What does the SS on a ship mean?

Question

Do other countries have a different designation? Different letters at the beginning? I know in aviation the N number tells you it's from the USA. Other countries start with a dif letter. Is that all it is? Or does it stand for something?

Answer 1

SS stands for "s***w Steamer". This differentiates it from a sailing ship or a paddle wheeler. The s***w is a propeller.

Answer 2

State Ship

Answer 3

"Tender To:"

Answer 4

Steam ship... it's just one of any number of designations... S/V is Sailing Vessle; R/V is Research Vessle and so on.

Answer 5

SS stands for steam ship.

Answer 6

ss stands for state ship.

Answer 7

Yup, it still stands for Steam Ship. Just an old tradition that still carries over to today.

Answer 8

steam ship

Answer 9

It does stand for "steam shiip", but today the designation "MV" for "motor vessel" is becoming more common.   Today often just the S is used for "ship".   Different countries do have different designations.  In Canada we use HMCS - Her Majesty's Canadian Ship, and in the UK they use HMS for Her Majesty's Ship.  In Canada some ships now are called MV, such as the MV Caribou and the MV Joseph and Clara.

Answer 10

USS= United States Ship (government owned)

HMS= Her Majesties Ship (British government ship)

DMB= Dasah Me Boat (Italian ship)

Every country has their own unique designations for civilian versus government ships.

Heres another questions; On a private vessel's dinghy without power what do the letters T/T....................... stand for and why?

Answer 11

Al is right it is steam ship.

I am an ex sailor

Mv means motor vessel

Answer 12

Steam ship.

USS means United States ship.

HMS means Her Majesty´s ship.