In shipping terminology, what does 'Geared' mean?

• A. When the ship has cranes on-board
• B. When the ship uses geostationary gear
• C. When the ship is geared for high speed
• D. When the ship has gearless propulsion

Answer: (A)

Geared means the vessel has its own cargo-handling gear—typically cranes or derricks—on board. This on-board equipment allows the ship to load and discharge cargo without relying on port cranes, which is especially useful in ports with limited infrastructure or for handling outsized or difficult loads. The term isn’t about speed or propulsion; it specifically refers to the presence of cargo handling gear. The other ideas—geostationary gear, gearing for high speed, or gearless propulsion—do not pertain to the ship’s cargo-handling capability, so they don’t describe what “geared” means.