Crossword Genius

I identify ship that's certainly not shipshape (2,1,4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

in a mess

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'i' is the definition.
Both the definition and answer are singular nouns.
Maybe there's an association between them I don't understand?

I cannot understand how the rest of the clue works.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for in a mess that I've seen before include "Tucker here for Tommy" , "at sixes and sevens" .)

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