10 Types of Cargo Ships You Need to Know!

Container Ships or “Box Boats”: They are measured by the capacity of TEUs (20-foot equivalent unit). A 40-foot container is equivalent to 2 TEUs while a 45-foot one to 2.25 TEUs. Small vessels of such types are equipped with their own cranes.

General Cargo Vessels: These ships carry breakbulk cargo, boxes, crates or pallets…They are usually equipped with their own cranes.

Bulk Carriers: These types of carriers usually carry such types of cargo (unpackaged) as grain and coal that are usually loaded by conveyors and spouts.

Refrigerated or Reefer Ships: These ships carry perishables as meat, fish, vegetables and fruit, and they are usually fast ships because of the type of cargo they transport.

Tankers: These carry liquid bulk products such as oil: VLCCs are very large crude carriers and ULCCs are ultra large crude carriers.

LNG Carriers or Liquified Natural Gas Carriers: By liquefying the gas at temperature around -160 C, the volume is reduced by 600 times.

Heavy-lift or Project Cargo Ships: Carry heavy cargo such as industrial machinery and can be equipped with its own cranes.

RO-RO Vessels or Roll On-Roll Off: These are for the transport of cars and trucks; suitable to transport cars for automobile manufacturers. They are equipped with ramps. We have in this category PCC that is pure car carriers and PCTC that is pure car and truck carriers.

Feeders: These are small container ships that run basically from small to big ports and on short haul and coastal routings.

Barges: These usually carry cargo on rivers and canals and pushed by towboats.

Selected Reference:

Hinkelman, E.G. (2008). Dictionary of international trade: Handbook of the global trade community: World Trade Press.