USNS
Transportation & Travel abbreviation · Maritime
| Stands for | United States Naval Ship |
|---|---|
| Categories | Transportation & Travel |
USNS stands for United States Naval Ship, a maritime abbreviation also used in the military.
Prefix for noncommissioned ships owned by the US Navy and operated by Military Sealift Command, usually with civilian merchant mariner crews. They include hospital ships, fuel tankers, cargo ships and survey vessels.
Example: USNS Comfort docked in Manhattan in 2020 to relieve hospitals during the pandemic.
Usage notes
The hospital ships USNS Mercy and USNS Comfort are the best-known examples. Because they are not commissioned warships, USNS vessels carry few or no weapons and have small military detachments aboard. The prefix distinguishes them from USS ships, which are crewed by uniformed sailors.
Related abbreviations
More maritime abbreviations
- AB – Able Seaman
- AIS – Automatic Identification System
- ARPA – Automatic radar plotting aid
- B/L – Bill of lading
- COG – Course over ground
- COLREGS – International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea
- CPA – Closest point of approach
- DR – Dead reckoning
- DSC – Digital selective calling
- DWT – Deadweight tonnage
- ECDIS – Electronic Chart Display and Information System
- EPIRB – Emergency position-indicating radio beacon