Ship of the desert (5)
I believe the answer is:
camel
'ship of the desert' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
This is all the clue.
(Other definitions for camel that I've seen before include "quadruped" , "Bearer of burdens" , "Pale brown - animal" , "Light yellowish-brown colour - ruminant" , "Beastly type" .)