Front part of a vessel (4)
I believe the answer is:
prow
'front part of a vessel' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
This is the entire clue.
(Other definitions for prow that I've seen before include "Front end of ship" , "Pointed front part of a vessel" , "(Ship's) bow" , "Ship's front part" , "Bow of a ship" .)