The document defines common size groups for merchant vessels based on deadweight tonnage (dwt). It describes: - Handy and Handymax vessels which are less than 60,000 dwt and operate in small ports carrying grains and minor bulks. - Panamax vessels which are around 65,000 dwt and represent the largest size that can transit the Panama Canal, carrying coal, grain and minor bulks. - Capesize vessels between 80,000 to 175,000 dwt which are too large for the Panama or Suez Canals and carry iron ore and coal to deepwater terminals. - Aframax tankers between 75,000 to 115,000 dwt which are the

1. Source: UNCTAD (2000) Review of Maritime Transport. Lloyd's Register information
sheet.
Vessel Size Groups (in deadweight tons)
Major ship size groups include:
• Handy and Handymax: Traditionally the workhorses of the dry bulk market, the
Handy and more recent Handymax types remain popular ships with less than
60,000 dwt. The Handymax sector operates in a large number of geographically
dispersed global trades, mainly carrying grains and minor bulks including steel
products, forest products and fertilizers. The vessels are well suited for small ports
with length and draft restrictions and also lacking transshipment infrastructure.
This category is also used to define small-sized oil tankers.
• Panamax: Represents the largest acceptable size to transit the Panama Canal,
which can be applied to both freighters and tankers; lengths are restricted to a
maximum of 275 meters, and widths to slightly more than 32 meter. The average
size of such a ship is about 65,000 dwt. They mainly carry coal, grain and, to a
lesser extent, minor bulks, including steel products, forest products and fertilizers.
• Capesize: Refers to a rather ill-defined standard which have the common
characteristic of being incapable of using the Panama or Suez canals, not
necessarily because of their tonnage, but because of their size. These ships serve
deepwater terminals handling raw materials, such as iron ore and coal. As a result,
"Capesize" vessels transit via Cape Horn (South America) or the Cape of Good
Hope (South Africa). Their size ranges between 80,000 and 175,000 dwt. Due to
their size there are only a comparatively small number of ports around the world
with the infrastructure to accommodate such vessel size.
• Aframax: A tanker of standard size between 75,000 and 115,000 dwt. The largest
tanker size in the AFRA (Average Freight Rate Assessment) tanker rate system.

2. • Suezmax: This standard, which represents the limitations of the Suez Canal, has
evolved. Before 1967, the Suez Canal could only accommodate tanker ships with
a maximum of 80,000 dwt. The canal was closed between 1967 and 1975 because
of the Israel - Arab conflict. Once it reopened in 1975, the Suezmax capacity went
to 150,000 dwt. An enlargement to enable the canal to accommodate 200,000 dwt
tankers is being considered.
• VLCC: Very Large Crude Carriers, 150,000 to 320,00 dwt in size. They offer a
good flexibility for using terminals since many can accommodate their draft. They
are used in ports that have depth limitations, mainly around the Mediterranean,
West Africa and the North Sea. They can be ballasted through the Suez Canal.
• ULCC: Ultra Large Crude Carriers, 300,000 to 550,000 dwt in size. Used for
carrying crude oil on long haul routes from the Persian Gulf to Europe, America
and East Asia, via the Cape of Good Hope or the Strait of Malacca. The enormous
size of these vessels require custom built terminals.
Copyright © 1998-2007, Dr. Jean-Paul Rodrigue, Dept. of Economics & Geography,
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