Motor ship

"Motorship" and "Motorships" redirect here. For other uses, see Motorship (disambiguation).

"M/V" redirects here. For video music, see music video. For other uses, see MV (disambiguation).

Not to be confused with Motorboat.

A motor ship or motor vessel is a ship propelled by an internal combustion engine, usually a diesel engine. The names of motor ships are often prefixed with MS, M/S, MV^[1] or M/V.^[2]

The supply ship MV American Tern during cargo operations at McMurdo Station in Antarctica in 2007

Engines for motorships were developed during the 1890s, and by the early 20th century, motorships began to cross the waters.^[3][4]

History

The first diesel-powered motorships were launched in 1903: the Russian Vandal (the first equipped with diesel-electric transmission) and French Petite-Pierre. There is disagreement over which of the two was the first.

See also

Cruise ships on the Volga River, Russia

• Gas turbine ship (GTS) – prefix for a jet-engine/turbine-propelled ship
• Steamship (SS) – a steamship is a ship propelled by a steam engine or steam turbine. The name of steam ships are often prefixed with SS or S/S
• Royal Mail Ship (RMS) – Royal Mail Ship
• Ship prefix