Vessel of a familiar kind (3)
I believe the answer is:
ark
'vessel' is the definition.
(ark is a kind of vessel)
'of a familiar kind' is the wordplay.
'of' indicates the answer is hidden within the clue.
'ARK' can be found hidden inside 'familiar kind'.
(Other definitions for ark that I've seen before include "Rescue vessel" , "Biblical vessel" , "Boat built to withstand great flood" , "Coffer" , "Flood vessel; box (arch.)" .)