A bulk cargo ship or bulk carrier or a bulker is a merchant ship specially designed to transport cargo, like grains, coal, ore, steel coils, and cement, in its cargo holds and in bulk form. Since the first specialized bulk carrier was built in 1852, economic forces have led to the continued development of these ships, resulting in increased size and sophistication. Today’s bulk carriers are specially designed to maximize capacity, safety, efficiency, and durability.
Bulk carriers represent 21% of the world’s merchant fleets and range in size from single-hold mini-bulk carriers to mammoth ore ships able to carry 400,000 metric tons of deadweight (DWT). A number of specialized designs exist as bulkers and some can unload their own cargo or the geared ships, some depend on port facilities for unloading which is gearless ships.
Over half of all bulk carriers have Greek, Japanese, or Chinese owners and more than a quarter are registered in Panama. South Korea is the largest single builder of bulk carriers, and 82% of these ships were built in Asia.
A number of abbreviations are used to describe bulk carriers. “OBO” describes a bulk carrier that carries a combination of ore, bulk, and oil, and “O/O” is used for a combination of oil and ore carriers. The terms “VLOC”, “VLBC”, “ULOC”, and “ULBC” for very large and ultra-large ore and bulk carriers were adapted from the supertanker designations of very large crude carriers and ultra-large crude carriers.
These are, the 10 Largest Bulk cargo ships in the World
1. Pacific Flourish
Pacific Flourish sails under the Hong Kong flag and was built in China in 2018. it is a second-generation Valemax-class bulk carrier. Pacific Flourish belongs to the China Merchants Group company, which was founded in 1872 and has a large fleet of different types of ships and routes that stretch all over the world. She is 362 meters long and 65 meters wide and her gross tonnage is 203,000 tons. She has a carrying capacity of 399,000 tons. Pacific Flourish has a motor with 32,400 horsepower in total and can reach a speed of over 14 knots
2. Berge Everest
Berge Everest sails under the UK flag and was built in China in 2011. She is a Valemax-class bulk carrier, used to transport iron ore from Brazil to Asia. She belongs to the Berge Bulk company and in a single trip, she can transport enough iron to make the steel needed to build 3 bridges like the Golden Gate. Her LOA is 361 meters long and the beam is 65 meters. Her gross tonnage is 195,000 tons and has a carrying capacity of 388,000 tons. Her engine is with 39,400 horsepower and can reach a speed of over 14 knots
3. Grand Wisdom
Grand Wisdom sails under the flag of Singapore and was built in China in 2020. She belongs to the VLOC category, which is designed for fuel efficiency and sustainable sailing. She used to transport iron and belongs to the U-Ming company, which has a fleet of 60 ships and provides transport and logistics services. Her LOA is 340 meters long and 62 meters wide. Her gross tonnage is 173,000 tons and has a carrying capacity of 324,000 tons. Grand Wisdom has an engine with 29,000 horsepower and can reach a top speed of over 15 knots
4. Paul R. Tregurtha
Paul R. Tregurtha sails under the American flag and was built in the United States in 1981. She is a self-unloading bulk carrier belonging to the Interlake Steamship company. She has been used to transport iron and coal in the Great Lakes of North America. She has a total of 5 cargo holds and can unload 6,000 tons of coal per hour. Her LOA is 309 meters and 32 meters wide. Her gross tonnage is 36,000 tons and has a carrying capacity of 69,000 tons. Her 2 engines have 17,100 horsepower in total and can reach a speed of over 15 knots
5. Bulk Santiago
Bulk Santiago sails under the flag of Liberia and was built in China in 2019. She is a bulk carrier of the Newcastlemax category operated by 21 crew members. Bulk Santiago belongs to the Norwegian company “2020 Bulkers”, which has a fleet of 8 vessels. She has 9 cargo holds with a total capacity of 223,000 cubic meters. Her LOA is 300 meters long and 50 meters wide. Bulk Santiago has a gross tonnage of 107,000 tons and a carrying capacity of 207,000 tons. Her engine with 19,000 horsepower and can reach a speed of over 15 knots.
6. Maran Innovation
Maran Innovation sails under the flag of Greece and was built in South Korea in 2004. She is a bulk carrier of the Capesize category which has a total of 9 cargo holds. She has been used to transport coal to Asian countries. She belongs to the angelicoussis group company, which has a fleet of more than 140 ships. Maran Innovation is 289 meters long and 45 meters wide with a gross tonnage of 87,000 tons. She has a carrying capacity of 171,000 tons. Her engine with 25,400 horsepower and can reach a speed of over 15 knots
7. Richard Oldendorff
Richard Olderndorff sails under the flag of Liberia and was built in China in 2011. She is a bulk carrier of the Capesize category which has been used to transport coal for countries such as Vietnam. She belongs to the Oldendorff Carriers company, which is the largest in Germany and operates a fleet of 750 ships. Richard Oldendorff is 260 meters long and 43 meters wide. Her gross tonnage is 66,000 tons and has a carrying capacity of 121,000 tons. Her engine with 15,600 horsepower and can reach a maximum speed of 15 knots
8. Cielo Ditalia
Cielo Ditalia sails under the flag of Liberia and was built in Japan in 2015. She is a bulk carrier of the Capesize category that belongs to the Balta company. She is used for the transportation of bulk metallurgical coke. Cielo Ditalia has a total of 7 cargo holds and is designed to optimize energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions. Her LOA is 245 meters long and 43 meters wide. Her gross tonnage is 63,000 tons and has a cargo capacity of 117,000 tons. Her engine with 12,700 horsepower and can reach a maximum speed of 15 knots.
9. CBL Tecumseh
CBL Tecumseh sails under the Bahamas flag and was built in China in 2013. She is a Trillium Panamax class self-unloading bulk carrier, currently the most advanced class of self-unloading ships in the world. She is operated by the CSL Group company, which is a world leader in dry cargo shipping. Her LOA is 229 meters and the beam is 32 meters with a gross tonnage of 43,600 tons and a cargo capacity of 71,300 tons or 75,000 cubic meters. CBL Tecumseh’s engine with 14,100 horsepower can reach a speed of over 14 knots
10. Nordic Odyssey
Nordic Odyssey sails under the flag of the Marshall Islands and was built in Japan in 2010. It is a Panamax-class bulk carrier, which is designed to carry a wide range of bulk cargo through the ice. She belongs to the Pangea Logistics Solutions company, which operates large bulk carriers on the Northern Sea Route. Her LOA is 225 meters and 32 meters wide. Her gross tonnage is 40,000 tons and has a cargo capacity of 75,600 tons. Her engine with 18,400 horsepower and can reach a speed of over 14 knots
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Source: Dailylogistic
