Editing Ship (section)

{{short description|Large watercraft}}
{{Other uses}}
{{pp-move}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin |infobox caption=Ship}}
{{Infobox ship image
| Ship image=Containerterminal Altenwerder (Hamburg-Altenwerder).Iris Bolten.4.phb.ajb.jpg
| Ship image size=300px
| Ship caption=[[Feeder ship]] ''Iris Bolten'' at [[Container Terminal Altenwerder]], port of [[Hamburg|Hamburg, Germany]]
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
|Ship tonnage= Greater than {{DWT|500}}
|Ship sail plan= For [[sailing ship]]s&nbsp;– two or more masts,{{citation needed|date=May 2022}} variety of sail plans
|Ship propulsion= [[steam turbine]] ([[fossil fuel]], [[Nuclear fuel|nuclear]]), [[Diesel engine|diesel]], [[gas turbine]], [[Stirling engine|sterling]], [[Steam engine|steam]] (reciprocating)
}}
|}

A '''ship'''  is a large [[watercraft|vessel]] that travels the world's oceans and other [[Waterway|navigable waterways]], carrying cargo or passengers, or in support of specialized missions, such as defense, research and fishing. Ships are generally distinguished from [[boat]]s, based on size, shape, load capacity and purpose. Ships have supported [[Geographic exploration|exploration]], [[Global trade|trade]], [[Naval warfare|warfare]], [[Human migration|migration]], [[colonization]], and [[science]]. [[Ship transport]] is responsible for the largest portion of world commerce.

The word ''ship'' has meant, depending on the era and the context, either just a large vessel or specifically a [[Full-rigged ship|ship-rigged]] [[sailing ship]] with three or more masts, each of which is [[Square rig|square-rigged]].

The earliest historical evidence of boats is found in Egypt during the 4th millennium BCE.<ref name="Britannica - History of ships">[https://www.britannica.com/technology/ship/History-of-ships Britannica – History of ships]</ref> In 2024, ships had a global cargo capacity of 2.4 billion tons, with the three largest classes being ships carrying dry bulk (43%), oil tankers (28%) and container ships (14%).<ref name="UNCTAD2024">{{cite web | title=Review of Maritime Transport 2024 | website=UNCTAD | date=2024-10-22 | url=https://unctad.org/publication/review-maritime-transport-2024 | access-date=2024-11-07}}</ref>