden boats that ferrymen used to transport people in the old days. In our age of technological progress, mainly self-propelled ferries are operated.

There are passenger and transport ferries. The first transport passengers to the other side of a river, canal, bay or to a nearby island. Transport ferries once carried carts or carriages, but now they have been replaced by motor vehicles (which is why such ferries are also called car ferries).
There are also sea car ferries, which we will talk about later.

In the middle of the 19th century, the construction of railways began in many countries around the world. But their construction was often hampered by large water barriers over which it was impossible to build a railway bridge.
This problem was encountered not only island states(Great Britain, Japan), but also, for example, the USA in the Great Lakes region and on the coast, heavily indented by bays. They solved it by inventing railway ferries: they began to build ships with rails on the deck, which, thanks to special ferry berths, were precisely aligned with the track railway. The train drove onto the deck, and the ferry transported it to the other side.

Over time, train ferries improved. Thus, in 1903, ferries with a tonnage of only 1,500 gross tons operated between the German port of Warnemünde and the Swedish Hesser. Now this figure reaches 20,000 br.reg.t.

What is a dry cargo ship?

Bulk carriers have been the backbone of the world's merchant fleet for a century. These days, container ships are more often used instead.

The first dry cargo ships appeared in the 70s of the 19th century. From this time until the 1960s, their appearance remained almost unchanged, although many innovations were introduced into their design. All superstructures were located in the middle part of the ship, and a chimney rose above them.
There were up to six loading hatches in front and behind the captain's bridge (depending on the size of the ship). Several conventional and cargo masts were also installed there.

Dry cargo ships transported a variety of goods, except those delivered by special vessels (refrigerators, tankers, bulk carriers). Often such ships also had a number of passenger cabins.

Usually dry cargo ships sailed on schedule, but there were also those that, without any schedule, were sent to where there was any cargo for them. Such vessels are called tramps (“vagrants”).

The first bulk carriers were very slow. Their speed did not exceed 10 knots. Back in 1950, a cargo ship moving at a speed of 15 knots was considered fast. Meanwhile, the volume and pace of world trade increased.
Therefore, in the 1960s, high-speed dry cargo ships were created. These were ships with a tonnage of about 11,000 gross tons, reaching speeds of up to 25 knots. They made it possible to reduce the time of cargo transportation, but did not completely solve the problem.

And so, when the last dry cargo ships were still being laid down at the shipyards, the first container ships began to be built, which significantly speeded up transshipment work in the ports.

What are the main types of fishing vessels?

In the 80s of the 19th century, special fishing vessels also appeared. In those days, a trawl (a mesh bag with a hole for catching fish) was thrown directly over the side of the ship. The net with the catch was pulled back over the side.

Steamships of a similar design existed until the 1950s, when the first trawlers with stern trawling began to be built. On such vessels, the catch is lifted upward using a stern slip. The size of the trawls increased, and fewer fishermen could pull them out.

Trawler Nida

Trawlers are the largest of the fishing vessels. They have good seaworthiness and go fishing far from the port. The trawler's carrying capacity reaches 800 tons. There are other specialized vessels for fishing.
For example, drifters set nets on the surface of the sea, and high-speed seiners hunt for schools of fish using a purse-seine net.

Since the 1960s, a new type of vessel has been created - fish processing vessels. On them, the caught fish is immediately cut up and fillets and other semi-finished products are made from it.

What is a whaling ship?

Whaling vessels are also classified as fishing vessels, although a whale is not a fish at all, but a huge mammal. In the 17th-19th centuries, whales were hunted from large rowboats. Whalers tried to hit their victims with a spear or harpoon. In this fierce duel, the whales often won, attacking the ships pursuing them and smashing them into pieces in a rage.

If the whale was killed, then the boat towed its carcass to big ship- a floating base where fat (blub) was melted from a dead animal.

During the era of steamships, industrial whaling began. Entire flotillas of whaling ships appear, led by a huge floating base, which is a real factory for cutting and processing whale carcasses.

The whalers themselves are small, fast ships armed with a special cannon. The harpoon released by it, tied to a strong rope, pierces the whale’s body and holds the animal as if on a hook. This cruel fishery reduced whale numbers so much that almost all countries abandoned it in the 1960s.

There are also other fishing vessels adapted, for example, for seal hunting or crab fishing.

What other types of ships are there?

There are a lot of them. A wide variety of ships ply the seas. Some check sea routes and monitor their safety, others ensure the smooth operation of ports, etc. Such vessels are called auxiliary.

In the 19th century, to establish rapid communication between Europe and America and other parts of the world, a network of underwater cables was laid along the bottom of the oceans. Special cable-laying vessels were engaged in this. And these days, although we often prefer radio or satellite communications, there is still plenty of work for these ships.

Floating lighthouses are placed near river mouths and in shallow waters to guide ships. However, recently they are increasingly being replaced by signal towers or buoys, which must be constantly checked. This is also done by special courts.

We must not forget about tugboats. Some of them help large sea ships enter a narrow river bed or escort them through the port waters to their parking lot. Sea tugs pull large floating docks or lighters behind them, rushing to the aid of ships that have run aground.

Rescue ships come to the aid of shipwrecked victims. These are small, maneuverable and practically unsinkable ships that develop enormous speed.

Icebreakers have become indispensable assistants to sailors who sail in freezing seas. The first icebreaker in history was designed and built by Russian Admiral Makarov. The ship with a displacement of 8,730 tons, called "Ermak", had a streamlined hull so that during lateral compression the ice would not crush it, but would only push it upward, a beveled bow like an iron for crawling onto ice floes and unusually powerful engines.

In the summer of 1899, “Ermak” made a test voyage in the waters of the Arctic (which, however, ended in failure) and since then took part in many “ice voyages” and rescue expeditions, continuing to serve until 1963. We have not listed all types of ships.

There are also pilot boats, drill ships, research ships, bunkering ships, floating cranes, fire boats, as well as all kinds of river vessels.

Shipbuilding in the 20th century

Over the course of this century, the shape of ships has undergone significant changes.

In 1900, steamships had a sharp vertical stem and an oblique elliptical stern. The decks ran from bow to stern, describing a smooth arc with a characteristic sheerness. Then the stern of the ship began to be rounded.
In the 1930s, ships with protruding stems began to be built. This form is still widespread today. In the 60s, shipbuilders again returned to the transom stern, that is, a stern with a flat cut, well known since the days of the sailing fleet.
At the same time, ships with a bulbous bow began to be built. Its name is associated with a torpedo-shaped, spherical or barrel-shaped thickening in the underwater part, due to which the speed of the ship increases sharply and less fuel is consumed.

A vessel with a traditional bow (left) drives a high wave ahead of it. To cope with it, the engine consumes a lot of energy. The bulbous nose (on the right) allows you to “extinguish” the wave. Thanks to it, water resistance is significantly reduced.

In the 50s, shipbuilding abandoned riveting hammers. Ships began to be built from welded structures. And from the late 60s, shipbuilders began to be guided exclusively by the principle of rationality. Now only the underwater part of the vessel is given a streamlined shape, but otherwise the geometry of the ship is extremely simple: straight decks, ribbed superstructures. Vertical and horizontal lines reign everywhere. Exceptions are made only for passenger airliners.

Ship engines have also changed a lot over the past hundred years. At the beginning of the century, the fastest ships were driven by turbines. They were first equipped in 1901 by the King Edward, a ferry that plied between the shores of the English Channel. And just six years later, the turbine ship Lusitania won the Blue Riband.

In 1912, sea ships appeared. The first of them was called "Zealand"; he sailed under the Danish flag. In the 20-30s, ships with diesel and turboelectric drives were created.
At the same time, high-pressure boilers are being improved. Since the 60s, high-speed diesel engines have been increasingly used in shipbuilding. It takes up much less space than a huge, low-speed diesel engine. During World War II, ships with gas turbine engines became widespread.

It remains to mention the so-called nuclear-powered ships. True, professionals argue that this term is not entirely accurate. The fact is that a nuclear reactor only produces energy, thanks to which the water in the ship’s boiler is heated and turned into steam; It is he who sets the turbines in motion.
Most often, a nuclear reactor is installed on warships. Having taken on board a supply of uranium fuel, an aircraft carrier or Submarine can stay on the open sea for a very long time. Some Arctic icebreakers are also equipped with nuclear reactors. The first of these was the Soviet nuclear-powered icebreaker Lenin, built in 1959.

Most modern large ships have special thrusters that are installed at the bow or stern. Thanks to them, the ship can move sideways, which is very convenient for maneuvering in narrow water areas. If it were not for these rudders, no ship would be able to moor or cast off without the help of a tug.

Ship safety

If we wanted to even briefly talk about all the technical innovations that help us make sea voyages safer, we would have to write another book for the “What is what” series. Therefore, we will mention only three main achievements of the 20th century in this area.

1 In the 1900s, ships began to be equipped with radiotelegraph. At first it appeared on passenger ships, and later on all other ships. From this time on, the sailors maintained constant contact with land throughout their voyage and could ask for help at any moment.

2 Nowadays, ships are equipped with radars (this is a radio detection and ranging system, named after the first letters of the words of the corresponding English expression: Radio Detecting and Ranging). Radars ensure the safety of a ship at night or when sailing in foggy conditions. Previously, they were used only in the navy.

3 In the 1980s, computer satellite navigation systems became widespread. Now, using data received from satellites, you can find out at any time and in any weather the exact location of the ship and much, much more that you need to know for safe navigation.

Recently, scientists have been working hard on an “electronic marine chart.” Some ships are already using it.

Ships began to be used as a means of transporting passengers during times of mass migration and travel to the United States of America. Regular passenger flights in the North Atlantic began with sailing packet boats.

Since the late 40s of the 19th century. Ships belonging to the GAPAG company plied between New York and Hamburg. In order to generate good income from the flights, they were equipped not only to transport postal cargo, but also to transport people.

Each packet boat owned by the company carried twenty first-class passengers and accommodated two hundred European emigrants on the tween deck.

In those same years, ocean steamers of the Ocean Steamship Navigation Company, which was later replaced by North German Lloyd, operated between New York and Bremen. In the field of transatlantic transportation, the British competed most actively. Get it greatest number passengers, and therefore make good money, sought in a variety of ways. It was then that the competition began for the right to be called the most beautiful, comfortable, fast and reliable ship of the transatlantic line.

In 1909, the fastest liner was considered the Mauritania, owned by the Kunarn Line company. She made the flight from Europe to America at a maximum speed of 26.6 knots.

One of the last of the brilliant line of ocean-going superliners built between the two world wars was the famous Ile de France. It was a floating giant with gourmet restaurants and entertainment venues. For its comfort, the liner received the honorary unofficial title “Rue de la Nez” - by analogy with the famous fashionable street of Paris. The length of the Ile de France was 241 m, width - 28 m. The ship glided across the sea at a speed of 23 knots.

For thirty-two years, from 1927 to 1959, the ship uninterruptedly served the Le Havre - New York line. There was not a single case when even one of its 1,345 passenger seats was empty - mostly cabins for two persons.

Many celebrities traveled on this liner across the Atlantic Ocean: Maurice Chevalier, Arturo Toscani, Fyodor Chaliapin, Anna Pavlova and others. In 1959, the Ile de France, which by that time had already won the Knight's Cross for Merit sea" and 85 diplomas for the best cuisine, made its last voyage and was sold to the Japanese for $1.2 million for scrapping.

But the fate of the floating giant did not end there. When the ship was heading to the dismantling site, it was noticed by an American film producer. He subsequently paid the Japanese owner $4,000 a day for the right to film the death scenes for the film “The Last Voyage” at the Ile de France.

At that time, the 10-year construction of the new miracle of the century, “France,” was nearing completion. This super luxury ship even had an artificial park. Its speed was 30 knots. And the United States was considered one of the fastest passenger liners of that time. Its top speed was 36.5 knots. The ship could simultaneously accommodate up to 3,000 people. On board there were well-equipped dance and sports halls, swimming pools, such public spaces as music and smoking rooms, work rooms, etc.

Four turbines with a total capacity of 240,000 hp. With. rotated four huge propellers, due to which the ship plowed the waters. United States crossed the Atlantic in four days. Almost everything on board was made from new, non-flammable materials, including curtains, soft chairs and beds. The liner was also the first ship whose entire superstructure was made exclusively of aluminum.

Speed is not a primary consideration for transatlantic passenger ships these days. In this regard, airplanes will always remain unrivaled. The services of liners, motor ships, etc. are used by those who are not limited by time and prefer reliable, comfortable and cheaper travel.

Marine passenger ships - in the former sense of the word - have practically not survived. Modern liners have become truly floating resorts, designed for tourist cruises and pleasure flights.

Classification of passenger ships according to various criteria

At all water transport fleet can be divided on the:

- technical(work is carried out to clean and deepen the bottom);

- auxiliary(services transport and technical vessels);

- trade(designed to transport goods and passengers).

By operational function ships that carry passengers are divided into:

- passenger ships;

- cargo-passenger ships.

A ship is considered a passenger ship, having premises for the carriage of more than 12 passengers. On passenger ships, the surface volume of the hull is occupied mainly by passenger spaces.

A cargo-passenger vessel is considered to be designed for the simultaneous transportation of passengers and cargo. They have most of the surface volume of the hull occupied by cargo spaces.

Compared to cargo ships, passenger ships have more life-saving equipment, enhanced fire protection and are designed in such a way that they remain afloat if any two adjacent compartments are flooded.

By sailing area passenger ships are divided:

- Ocean Passenger ships are the largest and have great autonomy. Ocean swimming is considered between ports located in different seas at a distance of over 1000 miles, at a distance from the coast of more than 200 miles, as well as navigation in the northern seas.

- Marine Passenger ships are smaller than ocean-going ships. The cruising range is relatively short due to limited fuel reserves. Such swimming is considered sea , in which ships move away from the coast at a distance of 50-200 miles, making voyages between ports located 250-1000 miles apart. Marine vessels carry out transportation of passengers, as a rule, between ports of one or several adjacent seas.

Passenger ships coastal navigation. Such swimming is considered coastal , in which ships move 20-50 miles from the coast, transitions between ports range from 50 to 250 miles. Vessels are usually smaller than sea-going vessels, designed to sail close to the coast between ports located a short distance from each other. Coastal vessels must have seaworthiness that allows them to sail in stormy weather. They are widely used in resort areas and in areas of large port cities to transport passengers to places of work and leisure. In recent years, hydrofoils and hovercraft have begun to be widely used in coastal navigation.

Vessels raid voyage can be removed from the coast over relatively short distances and are intended for short-term transportation of passengers (for example, hydrofoil pleasure boats).

According to seaworthiness by classification societies Passenger ships, like cargo ships, are divided into:

- vessels of unlimited navigation area(built taking into account the requirements of international conventions for the protection of lives at sea);

- vessels of limited navigation area(they are subject only to the laws and regulations of the authorities of the country along the coast of which the ship sails).

In addition, for passenger ships, in accordance with the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, the limitation of the navigation area is determined by the term "short international flight". Such a voyage means a voyage during which the ship travels no more than 200 miles from a port of refuge, and the voyage itself does not exceed 600 miles, counting from the last port of call of the country in which the voyage began to the final port of destination.

Depending on the mode of travel passenger ships are divided:

- displacement vessels,

- hydrofoil vessels (HFV),

- hovercraft (hovercraft),

- planing ships.

By type of transport activity passenger ships are divided:

Courts line navigation are called passenger ships that regularly transport passengers on established routes and according to announced schedules. Most of them are cargo-passenger and can be used both for purely passenger transportation, and combine them with the transportation of associated cargo.

Vessels cruising are purely passenger vessels and their cargo spaces are used only for the carriage of personal luggage of passengers. These ships have a particularly developed system of public passenger accommodations. Considering that cruises usually take place in areas with a favorable climate, special attention is paid to creating conditions for passengers to relax on deck. As a rule, most modern cruise ships are single-class. This simplifies the maintenance system and reduces costs.

Vessels line cruise sailing- these are liner ships used alternately in linear and cruise navigation (in the spring-winter period on regular lines, and in the autumn-winter period - for cruise voyages). During their construction, it is planned to increase the volume of premises for passengers' rest and the possibility of transferring the vessel to one class. Distinctive feature Such ships have a double passenger capacity: one - larger - for operation on a regular line with the division of passenger premises into two or three classes, and the other - for cruise flights - approximately 1.5-2 times smaller, giving passengers the right to use all passenger premises. When using liner ships on cruises, their passenger capacity is usually reduced (by about 20-30%).

- Passenger ferries.Passenger ferries are specialized vessels designed for the simultaneous transportation of passengers, as well as loaded and empty vehicles, including railway rolling stock. They are cargo-passenger ships, on which, on the one hand, all the necessary comfortable conditions are created that meet the requirements of a passenger ship, on the other hand, technological schemes for performing cargo operations characteristic of ro-ro ships are used.

Ferries operate mainly on sea crossings. For short-term voyages, passenger cabins on ferries are usually not available. However, if the journey lasts more than 12 hours (or more than 2-3 hours at night), the cabins are equipped with airplane-type seats. On ferries with a voyage duration of more than a day, there are always passenger cabins. Some of the cabins are specially allocated for car drivers.

Depending on the type of transported vehicles ferries are divided into:

- car-passenger ferries;

- train ferries.

Auto passenger ferries serve as transport arteries and are used to transport passengers. They have a number of design features:

ü large capacity;

ü high freeboard;

ü a superstructure extended almost along the entire length of the vessel;

ü their length to width ratio (L/B) is less than that of passenger ships of the same displacement (i.e. ferries are wider);

ü a developed system for rapid heeling and trim of the vessel to ensure the installation of exit ramps at the required angle of inclination and capable of maintaining the roll and trim of the vessel within specified limits, both during loading (unloading) of the vessel and during navigation.

Depending on the type of technological scheme for performing cargo operations and design features of entry devices Auto ferries are usually divided into:

- bilateral, have a device for loading and unloading cars (entrances) in the bow and stern. This allows cargo operations to be carried out according to a flow pattern (entry through one end, exit through the other) without maneuvering on deck and allows flights to be made without turning around at the final points, moving forward alternately with the bow and stern.

- unilateral, have entry only at one of the ends of the vessel: bow or stern.

- with side entrances, cargo operations are carried out through the ports located in the middle part of the vessel.

- universal, have side entrances and ramps at the ends (usually in the stern). Cargo operations on them can be carried out according to a flow process scheme.

One-way and universal ferries with stern entries have the best seaworthiness. They are usually used on lines with high leverage.

Rail ferries work on crossings that connect the final railway stations, located on various shores of straits or even sea areas. Loading and unloading of wagons is usually carried out through a special shore ramp connecting the shore access roads with the drop-down stern of the vessel.

Depending on the nature of the combination physiological and emotional components of comfort Passenger ships can be divided into:

- luxury vessels(cruise ships of unlimited navigation area);

- ships of average comfort(line cruise ships, coastal cruise ships and passenger car ferries);

- ships of moderate comfort(special purpose vessels and passenger ferries of strait navigation).

This division is to a certain extent arbitrary, but within each group the main types of passenger ships can be provided.

Depending on the level of comfort of the ships, for which the “five-star scale” adopted for the classification of coastal hotels is used, passenger ships are divided into:

1-2 stars- ships that operate on passenger transport lines,

3-4 stars- cruise ships that are intended for the so-called. “educational cruises” - which are based on frequent port calls and shore excursion services,

5 stars– ships, as a rule, are intended for passengers to relax on board the ship and shore excursion service is not essential for this category of ships.

In this scale, the number of stars increases in accordance with the increase in the level of structural and service comfort of the vessel.

Transportation of passengers is regulated by the Fundamentals of Civil Legislation, Civil Codes of states, as well as the Merchant Shipping Code of Ukraine and the General Rules for the Transportation of Goods, Passengers and Luggage. These documents mainly determine the legal status of the parties.

The main requirement for sea passenger transportation is safety. In accordance with the Convention, rules for the construction, equipment and inspection of passenger ships have been developed. Only vessels that meet the requirements of these rules are allowed to carry passengers:

ü passengers can be transported in rooms with a height of at least 1.9 m;

ü for each passenger there must be at least 2.6 volumes of rooms and 1.1 decks;

ü each passenger must have a sleeping place.

Such ships, in addition to general registration documents, are issued special ones: Passenger Certificate and Passenger Ship Safety Certificate.

Passenger certificate issued to all ships carrying more than 12 passengers. The certificate is a document certifying that the ship meets all the requirements for passenger ships in terms of unsinkability, fire protection, life-saving equipment, and has the necessary seaworthiness for passenger transportation. The certificate is issued for a period of 1 year (provided that during this time the validity of the certificate of seaworthiness of the vessel remains valid). It indicates the total number of passengers allowed to be carried on this ship, and the number of places: sleeping, sitting and on the deck. It establishes under what conditions the carriage of passengers on deck is permissible.

Passenger Ship Safety Certificate issued to passenger ships on overseas voyages. It is a document confirming that the vessel meets all requirements International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea 1974 and was surveyed in accordance with the provisions of this Convention. The certificate indicates :

ü cargo waterlines, divisions into compartments;

ü the ship's life-saving appliances and their capacity;

ü radio equipment of the ship and the procedure for maintaining radio watches.

In order to check their condition, passenger ships are subjected to periodic surveys by the Register :

- before start of operation vessels;

- next- once every 4 years per Register class;

- annual- to renew the relevant certificates;

- additional(extraordinary) - as needed.