Row the right vessel (5)
I believe the answer is:
liner
'vessel' is the definition.
(liner is a kind of vessel)
'row the right' is the wordplay.
'row' becomes 'line' (as in a row of things).
'the right' becomes 'r' (common abbreviation).
'line'+'r'='LINER'
(Other definitions for liner that I've seen before include "Passenger ship - bin bag" , "eg QE2" , "may be demonstrated by make-up artist" , "reinforcement" , "Large ship or removable layer of material" .)