As of 1999, the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea defined a bulk carrier as, “A ship constructed with a single deck, top side tanks and hopper side tanks in cargo spaces and intended to carry dry cargo in bulk primarily; an ore carrier; or a combination carrier.”

The term “dry bulk carrier” is used to distinguish bulk carriers from bulk liquid carriers such as oil, chemical, or liquefied petroleum gas carriers. Very small bulk carriers are almost indistinguishable from general cargo ships, and they are often classified based more on the ship’s use than its design.

Examples of solid bulk cargo include sugar, cocoa, coffee, iron ore, fertilizer, cement, coal, soy, and wheat. All goods falling in this category are homogenous and are unpacked. Mostly, they are stowed in ships using silos, cranes, conveyor belts or hopers

How many bulk carriers are in world?

Today, the market share of bulk carriers make up around 21% of the global merchant fleet. Over 50% of all Bulk carriers belong to Greece, Japan or Chinese owners, whereas more than 25% of them are registered only in Panama. If we only talk about shipbuilding, then South Korea is the most prominent builders of ships, and about 82% of all Bulk carriers are built in Asia.

As of December 2020, the total dry bulk vessel operating fleet was 12,312 vessels, with a cargo capacity of 912.2 million deadweight tons (dwt), according to Drewry Shipping Consultants Ltd. A typical commercial ship takes NASSCO about three years to complete, including roughly 12 to 16 months of detailed design and planning.

Valemax is the largest bulk carrier class in terms of DWT. Valemax-class ships have a capacity ranging from 380,000 to 400,000 tons deadweight. They are also amongst the longest ships of any type currently in service.

How much is the rent of a bulk carrier?­­

Bulk freight shipping rates rose from an average of $18,000 a day for Capesize vessels in 2019 to around $34,000 per day. Capesize vessels hold around 180,000 tons and are the most commonly used dry good shipping vessel. Dry bulk carriers often operate on a ‘tramp’ trade basis, that is they finish one charter (or contract), and return to the open market to look for another charter which means that in a given year they may load and carry a diverse range of cargoes between many different locations.

what are bulk carrier types?

Bulk carriers can be segregated in 9 major categories as per their size. Apart from categorising them in six sizes, they can also be categorised further as per the region of trade or Port. Because of the increasing demand of bulk carriers international market, the shipbuilders built bulkers specifically for certain ports where there were restrictions in either length, breadth or draught. Major Category of Bulk Carriers As Per Size:

Mini Bulk Carrier

  • Dead weight tonnage of these vessels is less than 10,000.
  • They have less than 5 Cargo Holds.
  • They typically carry minor or general cargoes.

Small Bulk Carrier

  • Dead weight tonnage of these vessels is between 10,000 to 25,000.
  • They have less than 5 holds.
  • They carry minor bulk or steel products in general.

Handy Size Carriers

  • Dead weight tonnage of these vessels is between 25,000 to 40,000.
  • They usually have 5 holds.
  • They carry minor bulk or steel products in general.

Handymax Carriers 

  • Dead weight tonnage of these vessels is between 40,000 to 60,000.
  • They usually have 5 holds.
  • In general, they carry Minor Bulk, Steel products, Coal and Grains.

Panamax Carriers

  • Dead weight tonnage of these vessels is between 60,000 to 100,000.
  • It usually has 7 cargo holds.
  • They generally carry Bauxite, coal, grain, Ore, Phosphate etc.
  • These vessels have a maximum breadth of 32.2m.
  • This size of bulkers was introduced to pass through the Panama Canal.

Post-Panamax Bulk Carrier

  • Dead weight tonnage of these vessels is between 80,000 to 120,000.
  • They usually have 9 cargo holds.
  • These vessels have more breadth than the Panamax and were designed for the bulkers to transit through the New locks of Panama Canal.

Capesize Bulk Carrier

  • Dead weight tonnage of these vessels is between 100,000 to 200,000.
  • They usually have 9 cargo holds.
  • These vessels travel from Asia to Europe without entering the Suez Canal.
  • They are completely gearless with no cranes or derricks and completely rely onshore facilities for loading and discharging.

VLBC (Very Large Bulk Carriers)

  • Dead weight tonnage of these vessels is over 200,000.
  • They usually have 9 cargo holds or more.
  • They are completely gearless with no cranes or derricks and completely rely onshore facilities for loading and discharging.
A nice entry