According to the navigation area of the ship, it can be divided into marine ships, core ships and ships outside the port. Ocean ships can be divided into three types: ocean-going ships, near-ocean ships, and coastal ships. Ships sailing on lakes are generally classified as inland watercraft.

　　According to the navigation status, it can be divided into floating boats, diving boats, planing boats, and sky boats. Floating boats and diving boats are collectively referred to as displacement boats. Generally, ships are displacement ships. A planing ship refers to a ship that has most of its hull exposed to the surface of the water when it is sailing, like a ship running at high speed. A vacant ship refers to a ship whose hull is lifted above the water surface when the ship is sailing. For example, a hovercraft sails in the air on an air cushion between the bottom of the ship and the water surface.

　　According to the propulsion method, it can be divided into propeller boats, water jet propulsion boats, air propeller propulsion boats and paddle steamers.

　　According to shipbuilding materials, it can be divided into steel ships, wooden ships, cement ships, aluminum alloy ships, fiberglass ships, etc.

　　 is generally classified according to the purpose of the ship, and can be roughly divided into the following types:

　　Transport ships-passenger ships, passenger and cargo ships, ferry ships, general cargo ships, container ships, ro-ro ships, barges, refrigerated ships, wooden ships, bulk carriers, oil tankers and liquefied gas ships, etc.

　　Engineering ships-dredgers, crane ships, deployment ships, salvage ships, icebreakers, piling ships, floating docks, marine development ships, drilling ships and drilling platforms.

　　 Fishery boats—net fishing boats, fishing boats, fishery guidance boats, survey boats, fishery processing boats and whaling boats, etc.

　　 Harbor service ships-tugboats, pilot ships, firefighting ships, supply ships, transportation ships and navigation aid ships, etc.

　　Special ships-hydrofoil, hovercraft, catamaran, superconducting ship, etc.

　　Ships—Cruisers, destroyers, frigates, aircraft carriers, landing craft, minesweepers, mine-laying boats, submarines, speed boats, transport boats, repair ships, degaussing ships, hospital ships, etc.