Please define S.S.

[MAXXIE]

I know that "U.S.S." stands for "United States Ship".
But I see a lot of "S.S. Minnow", "S.S. Cuda", S.S. this & that, bla,bla,bla. What does this S.S. stand for? May be stupid easy for some, but I just don't know. I looked it up online & the only thing was "Steam Ship". Is that it?

 

[Ronder]

Re: Please define S.S.

SS used to stand for Screw Steamer

 

[Summer Fun]

Re: Please define S.S.

Yep, from a internet search.
SS used to stand for Screw Steamer, ( a ship driven by a propeller, to differentiate it from PS, Paddle Steamer a ship driven by paddle wheels. Since we haven't seen and PS in 100 years or so, it is now understood to mean Steam Ship. MV is motor vessel......ie its driven by diesel engines; RMS is Royal Mail Ship, USS is United States Ship ( Navy)

 

[The Famous Grouse]

Re: Please define S.S.

RMS is Royal Mail Ship, USS is United States Ship ( Navy)

Slight correction, RMS is actually Royal Mail Steamer.

The Titanic was actually the RMS Titanic and this now obsolete designation made for some very funny forgery gaffes over the years as people tried to cash in the craze for Titanic memorabilia after the hit movie. One of my favorites was the obviously faked posters advertising for passage on the "SS Titanic". And from London to New York besides. Hmmm. It'd be a little tough to get the ol' Titanic up to the dock in London, I'd think. . .

Grouse

 

[Woodnaut]

Re: Please define S.S.

And finally (or maybe not), MV stands for Motor Vessel, and USTS for United States Training Ship.

 

[metriccrescentwrench]

Re: Please define S.S.

SS - Stainless Steel. Alloys of iron with small addition of chromium, nickel and other metals.

 

[Thad]

Re: Please define S.S.

SS= Super Sport

Oh, wait, that comes AFTER the name...

 

[BTMCB]

Re: Please define S.S.

SS=Super Sexy.

 

[Stachi]

Re: Please define S.S.

SS = Super Stachi...lol...I couldn't resist....lolol

 

[RobbyA]

Re: Please define S.S.

SS= Sailing Ship?, Sinking ship?, Sunken Ship?, Sank Ship? I guess it depends on how far the hull is sitting in the water?

 

[paultjohnson]

Re: Please define S.S.

Super Slow ?

 

[saildan]

Re: Please define S.S.

I know that "U.S.S." stands for "United States Ship".
But I see a lot of "S.S. Minnow", "S.S. Cuda", S.S. this & that, bla,bla,bla. What does this S.S. stand for? May be stupid easy for some, but I just don't know. I looked it up online & the only thing was "Steam Ship". Is that it?

Wikipedia -

Screw-driven steamships generally carry the ship prefix "SS" before their names, meaning 'Steam Ship' (or 'Screw Steamer' i.e. 'screw-driven steamship', or 'Screw Schooner' during the 1870s and 1880s, when sail was also carried), paddle steamers usually carry the prefix "PS" and steamships powered by steam turbine may be prefixed "TS" (turbine ship). The term steamer is occasionally used, out of nostalgia, for diesel motor-driven vessels, prefixed "MV". http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steam_Ship

Then you go here and it gets deep -

Ship Prefix Article

Just the List
Generic (Merchant Navy) prefixes​

Want to find more? Browse around here -

The Mother Of All Maritime Links​

 

[SteveRoss]

Re: Please define S.S.

Just have to add another one...

PBR

Patrol Boat, River...

And God Bless anyone whoever served on one of them !!!

 

[saildan]

Re: Please define S.S.

Just have to add another one...

PBR

Patrol Boat, River...

And God Bless anyone whoever served on one of them !!!

Never get out of the boat!​

 

[RickJ6956]

Re: Please define S.S.

Then you have F/V (fishing vessel).

Saw one the other day with live-aboards cruising long distance: R/V. He said it stood for Recreational Vessel, but I found out the actual designation is Research Vessel.

 

[Ronder]

Re: Please define S.S.

And PT 109

P(ropeller) T(orpedo)

 

[MAXXIE]

Re: Please define S.S.

uuuuuummmmm,......PBJ.....Peanut- Butter- Jelly

 

[paultjohnson]

Re: Please define S.S.

Skank Scow !!!!!!!!!

 

[EricJRW]

Re: Please define S.S.

SS used to stand for Screw Steamer

An I thought you were kidding. Day is already off to a good start having learned something new I'm free to ignore remaining possible opportunities for learning.

 

[shrew]

Re: Please define S.S.

Prefix Meaning
AHT Anchor Handling Tug
AHTS Anchor Handling Tug Supply vessel
CRV Coastal Research Vessel
C/F Car Ferry
DB Derrick Barge
DLB Derrick Lay Barge
DCV Deepwater Construction Vessel
DSV Diving Support Vessel/ Deep Submergence Vehicle
DV Dead vessel[1]
ERRV Emergency Response Rescue Vessel[citation needed]
FPSO Floating Production, Storage and Offloading Vessel
FPV Free Piston Vessel
FPV Fishery Patrol Vessel
FV Fishing Vessel
GTS Gas Turbine Ship
HLV Heavy lift vessel
HMHS Her Majesty's Hospital Ship
HMY Her Majesty's Yacht
HSC High Speed Craft
HTV Heavy Transport Vessel
LB Liftboat
LNG/C Liquefied natural gas carrier
LPG/C Liquefied petroleum gas carrier
MF Motor Ferry
MS (M/S) Motor Ship (interchangeable[citation needed] with MV)
MSY Motor Sailing Yacht
MT Motor Tanker
MV (M/V) Motor Vessel (interchangeable[citation needed] with MS.
MY Motor Yacht
nb Narrowboat
NRV NATO Research Vessel
NS Nuclear Ship
OSV Offshore Support Vessel
PS Paddle Steamer
PSV Platform Supply Vessel
RV Research Vessel
RMS Royal Mail Ship or Royal Mail Steamer
SB Sailing Barge
SS (S/S) Steamship
SSCV Semi-Submersible Crane Vessel
SSV Sailing School Vessel
ST Steam Tug
STS Sail Training Ship
STV Sail Training Vessel or Steam Turbine Vessel
SV Sailing Vessel
SY Sailing Yacht or Steam Yacht
TEV Turbine Electric Vessel
TIV Turbine Installation Vessel
TS Turbine Steamer
TSS Turbine Steam Ship or Twin Screw Steamer
TV Training vessel

I didn't see HMS on the list (Despite HMHS being listed) which should be for His/Her Majesty's Ship. FWIW.