The ancient vessel described in the Genesis story of Noah’s Flood is Noah’s Ark.
Genesis 6–9 describes God instructing Noah to construct a large vessel, preserve his household, and bring representatives of living creatures aboard. In English, the vessel is conventionally called Noah’s Ark. The term “ark” comes through older English and Latin usage and is related to a word for a chest or container.
This vessel should not be confused with the Ark of the Covenant. The Ark of the Covenant is a sacred chest associated with the Israelites and the wilderness tabernacle, while Noah’s Ark is the vessel of the Flood narrative. They are separate objects in different biblical stories.
The Genesis account gives the vessel’s materials, dimensions, compartments, and window, but it does not describe it as a normal sailing ship. Its stated purpose is survival during the Flood rather than navigation to a particular destination.