Hello everybody!

Welcome to our first online lesson. Today, you are going to read a text about types of
merchant ships. At the end of this lesson, you will be able to name some types of
merchant ships and say what type of cargo they carry. In order to do this, you need to
follow my instructions. So, let’s start.

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Step 1:

Look at the words in the box. Are they familiar to you? If they are not, read the text
below and try to guess the meaning from the context.

dry bulk cargo

liquid cargo

‘tween deck

refrigerated ships

liquefied natural gas

passenger liners

cruise ships

bow

stern

Types of Merchant Ships

Merchant ships can be classified according to what they carry. Most are designed
to carry cargo, but a few still carry passengers.
Cargo ships can be divided into two basic types. One type carries dry cargo, the
other carries liquid cargo; however, an OBO ship is designed to carry both.

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 A traditional cargo ship is the multi-deck vessel. Her holds are divided horizontally
by one or two ‘tween decks, because these make stowage of individual packages easier.
Dry bulk cargo is carried in bulk carriers. These do not have ‘tween decks as cargo is
carried loose. The most modern type of dry cargo carrier is the container ship. They carry
containers of standard dimensions, consequently stowage is easier. Fruit, meat and dairy
produce are carried in refrigerated ships. Oil tankers are the most common type of liquid
cargo carrier. They are often very large, because huge quantities of oil need to be
transported and one large vessel is more economical to operate than two small ones.
Two other types of liquid bulk carrier of growing importance are the liquefied natural gas
carrier (LNG) and the chemical carrier, although chemicals can also be carried in drums
in general cargo ships.
In comparison with cargo vessels, passenger ships are fewer in number and type.
The traditional passenger ship is the passenger liner; however, many carry cargo as well.
Nowadays their number has been greatly reduced, because of competition from air
transport. Another type of passenger vessel is the cruise ship. These are similar in
appearance to passenger liners. The most common type of passenger vessel is the ferry.
Many of them are also designed to carry vehicles, therefore they have doors at the stern
or bow.
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Step 2:
I hope you enjoyed reading this text. Now I would like you to get back to the box with
key words. Can you translate them into our language? Try to do it. Then look at the box
on page 4 to check your answers.

Here are some more interesting words from the text:

merchant trgovački

however međutim

OBO Oil Bale Ore

bale bala, paket

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 to divide podijeliti

loose u rasutom stanju

consequently stoga, usljed toga

stowage slaganje tereta

dairy produce mliječni proizvodi

reduce smanjiti

competition konkurencija

therefore stoga, usljed toga

Step 3:
Let’s do some exercises. You can write your answers in the notebooks.

I Write the words for the following definitions.

1. Ships in which cargo is carried in containers ______________________
2. Ships which carry both dry cargo and liquid cargo __________________
3. Ship which carry fruit, meat and dairy produce _____________________
4. Ships which carry passengers on a regular route ___________________
5. Ships which carry dry bulk cargo ___________________________
6. Ships which carry vehicles __________________________
7. Ships which carry liquid cargo ________________________

II Answer the following questions.

1. How can merchant ships be classified?
2. How can cargo ships be divided?
3. Why do traditional cargo ships have ‘tween decks?
4. Do bulk carriers have ‘tween decks?
5. Why is stowage easier in container ships?
6. Why is the number of traditional passenger ships reduced?

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 7. What do ferries have?
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dry bulk cargo suvi rasuti teret

liquid cargo tečni teret

‘tween deck međupalublje

refrigerated ships brodovi hladnjače

liquefied natural gas ukapljeni prirodni gas

passenger ships putnički brodovi

liners linijski brodovi

cruise ships kruzeri

bow pramac

stern krma

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This is the end of our lesson. You will hear from me again soon.

Goodbye for now and take care of yourselves.