A shipping body (4)
I believe the answer is:
hull
This clue might be a double definition.
'a shipping' is the first definition.
The definition and answer can be both man-made objects as well as being singular nouns.
Maybe they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'body' is the second definition.
(thesaurus)
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for hull that I've seen before include "Frame of a ship" , "Port ship's body - remove strawberry tops" , "Framework of ship" , "Conscious" , "Humber port - ship's frame" .)