Bulk carrier

A cargo ship designed to carry unpackaged dry commodities in large holds. Its cargo is loaded and discharged in bulk rather than packed into containers or individual packages.

Cargo hold: An enclosed space aboard a ship used to stow cargo. Bulk carriers use large holds to carry loose commodities below deck.
Dry bulk cargo: Unpackaged solid commodities transported in large quantities by ship. This is the cargo category bulk carriers are built to transport.
Capesize: A class of very large bulk carriers traditionally too large for the Panama Canal. These ships commonly move iron ore and coal on long ocean routes.
Dry bulk shipping: The maritime transport of unpackaged solid commodities in large quantities. Bulk carriers are the principal ships in this branch of ocean freight.
Container ship: A cargo ship designed to carry standardized intermodal containers. Container ships carry packaged unit loads, unlike bulk carriers' loose commodities.
Hatch cover: A watertight or weathertight closure fitted over a ship's cargo hatch. Wide hatch covers protect bulk cargo while allowing access for loading and discharge.
Bulk cargo: Goods carried loose in a ship's cargo space rather than as individual packages. Bulk carriers are one specialized part of the wider bulk-cargo trade.
Panamax: A ship-size class constrained by the dimensions of the original Panama Canal locks. Panamax bulk carriers balance cargo capacity with access to canal-sized routes.
Freight rate: The price charged to transport cargo by a carrier. Bulk-carrier earnings fluctuate with demand for ship capacity and commodity routes.
Oil tanker: A ship designed to transport liquid petroleum and petroleum products in bulk. Tankers move liquids through dedicated tanks rather than dry cargo holds.

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