Bulk cargo encompasses a wide range of commodities, including:

  • Iron ore – the backbone of steelmaking, used in buildings, vehicles, bridges, and consumer products.
  • Coal (leading to the nickname coal carriers) – essential for energy production in many regions and as a raw material for steel.
  • Grain – such as wheat, maize, rice, and soybeans, forming the basis of global food security.
  • Steel coils – transported in bulk for manufacturing appliances, cars, and construction materials.
  • Fertilizer – crucial for agriculture, ensuring higher crop yields and stable food supplies.
  • Cement – a fundamental ingredient for infrastructure projects, from roads to housing.
  • Crude oil (in combination carriers) – providing energy and serving as the raw material for fuels, plastics, and chemicals.

These materials form the backbone of global industries, from construction to energy to food production. The ability to carry dry cargo in massive quantities makes bulk carriers indispensable for global trade

Types of Bulk Carriers

Bulk carriers are divided into major size categories, often aligned with canal restrictions. Here are the six major size categories and beyond:

Mini Bulk Carrier

  • Capacity: usually between 3000 ~ 23,999 DWT.
  • 100 – 130m length, Serve smaller ports and coastal trade
  • Known as mini bulk, they act as feeders to larger vessels

Handysize

  • 24,000–35,000 DWT
  • 130 – 150 m length, flexible and can enter smaller ports
  • Ideal for varied bulk cargoes such as grain or cement

Handymax

  • 35,000–50,000 DWT
  • 150 – 200 m length, often feature double hulls and own cranes
  • Popular for dry bulk like coal and grain

Supramax

  • 50,000 DWT and 61,000 DWT
  • Called “open hatch” or “semi open hatch” types, which means they have a wide hatch opening with a very narrow deck between the hatch coaming and the ship’s side
  • popular among dry cargo shippers due to their larger cargo carrying capacities and on-board cargo handling flexibility

Panamax Vessels

  • 60,000–80,000 DWT
  • 200-230 m, Restricted by Panama Canal locks with a maximum beam of 32.2m
  • Carry iron ore, coal, and grain

Post-Panamax

  • 80,000–120,000 DWT
  • Wider than Panamax vessels; designed for the New Panama Canal expansion

Capesize Vessels

  • 80,000- 199,000 DWT
  • Too large for the Panama Canal or the Suez Canal, must route via Cape Horn
  • Primarily, ore carriers and coal carriers

Kamsarmax

  • Max length 229m, suited for the Port of Kamsar
  • Designed with maximum allowable beam restrictions
  • 185,000 DWT (approx)

Newcastlemax

  • Largest for Newcastle, Australia
  • Capacity ~185,000 DWT, part of the largest vessel group
  • Maximum allowable beam = 47 m

Malaccamax

  • 300,000 DWT
  • Largest vessels through the Strait of Malacca

Seawaymax

  • Max for canal locks of the St. Lawrence Seaway
  • DWT ~28,500

Dunkirkmax

  • Built for the eastern harbour lock at Dunkirk, with a maximum allowable beam of 45m

Suezmax

  • Largest for Suez Canal (62ft draft)
  • Maximum allowed draught of the Suez Canal is currently 18.90 m (62 feet)
  • Bridges the gap between Panamax and very large bulk carriers

Very Large Ore Carriers (VLOCs) / Very Large Bulk Carriers (VLBCs)

  • Among the largest vessels, exceeding 180,000 DWT
  • Usually 270m
  • Known as large ore carriers, often used for iron ore
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