Modern commercial ocean vessels come in many different shapes and sizes, designed to carry both cargo and passengers. To process the cargo in the right way, it’s better to know about types of ships that suit. That said, cargoes can be divided into dry, liquid and specialised with various subcategories to choose the best vessel for smooth cargo operations. Let’s have a look!
1. Dry Cargo Ships
Dry cargo vessels in general were the mainstay of global merchant fleet. Commonly called cargo vessels as they’re geared or equipped with their own shipping equipment in the form of gantries, precious cargo is stowed in different compartments whereas speed and effectiveness of the entire process depends on the craftsmanship of the crew and port workers aka ‘stevedores’. Such vessels sometimes execute a regular service as ‘liners’ between two or more ports as well as serve in the ‘tramp trade’ where ships are free to go anywhere they’re needed.
2. Bulk Carriers
Dry cargoes with sufficient weight plus cost, like coal, ore and grain, the economies of scale came forward with modern bulk carrier. These are particularly large vesselsfurther divided into several cargo holds sheltered by hatches. In the port, cargo is docked by conveyor and spouts, grab and crane. Some of the bulk carriers are equipped to load and unload consignment at the wharfs without any shore equipment.
To unload, cranes with the hooks are now the norm however; special equipment may be used for more particular cargoes. When these vessels use grabs and cranes to drop off, vehicles and personnel are likely deployed inside the holds, assisting the process. Cargo is then delivered into the hopers and transferred by conveyor belt to silos whereas smaller ships may unload directly into the road vehicles.
3. General Cargo Vessels
Though shadowed by the bulk and container carriers, the world’s still not out of general cargo vessels whereas the freight is mostly in the form of bags, pellets and known as ‘break-bulk’. There’re specialised handling facilities for cargo, but the loading and unloading is carried out via straps and cranes (for boxes),slings (for bags). Irregular or loose cargo is also managed but in this particular case, port stevedores and crew packs up the freight to maximise safety and make the best use of space available.
4. Container Vessels
Containers today are primary means to ship manufactured goods around the world. A typical container can be transferred between ocean vessel, truck and train conveniently and regarded a standard size to easy and simple transportation. Containers can carry almost anything from foodstuff to electrical, automobiles and much more. They also ship palletised and bagged items, refrigerated and liquid cargo.
5. Reefers
Ships that are designed to transport cold/refrigerated cargo which is probably perishable goods like fruits, vegetables, meat so on are known as ‘reefers’ or ‘reefer vessels’. Cargo is crammed into the holds which are then sealed and kept in temperature controlled environment.
The traditional reefers however have been replaced by reefer containers that are conveniently carried on board a container vessel. These reefers only require a power function to function whereas inspected prior to the voyage.
6. Ro-Ro Vessels
The ‘Roll On, Roll Off’ or Ro-Ro come in many different forms that can be vehicle carriers, cargo ships, truck trailer carriers but one of the major type is that of a road vehicle carrier. The slab-sided ships have multiple vehicle decks with actual parking lanes connected by internal ramps having access to the shore, equipped with either one or more loading ramp. Cargo capacity is measured in Car Equivalent Units (CEU)whereas one of the largest car carriers can move above 6,000 CEU.
7. Liquid Cargo Ships
Collectively known as tankers, these particular type of sea vessels cater to liquid cargo services. Tankers were developed first during the mid-19th century when iron-made containers were capable to carry bulk without any leak or damage. The largest today is capable to carry above 400,000 tons of liquid freight.
<
