Bulk Carrier

  

Bulk Carrier

This type of ship carries raw materials in bulk, such as coal, iron ore or grains, in large cargo holds. Bulk carriers are classified by size into Capesize (150,000 dwt class), Panamax (60,000-70,000 dwt class), Handysize (20,000-40,000 dwt class) and so on. These classes are named in a global context: Panamax means the maximum size that can pass the Panama Canal, and Capesize, an economical class which is too big to pass the Panama Canal and has to sail round the Cape of Good Hope at the southern end of Africa.