Steamship





A steamship, or less commonly steam ship, is a ship that is propelled by a
steam engine driving through a propeller. It usually carries the ship prefix
SS before its name. Although paddle steamers are generally driven by a steam
engine, they are normally counted separately and carry the prefix PS.

The term is often used interchangeably with "steamboat", although vessels
called "steamboats" tend to be smaller and travel on rivers, while
"steamships" are larger and travel on the open sea. The distinction is not
so definite as the distinction between "boat" and "ship".

The SS Explorer is the last remaining steamship in Britain. She was built in
Aberdeen, including the last steam engine built there, and was launched in
1955 as a fishery research vessel. Currently she is berthed at Edinburgh
Dock, Leith, Edinburgh and the subject of a restoration project.