There was a comment on this blog the other day concerning the sizes of dry bulk vessels. To save readers new to the sector mucho research and reading I will attempt to put up some information that could be useful. So here we go:
Capesize: The larges of the dry bulk ships at greater than 80,000 dwt (dead weight tons). They average 920 ft. (280 m) long and 145 ft. (44.6 m) wide. Cruising speed is 14.3 knots. Capesize vessels are primarily used to transport iron ore and coal.
Panamax: Are the largest ships the will fit through the Panama canal. They are between 60,000 and 80,000 dwt. Average size is 740 ft. (226.4 m) by 105 ft. (32.2 m). A rule of thumb: A Panamax dry bulk ship carries about 1/2 the cargo of a capesize.
Supramax: Supramax is a relatively new category fitting between Panamax and Handymax. Size is 50,000 to 60,000 dwt. Supramax ships have self-loading and unloading gear, giving them increased flexibility.
Handymax: 35,000 to 55,000 dwt. Sizes on average: 630 ft. (192 m) by 100 ft. (31 m).
Handysize: 10,000 to 35,000 dwt. Average length and width are 55o ft. (169 m) by 82 ft. (25 m).
According to the Wikipedia Handymax and Handysize are general purpose carriers and account for over 70% of the dry bulk ships. Major dry bulk cargos are iron ore, coal, grain, bauxite and alumina. Minor bulk cargos such as soy beans/meal, steel products, phosphate rocks and sulphur also accounts for a significant part of the dry bulk trade.
I hope this gives you an idea of the ships owned by the dry bulk shipping companies. If anyone has any changes to my data, please let me know. I am always open to corrections.
Definitions on dry bulk ship sizes
There was a comment on this blog the other day concerning the sizes of dry bulk vessels. To save readers new to the sector mucho research and reading I will attempt to put up some information that could be useful. So here we go:
Capesize: The larges of the dry bulk ships at greater than 80,000 dwt (dead weight tons). They average 920 ft. (280 m) long and 145 ft. (44.6 m) wide. Cruising speed is 14.3 knots. Capesize vessels are primarily used to transport iron ore and coal.
Panamax: Are the largest ships the will fit through the Panama canal. They are between 60,000 and 80,000 dwt. Average size is 740 ft. (226.4 m) by 105 ft. (32.2 m). A rule of thumb: A Panamax dry bulk ship carries about 1/2 the cargo of a capesize.
Supramax: Supramax is a relatively new category fitting between Panamax and Handymax. Size is 50,000 to 60,000 dwt. Supramax ships have self-loading and unloading gear, giving them increased flexibility.
Handymax: 35,000 to 55,000 dwt. Sizes on average: 630 ft. (192 m) by 100 ft. (31 m).
Handysize: 10,000 to 35,000 dwt. Average length and width are 55o ft. (169 m) by 82 ft. (25 m).
According to the Wikipedia Handymax and Handysize are general purpose carriers and account for over 70% of the dry bulk ships. Major dry bulk cargos are iron ore, coal, grain, bauxite and alumina. Minor bulk cargos such as soy beans/meal, steel products, phosphate rocks and sulphur also accounts for a significant part of the dry bulk trade.
I hope this gives you an idea of the ships owned by the dry bulk shipping companies. If anyone has any changes to my data, please let me know. I am always open to corrections.
(Major information source: Danish Ship Finance)