dead ship—(Nautical) a ship without power:
- They saw no movement, no living or dead person, no sign of violence; nothing, but the ordered emptiness of a darkened and dead ship.
death ship—a ship deliberately wrecked so that the owners can collect insurance money:
- He is forced to join the crew of a “death ship” … betrothed to the ocean floor in exchange for insurance money.
See also: Ghost ship vs Ghost train