What are Bulk Carrier Ships?

Bulk Carriers

Bulk carriers are ships that transport unpacked or loose cargo as raw materials including grains, ores, coal, cement etc in their cargo holds. This cargo is used to manufacture essential products that we use in our everyday lives.

Main bulk cargo includes iron ore used for making steel, coal which meets energy needs in most parts of the world and grains. Other bulk cargo consists of fertilisers, sugar, timber, rice, etc. Apart from dry cargo, a bulker also carries liquid cargo like oil, fuel, petrol and chemicals.

Bulk Carriers comprise 21% of the world’s merchant fleet and most are owned by Greek, Chinese and Japanese. South Korea is the biggest builder of bulk carriers, and 82% of these vessels are constructed in Asia.

Since their inception in the mid-19th century, bulk carriers have made it easy to ship raw materials across the world, aiding the development of industries and manufacturing centres.

They are also economically and environmentally viable compared to roadways or railways. A Bulk carrier emits 6.5 gCO2/tonne nm, then 61 gCO2/tonne nm for rail transportation.

Dry bulk carriers usually sail on a tramp trade basis, meaning they complete one contract or charter and then look for another charter. Hence, in a year, they may load and unload a diverse range of cargo between different locations.

Structure of Bulk Carriers

Bulk Carriers can be identified based on the long flat deck in front of the accommodation block. On this lie, hatchways that lead to cargo holds below the deck. Hatchways have covers to prevent water from entering the holds as it could damage the cargo and make the vessel unstable.

Small bulk carriers which have cargo cranes are called geared bulk carriers. Those without cargo cranes are called gearless bulk carriers. The type employed depends on the cargo being carried and the ports they have to visit for loading and unloading cargo.

IMO Recognition and Vessel Requirements

Although bulk carriers have been employed since the 1850s, their appropriate definition and interpretation can be found in the SOLAS Convention of 1999. However, over the years various other interpretations have also been added to the official definition, which is now being employed quite effectively.

Bulk vessels can carry a maximum cargo of about 4, 00,000 DWT. The vessels are further subdivided into six major classes based on their cargo-carrying capacity and the marine channels through which they can pass. The various classes of bulk cargo vessels in the descending order of cargo capacity can be elaborated as under:

• Very Large Carriers
• Capesize & handymax
• Panamax
• Handysize
• Small sized

Apart from these major classifications, there are other classifications applicable to certain specific navigation channels. These vessel classifications, however, do not form a part of the international shipping domain but are restricted to certain geographical shipping arenas.

To enhance their safety and stability, it has been proposed that bulk carriers be built according to Common Structural Rules or CSR. Vessels built according to the CSR specifications are annotated with the CSR notation, which helps boost the vessel’s credibility in the global sector.

Similarly, the vessels are also required to undertake the ESP (Enhanced Survey Program) as a part of the SOLAS Convention rules. The ESP mainly involve monitoring and checking the hulls.

Conclusion

Bulk Carriers are an indispensable part of the shipping industry as they carry raw materials needed by the manufacturing sector. With advancements in marine engineering and naval technologies, these ships are becoming safer and more environmentally efficient.

You might also like to read-

• 10 Biggest Tanker Ships In the World
• Types of Ships in Merchant Navy
• What is the Difference between Handymax and Capesize Vessels?
• 12 Biggest Bulk Shipping Companies

About Author

Zahra is an alumna of Miranda House, University of Delhi. She is an avid writer, possessing immaculate research and editing skills. Author of several academic papers, she has also worked as a freelance writer, producing many technical, creative and marketing pieces. A true aesthete at heart, she loves books a little more than anything else.

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