July 1, 2012

On the importance of names, part two. What's the difference between a boat and a ship?

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I've been asked by the crew to stop calling the Knorr a boat. It's a ship. "A ship can pick up a boat," they tell me. The Knorr is also the largest ship in her fleet. Respect, my friends.

In fact, one intrepid questioner asked about this exact distinction. Maybe she was trying to tell me something.

What's the difference between a boat and a ship?Jenny from Walla Walla Washington

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According to The Straight Dope:

"Among sailing vessels, the distinction between ships and boats is that a ship is a square-rigged craft with at least three masts, and a boat isn't. With regard to motorized craft, a ship is a large vessel intended for oceangoing or at least deep-water transport, and a boat is anything else."

Basically, a ship can carry a boat, but a boat cannot carry a ship.

Or, if you prefer you analogies in LEGO form.

The Guardian asked its readers about the difference, and got a couple of great answers.

"One answer is that ... a ship's captain gets annoyed if you refer to his vessel as a boat, but a boat's captain does not get annoyed if you refer to his vessel as a ship.
Brian Robinson, Brentwood, Essex

I should also note that the Knorr has a small boat attached to it (correction, two small boats), which means she can definitely carry a boat. Thus, it's a ship. So, from now on, the R/V Knorr will take her proper place as a ship on this blog, and not a boat.

During this trip, I’ll be answering your questions about the science, this boat, and life onboard. Want to know how we search for plankton, why we’re here, or what the food is like? Just ask me! And if you’re wondering how I got here, check out the groups that made this adventure possible: Mind Open Media and COSEE NOW.

Previously in this series:

All Aboard: how you can be a part of our research blog

You wanted to know: what are these phytoplankton?

You wanted to know: what am I bringing to sea?

Greetings from Ponta Delgada! We set sail tomorrow.

Steaming North: how the scientists are trying to find plankton

The superstar sensor: what is a CTD?

Status Update: Day 3 at the Cyclonic Eddy

You wanted to know: what is this virus that infects the phytoplankton (Part One)

You wanted to know: what is this virus that infects the phytoplankton (Part Two)

Plankton hunting: Part art, Part science

You wanted to know: what’s the food like on board?

Wildlife watch!

Jumborizing: a brief history of the R/V Knorr

On the importance of names. Or, “are we at the hump or the hole?”

Arts and crafts day on the Knorr

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