5 Grouping of Bulk Carriers in Accordance ith their Dimensions
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Statutory Documents - IMO Publications and Documents - Resolutions - Assembly - IMO Resolution A.866(20) – Guidance for Ships' Crews and Terminal Personnel for Bulk Carrier Inspections – (Adopted on 27 November 1997) - Annex - Guidance for Ships' Crews and Terminal Personnel for Bulk Carrier Inspections - 5 Grouping of Bulk Carriers in Accordance ith their Dimensions

5 Grouping of Bulk Carriers in Accordance ith their Dimensions

  5.1 In general, bulk carriers are grouped into 3 categories in accordance with their size. These are: capesize, panamax, and other smaller types. Among the smaller types, ships of 30,000 to 45,000 dwt having 5 cargo holds are called "Handy Bulkers" Panamax bulkers are bulk carriers having the breadth of 32.2 m which are the largest ships able to transit the Panama Canal. The ships of this kind usually have 7 cargo holds and a deadweight of around 50,000 to 60,000 tons. Bulkers with dimensions greater than the panamax ships are called capesize bulkers. Capesize bulkers have 9 or more cargo holds and a deadweight in excess of 100,000 tons.

Figure 3 Various bulk carriers

  5.2 Capesize and panamax bulk carriers are generally engaged in carriage of raw materials for industrial plants such as coal and iron ore. Smaller bulk carriers and some of panamax ones are generally engaged in the trade of grain. Lumber and industrial products are generally shipped by handy size or smaller bulkers.

  5.3 In the trade of food resources such as wheat, corn, and lumber, unloading ports usually have no cargo handling facilities and the bulk carriers employed are often equipped with their own cargo gear, while panamax or capesize bulk carriers are gearless.


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