They act as "ships of the desert".

它们充当“沙漠之舟”。

youdao

Now that the Pentagon faces painful, deficit-induced budget cuts, it's amazing that it isn't trying to squeeze more cash for itself by the simple act of competition for its guns, planes and ships.

由于五角大楼正痛苦地面对着赤字所导致的预算削减，在这种情况下它仍没有试图采用为其枪炮，飞机和舰船进行竞标这种简单的方式来节省资金，这就更令人惊讶了。

youdao

In recent days, ships have travelled from Benghazi to Misurata almost daily; though officially laden with aid, many act as the weapon supply for the front line.

最近一些天，几乎每天都船只从班加西前往米苏拉塔；尽管名义上是运送救援物资，其实很多是为前线运送武器弹药。

youdao

Further complicating the various onshore packages is the fact that time-pressed, budget-conscious cruisers are opting for trips that depart from and return to Seattle (the 1886Passenger Services Act requires ships that sail from U.S. ports to return to the same place).

FORBES

Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott, whose home state of Mississippi benefits from cargo ships transiting the canal, and House Speaker Newt Gingrich of Georgia should act promptly so that Mr. Clinton and Vice President Al Gore will be unable to point their fingers to Capitol Hill when the question is asked: Who lost the Panama Canal.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Panama slipping into China's ready grasp?

Some believe that retrofitting ships with equipment like "scrubbers" that remove harmful emissions from vessels could help the industry to clean up its act.

CNN: Shipping looks to clean up its act