Ship Types in Database

Datalastic offers a detailed, extensive vessel information database that covers a very large variety of ship types. We aim to make sure you will find the exact type of vessel information using the database that is available either for one-time download or can or as vessel information data API. The CSV format of the database allows working on it easily and conveniently. Furthermore, the database is also available via Vessel Info API if you would like to access the ship types database in JSON format.

Download Ship Types Data – 24 Most Common Types in the Ship Types Database

In this article, we will take a further look at the 24 most common vessel types included when you access ship types database. We will be providing a short description of the most widely-used vessel types. We will also mention their purposes of use and what to expect when you download ship types data. 

• WIGs (Wing-in-ground Effect): WIG vessels are designed to operate right above the surface of water. Even though this interesting craft looks like a seaplane, it is categorized as a ship by the International Maritime Organization.

• Search and Rescue Aircraft: The most common search and rescue vessels are lifeboats. They are categorized as “in-land” boats for lakes and rivers, “in-shore” for rescue operations that are closer to the shore and “off-shore” for open water operations.
• Fishing Vessel: These operate on seas, lakes or rivers and include both commercial and sport fishing vessels. They can go up to 25 meters of length. There are over 5 million fishing vessels in the world but it’s near impossible to estimate the number of sportfishing vessels.
• Towing: Authorities use tow vessels in emergency situations where another vessel is disabled on open seas. Towing vessels often have highly advanced mobility.
• Dredger: Dredgers are used for excavating material that is fully or partially underwater. They mainly serve the purposes of organizing waterways, coastal protection, redevelopment or collecting materials.
• Dive Ops: “Diving support vessels” acts as a base for professional divers during diving operations. 
• Military Ops: These include military ships, boats, submarines, and warships.
• Sailing Vessel: Sailing ships use sails that are mounted on their masts to benefit from the wind power and move. They have been used for transportation, discovery, and merchant activities throughout history.
• Pleasure Craft: Pleasure crafts (or boats) divide in two main categories that are motorboats and sailboats. They are often used on narrow waters and for personal usage.
• HSC: High-speed crafts are known as “fast ferries” and are for civilian use. They are often between 24 and 60 meters in length.
• Pilot: Pilot boats allow the pilots to transport between the land and the ship they are piloting. Even though they serve a simple purpose, they can go up to 25 meters in length.
• Search and Rescue Vessel: These are operated by the military, coast guard, or voluntary rescue organizations. The term “search and rescue vessel” covers aircraft such as flying boats, amphibious and non-amphibious helicopters, and floatplanes along with surface vessels.
• Tug: Tugs are used for pushing or pulling other, often very large vessels that have limited maneuverability. There are mainly 3 types of tugboats: deep-sea, harbor and river tugs.
• Port Tender: These are support ships or large boats that serve the purpose of transporting supplies, people or crew from and to another ship or shore.
• Anti-Pollution Vessel: These vessels are unquestionable friends of the environment. They play an important part in absorbing pollutants after accidents that lead to water pollution, especially with oil spills. They usually have the ability to maneuver 360 degrees.
• Law Enforcement: These vessels focus on durability and speed, and play a crucial part in fighting against criminal activity on open waters around the world.
• Local Vessel: These cover a wide variety of ships. The most common ones would be local ferries for passenger transportation. Others include inner harbour passenger ships, island ferries, and barges.
• Medical Transport: These ships function as a medical treatment facility on open waters. They are often operated by the military but must not be used for military purposes and must treat people of all nations. 
• Noncombatant: The word noncombatant is a war law term and refers to civilians who are not directly hostile. Noncombatant vessels are large ships or boats that serve the purpose of transporting these on open waters. 
• Passenger Ships: These are used to carry passengers for both touristic and transportation purposes. Cruise ships, ferries and ocean liners are the main types of passenger ships. They are categorized based on the hazard level of the cargo as “Hazardous category A”, “Hazardous category B”, “Hazardous category C” and “Hazardous category D” in our database.
• Cargo: All Ships: Cargo vessels provide transportation of any sort of cargo, goods and materials from port to port for commercial purposes. The ships are categorized based on their cargo capacity, weight and dimensions separately. Apart from these, they are also categorized based on the hazard level of the cargo as “Hazardous category A”, “Hazardous category B”, “Hazardous category C”, “Hazardous category D” in our database.
• Tanker: Tankships are used for port-to-port transportation of liquids or gases. The most common ones are oil tankers, chemical tankers and gas carriers. They are also used for refueling other ships. They are categorized based on the hazard level of the cargo as “Hazardous category A”, “Hazardous category B”, “Hazardous category C” and “Hazardous category D” in our database.
• RACON: Radar beacons (shortly, RACONs) are used for detecting and identifying radar targets on water.
• Isolated Danger: Isolated danger marks are sea marks that draw attention to a hazardous area around it.

All vessel types with its AIS code database:

The vessel information database includes always a ship type and specific vessel subtype with a type and subtype combination there are more than 300 different ship types that allow you to receive very precise information about the vessel regardless what you choose 1 time download database or an API. 

You may click the button below to purchase the vessel database or subscribe to the API version right away to access the ship types database. Download ship types data at affordable prices and start your project! Feel free to contact us anytime if you have any questions!

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