'Polykopa' = warship?

[Nathan Ross]

The word just means "many oared"

Thanks, Duncan. My query was in relation to another papyrus, (P Vindobona Boswinkel 14), which notes an order from Ouitalious (probably Vitalis, katholikos of Egypt, c.320) for box and acanthus wood to repair a number of 'polykopa' at Memphis and Babylon.

C.H. Roberts (The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology 31; Dec., 1945) believes these were warships, and the order relates to preparations for the naval war of AD324; John Matthews (Journey of Theophanes) is sceptical that these were necessarily seagoing warships. Hence my question. It does seem that the military base at Babylon in particular might have military vessels - it's the 'seagoing' bit I'm unsure of.