S.S. - Steam Ship or Sailing Ship?

Colorado Dreamer · 09-10-2008, 23:33

There is an ongoing debate on our dock about if S.S. (As in SS Minnow) stands for Sailing Ship or Steam Ship.

I trust someone here will have the real answer.

shadow · 09-10-2008, 23:43

I was always under the impression that S.S. stood for Steam Ship.. This is coming from old sea dogs and naval personnel that I know. Just what I heard.. Would like to hear from other well aged sea dogs..

martinworswick · 09-10-2008, 23:54

on lake wakatipu in new zealand there is a steamship which runs for tourists, its called the t.s.s. earnslaw and according to the leaflets about the history of the boat t.s.s. stands for twin screw steamer, so i would imagine s.s. stood for steam ship

**Ex-Calif** · 10-10-2008, 00:27

I always thought SS was Steam Ship and SV was Sailing Vessel.

stuartcnz · 10-10-2008, 01:16

Just speculation, but since sailing was the predominant from of propulsion for ships until steam came along. Could it be that sailing ships didn't have a designation, apart from their names and steam ships, when they arrived, used S.S. to differentiate them from sailing ships. Then of course followed the designations of M.V. and S.V.

**Ex-Calif** · 10-10-2008, 01:43

Here's a nice compilation at Wiki...

Ship prefix - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Colorado Dreamer · 11-10-2008, 17:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ex-Calif

Here's a nice compilation at Wiki...

Ship prefix - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Dan,
What a great article. Thanks for the link.
- Michael

delmarrey · 11-10-2008, 19:34

There was the SS America to the SS Yosemite............ and so on.

The Maritime Heritage Project: Captains, Ships, Passengers in 1800s California

witchcraft · 12-10-2008, 08:02

SS = steam ship SV= sailing vessel MV=motor vessel. At least in this day and age.
Fair Winds
SV Witchcraft

09-10-2008, 23:33	#1
Colorado Dreamer Registered User Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: - San Diego and Fort Collins, CO Boat: 38' Homebuilt Cutter - "Atticus" Posts: 136	S.S. - Steam Ship or Sailing Ship? There is an ongoing debate on our dock about if S.S. (As in SS Minnow) stands for Sailing Ship or Steam Ship. I trust someone here will have the real answer.

10-10-2008, 00:27	#4
Ex-Calif Moderator Moderator Join Date: May 2007 Location: Singapore Boat: Maxi 77 - Relax Lah! Posts: 4,562	I always thought SS was Steam Ship and SV was Sailing Vessel. __________________ *Dan - Relax Lah! - Changi Sailing Club* Custom CF Google Search & CF Rules Passion is inversely proportional to the amount of real information available - Benford

10-10-2008, 01:16	#5
stuartcnz Registered User Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: New Zealand Boat: Hartley Tasman 27'3" Kaea (50/50 motor sailor) & Laurent Giles GK24 IOR 1/4 tonner Posts: 56	Just speculation, but since sailing was the predominant from of propulsion for ships until steam came along. Could it be that sailing ships didn't have a designation, apart from their names and steam ships, when they arrived, used S.S. to differentiate them from sailing ships. Then of course followed the designations of M.V. and S.V. __________________ http://www.nomadichome.com/ http://av-voyaging.blogspot.com/

10-10-2008, 01:43	#6
Ex-Calif Moderator Moderator Join Date: May 2007 Location: Singapore Boat: Maxi 77 - Relax Lah! Posts: 4,562	Here's a nice compilation at Wiki... Ship prefix - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia __________________ *Dan - Relax Lah! - Changi Sailing Club* Custom CF Google Search & CF Rules Passion is inversely proportional to the amount of real information available - Benford

11-10-2008, 19:34	#8
delmarrey Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Puget Sound, WA Boat: Choate 40 Posts: 3,921	There was the SS America to the SS Yosemite............ and so on. The Maritime Heritage Project: Captains, Ships, Passengers in 1800s California __________________ Faithful are the Wounds of a Friend, but the Kisses of the Enemy are Deceitful!

09-10-2008, 23:43	#2
shadow Registered User Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 527	I was always under the impression that S.S. stood for Steam Ship.. This is coming from old sea dogs and naval personnel that I know. Just what I heard.. Would like to hear from other well aged sea dogs..

09-10-2008, 23:54	#3
martinworswick Registered User Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: arrowtown, new zealand Boat: none...yet! Posts: 44	on lake wakatipu in new zealand there is a steamship which runs for tourists, its called the t.s.s. earnslaw and according to the leaflets about the history of the boat t.s.s. stands for twin screw steamer, so i would imagine s.s. stood for steam ship

12-10-2008, 08:02	#9
witchcraft Registered User Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Kingston, Ontario Boat: Saugeen Witch, Colvin design vessel name: Witchcraft Posts: 144	SS = steam ship SV= sailing vessel MV=motor vessel. At least in this day and age. Fair Winds SV Witchcraft

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