Dry Bulk Carrier Types
Photographs and specifications for nine dry bulk carriers used in international trade.
01 Handysize
Deadweight 40,020 t
Length × beam 183.00 × 30.40 m
Draft 10.83 m
4 × 30.5 t deck cranes.
Grain, fertiliser and smaller bulk parcels.
02 Handymax
Deadweight 45,601 t
Length × beam 179.99 × 31.00 m
Draft 11.58 m
4 × 30 t deck cranes with grabs.
Grain, coal and mineral parcels.
Deadweight (DWT) includes cargo, fuel, water and stores. Figures apply to the pictured vessels. Crane ratings are per crane.
Supramax and Ultramax
Onboard cranes let these ships work at terminals with limited shore equipment.
03 Supramax
Deadweight 56,840 t
Length × beam 189.99 × 32.26 m
Draft 12.80 m
4 × 30 t deck cranes.
Grain, coal and other dry bulk at ports with limited shore gear.
04 Ultramax
Deadweight 63,100 t
Length × beam 199.97 × 32.26 m
4 × 36 t deck cranes and 4 × 15 m³ grabs.
Grain, coal and minerals in larger geared parcels.
GEARLESS BULK CARRIERS
Panamax and Kamsarmax
The two ships have similar beams, while the longer Kamsarmax has a higher deadweight.
05 Panamax
Deadweight 76,900 t
Length × beam 225.00 × 32.26 m
Draft 14.13 m
Gearless. Uses terminal loading and discharge equipment.
Grain and coal on established bulk routes.
06 Kamsarmax
Deadweight 81,400 t
Length × beam 229 × 32 m (published rounded figures)
Gearless. Uses terminal loading and discharge equipment.
Larger grain and coal parcels in a Panamax-width hull.
LARGE BULK AND ORE CARRIERS
Capesize Newcastlemax and Valemax
These larger ships depend on terminal equipment to load and discharge dry bulk.
07 Capesize
Deadweight 181,098 t
Length × beam 292 × 45 m
Gearless. Uses bulk terminal equipment.
Long-haul iron ore and coal.
08 Newcastlemax
Deadweight 208,892 t
Length × beam 300 × 50 m
Gearless. Uses bulk terminal equipment.
High-volume iron ore and coal shipments.
09 Valemax ore carrier
Deadweight 400,315 t
Length × beam 360 × 65 m
Gearless. Uses dedicated ore terminal equipment.
Very large iron ore shipments. The tall cylinders are rotor sails.
