Bulk carriers – 6 categories in terms of size

bulk carrier=bulk freighter=bulker
- is a merchant ship specially designed to transport unpackaged bulk cargo, such as grains, coal, ore, and cement in its cargo holds.

Size categories

Bulkers are segregated into six major 6 or 5 categories:
1) small
2) handysize







3) handymax






4) panamax






5) capesize






6) very large - Very large bulk and ore carriers fall into the capesize category but are often considered separately.

Facts
1) 40% if merchant ships made up by bulkers.
2) >50% of bulkers have Greek, Japanese, or Chinese owners
3) >25% registered in Panama.
4) 82% of these ships were built in Asia.
5) In 1852, first specialized bulk carrier was built
6) Largest single builder of bulkers is Japan.
7) Capesize ships are too large to traverse the Suez or Panama canals and must round the Cape of Good Hope or Cape Horn to travel between oceans.
8) 93% of capesize bulkers’ cargo is iron ore and coal.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bulk_carrier