Swinging Ships.          One of the most common rides in a theme park.  There are two types of this ride: The Swinging Ship and The Swinging Invert Ship. Both are very similar. These rides usually consist of a boat on the end of a metal swinging arm.  The swinging of the arm then moves the ship, backwards and forwards.  The seats are arranged to face inwards.  The invert ship has bars over the top of the seats to keep the people in because it goes upside - down.  The ships are then swung until they reach the maximum angle (the invert ships swing all the way round).  Then they slow down and the ride ends.  Swinging ships can have a lot of things changed: All: Speed. Invert: Direction of rotation. Non - invert: Number of swings. Invert: Number of loops and swings. All: Colours. All: Invert or not. A new swinging invert ship called "" has been installed @ Alton Towers.