What Kind of Name is SV?

Marathon, FL

We are back from two days of fun with Jen and Anna in Key West.  One of the topics that came up there was the name on our boat card, SV Tarwathie.  One of Jen's friends though that SV was my name. :-)

SV stands for Sailing Vessel. It is one of many abbreviated prefixes used to name vessels.  The table below shows some of the civilian prefixes in use.

There is a much longer list of prefixes for military vessels.  Based on Hollywood war movies, you may be familiar with USS and HMS.

Up in Green Cove Springs recently, I encountered a vessel with the prefix CRV. It turned out to be a treasure hunting vessel.  

My favorite prefix is not in the table.  It is LSP.  The pump-out boats here in Boot Key Harbor are named using LSP.   When I asked what it means, I was told Lots of S**T and P**S

Prefix	Meaning
AHT	Anchor Handling Tug
AHTS	Anchor Handling Tug Supply vessel
AOR	Auxiliary, Replenishment Oiler
ATB	Articulated Tug Barge
CRV	Coastal Research Vessel
C/F	Car Ferry
CS	Cable Ship
DB	Derrick Barge
DEPV	Diesel Electric Paddle Vessel
DLB	Derrick Lay Barge
DCV	Deepwater Construction Vessel
DSV	Diving Support Vessel/ Deep Submergence Vehicle
DV	Dead vessel[2][3]
ERRV	Emergency Response Rescue Vessel[3]
FPSO	Floating Production, Storage and Offloading Vessel
FPV	Free Piston Vessel
FPV	Fishery Patrol Vessel
FT	Factory Stern Trawler
FV	Fishing Vessel
GTS	Gas Turbine Ship
HLV	Heavy lift vessel
HSC	High Speed Craft
HSF	High Speed Ferry
HTV	Heavy Transport Vessel
IRV	International Research Vessel
ITB	Integrated Tug barge
LB	Liftboat
LNG/C	Liquefied natural gas carrier
LPG/C	Liquefied petroleum gas carrier
MF	Motor Ferry
MS	Motor Ship (interchangeable with MV)
MSV	Multipurpose support/supply vessel
MSY	Motor Sailing Yacht
MT	Motor Tanker
MTS	Marine Towage and Salvage/Tugboat
MV	Motor Vessel (interchangeable with MS)
MY	Motor Yacht
NB	Narrowboat
NRV	NATO Research Vessel
NS	Nuclear Ship
OSV	Offshore supply vessel
PS	Paddle Steamer
PSV	Platform Supply Vessel
QSMV	Quadruple Screw Motor Vessel
QTEV	Quadruple Turbo Electric Vessel
RMS	Royal Mail Ship or Royal Mail Steamer
RNLB	Royal National Lifeboat
RV / RSV	Research Vessel
SB	Sailing Barge
SS	Screw Steamer driven by propellers or screws, often understood to stand for "steamship"
SSCV	Semi-Submersible Crane Vessel
SSS	Sea Scout Ship
SSV	Sailing School Vessel, Submarine and Special Warfare Support Vessel[4]
ST	Steam Tug
STS	Sail Training Ship
STV	Sail Training Vessel or Steam Turbine Vessel
SV	Sailing Vessel
SY	Sailing Yacht or Steam Yacht
TEV	Turbine Electric Vessel
TIV	Turbine Installation Vessel
TS	Training Ship
TSS	Turbine Steam Ship or Twin Screw Steamer
TV	Training vessel