Twists southern people working aircraft or ships (6)
I believe the answer is:
screws
'ships' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both man-made objects as well as being plural nouns.
Maybe you can see an association between them that I can't see?
I don't understand how the rest of the clue works.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for screws that I've seen before include "Pins with spiral threads" , "Prison warders (sl.)" , "increase the pressure" , "Fasteners with threaded shanks" , "Fastening devices and prison guards, colloquially" .)