Seawaymax

The Saint Lawrence Seaway is a system of locks, canals and channels in Canada and the United States. The canal lock basins restrict the size of bulk carriers using the Saint Lawrence Seaway. The limiting dimensions are LOA 226m and maximum draft 8m.

Handysize (15-35 000 tons)

A Handysize bulk carrier is a bulker which has DWT between 10 000 and 35 000mt. She has four holds, served by onboard deck cranes for cargo operation. The dimensions of typical Handysize vessel of 28 000mt DWT will be: LOA 170m, beam 27m, draft 9m.

Supramax (35-60 000 tons)

Supramax bulk carriers are bulk carriers with DWT from 35 000mt to 60 000mt. The vessels operates on geographically dispersed trade routes, generally carrying grains and minor bulks. The dimensions of typical 55 000mt DWT Supramax bulk carrier will be: LOA 190m, beam 33m, draft 11,5m. She is geared with four cranes to serve 5 holds.

Panamax (60-80 000 tons)

Panamax bulk carriers have DWT of between 60 000-80 000mt and are able to pass the Panama Canal before extension. The vessels were designed to carry the maximum amount of cargo within the constraints imposed by the locks of the old Panama Canal. Panamax vessels may be geared or gearless. The dimensions of a typical 70 000mt DWT Panamax bulk carrier will be: LOA 225m, beam 32m, draft 12m.

Kamsarmax (~82 000 tons)

Kamsarmax bulk carriers have a maximum lenght of 229m and are suitable for berthing at the port of Kamsar in the Republic of Guinea to load bauxite.

Aframax (80-120 000 tons)

Aframax tankers have DWT from 80 000mt to 120 000mt DWT. The size of Aframax tankers allows tham to call at most ports in the world and are usefull for short to medium haul. Typical dimensions of an Aframax tanker are: LOA 245m, beam 40m, draft 14m.

Suezmax (120-200 000 tons)

A Suezmax tanker is a tanker of between 120 000mt and 200 000mt DWT with dimensions which enables her to transit the Suez Canal fully laden. Since the tanker inception the canal has been deepened and widened, but the name Suezmax is still used. The Suezmax tanker also referred to as a million barrel tanker. She will be limited by its depth of the canal which allows maximum draft of 20,1m. There is also an air draft limit of 68m due to the Suez Canal Bridge. The length is unlimited.

Capesize (~150 000 tons)

The Capesize dry bulk carrier typically a DWT in excess of 150 000mt and dimensions: LOA 290m, beam 45m and draft 18m. The deep draft restricts the number of terminals which the Capesize vessel can use. She is gearless and depends on shoreside terminals for loading and discharging.

VLOC (>200 000 tonns)

Very Large Ore Carriers (VLOC) are the dry bulk carriers with DWT more than 200 000mt. The Chinamax (Valemax) VLOC was depeloped by Vale to improve the economic efficiency of moving iron ore between Brazil and China. Of 400 000mt DWT, they are among the world's largest ships. They are able to carry twice the cargo carried by a Capesize bulk carriers at a capital cost of only one third more. The dimensions of Chinamax is LOA 362m, beam 65m and moulded draft 23m. The VLOC is gearless and depends on shoreside terminals for loading and discharging.

VLCC (200-320 000 tons)

Vey large crude carriers (VLCC) are the tankers which have DWT from 200 000mt to 320 000mt. They are the workhorses of the crude oil trade and are designed to carry a parcel of two million barrels of cargo. Typical dimensions of a VLCC are: LOA - 330-340m, neam 58m, draft 20-21m, DWT about 310 000mt.

ULCC (>320 000 tons)

Ultra-large crude carriers (ULCC) are the tankers which have DWT in excess of 320 000mt. The world's largest tanker, "Seawise Giant" of 564 700mt DWT was built in 1979. It had a length os 458m and a maximum draft of 24m. She was scrapped in 2009, having spent the last years of her life as a floating storage.

Malaccamax (~300 000 tons)

Malaccamax type vessels have the largest dimensions to pass through the Straits of Malacca. Dimensions limits are LOA 330m, draught 20m and DWT around 300 000mt.

Lenaneft sea-river type

Sea-river tanker of 19614 type

Volgoneft sea-river tanker