Today, bulkers make up 40% of the world's merchant fleets and range in size from single-hold mini-bulkers to mammoth ore ships able to carry 400,000 metric tons of deadweight.
Bulk carriers have large hatch openings and obstruction free cargo holds with sloped topside and hopper tanks to ease loading and discharging operations.
Bulk carriers were remotely originated in the ships for bulk cargo that appeared in the Great Lakes of the United States of America for the carriage of iron ore. Even in 1900 these ships attained lengths of about 150 m. From the 1950s the bulk carrier started to be deployed in deep sea trading, competing with the closed shelter deck cargo ships. Since then bulk carriers have grown in size and numbers.
All bulk carriers are single-deck ships, with a double bottom, machinery and accommodation aft, and vertical cargo access through hatches. Speed is nearly always in the 13-16 knot range.
Bulk carriers make up 15% to 17% of the worlds merchant fleet used to carry material in bulks around the world.
The main dimensions of the ship influence many of the ships characteristics such as stability, hold capacity, power requirements and its economic efficiency. So, they should be coordinated such that the ship satisfies the design conditions as well as the characteristics desired by the shipping companies with various combinations of dimensions.
Bulk Carriers
