Marine craft used for shipping and transportation.
In the supply chain, a vessel refers to a large watercraft designed for transporting goods, people, or materials from one location to another. Vessels can include cargo ships, container ships, oil tankers, and passenger ships.
Cargo refers to the goods or commodities being transported, while a vessel refers to the mode of transportation. In other words, cargo is the actual product being shipped, while the vessel is the ship or transportation method used to move the cargo. A vessel can transport different types of cargo, such as containers, bulk goods, or liquid cargo, while cargo can be transported by various modes of transportation, such as ships, trucks, or airplanes.
The terms "vessel" and "ship" are often used interchangeably in the shipping industry, but they do have slightly different meanings. A ship is a type of vessel that is designed for ocean transportation, while a vessel can refer to any type of watercraft, including ships, boats, barges, and other floating structures. In practical terms, the difference between a ship and a vessel may not be significant in many contexts, and the terms can often be used interchangeably.