Dry Bulk Carriers Manual NQ

Dry bulk carriers
Introduction
The objective of this course is to give knowledge of the correct procedures in regard to the
cargo handling operations of a bulk carrier.
The aims of the ship’s officers, the stevedores and the cargo owners are the same, to get the
cargo in or out the ship in the quickest possible time, but there the similarity ends.
This course is therefore focused on informing those ashore of how a bulk carrier operates and
the dangers that exists if there is a breakdown in the communications with the ship during the
cargo operations.
Types of bulk carrier
Type Cargo Number

Minibulkers <10,000 490
Handysize <34,000 2360
Handymax <49,000 1250
Panamax <79,000 1100
Capsize >80,000 630
Total bulker fleet = 5830 vessel amounting to 281.39 million toones.
The trend now is to build more vessel of the Panamax size and Cape size up to only 160,000
tonnes to the detriment of the Handy size.
The ships have five actual tonnages:
I. Light ship displacement tonnage: The vessels weight without any cargo or consumables
on board. The weight of the vessel empty shell, ready for sea but without fuel or
water.
II. Load displacement tonnage: The weight of the vessel in the fully loaded condition to
the summer loaded draft.
III. Deadweight tonnage: The difference between the light and loaded tonnage. The
deadweight (dwt) includes the cargo weight, fuel, stores, provisions and all other
weights that are not part of the ship’s structure.
Displacement = Volume x Density

IV. Gross tonnage: This is a tonnage measurement representing the entire enclosed space
of the vessel.
V. Net tonnage: Similarly derived as is the gross tonnage but represents only the spaces
within the vessel used to carry cargo.
The ship’s deadweight is not the amount of cargo the vessel can carry, fuel and other
consumables items must be deducted from this deadweight before the actual carrying capacity
can be determined.
Mini-Bulkers
Vessels of less than 10,000 tonnes deadweight. Mostly employed on coastal, and short sea
trades, although the majority are certificated for unrestricted trade.
Handy-size Bulkers
Vessels of 25,000 to 50,000 tonnes deadweight although 10,000 to 25,000 can be referred to
as small handy-size. The handy-size bulker will have a draft of less than 11.5 m and can be
placed into most ports of the world.
Handymax Bulker
Vessel from 35,000 to 50,000 deadweight.
Panamax Bulkers
Vessel from 50,000 to 80,000 tonnes capable of transiting the Panama Canal. The limiting
dimensions in the canal being LOA 289.5 m, extreme breadth 32.3 m and maximum draft 12.04
m. Some Panamax do exceed this draft but can only transit in a partly loaded condition.
Cape-sized
Vessels in the range of 80,000 to 180,000 tonnes deadweight. The loaded draft exceeds 17 m,
as these vessels are restricted to the range of ports where they can trade and must plan their
voyages around the Cape of Good Hope and Cape Horn, hence the name. Used mostly for
iron ore and coal trades the vessels are gearless relying on shore equipment for
discharge.
VLBC’s = Very Large Bulk Carrier

Bulk carriers over 180,000 tonnes deadweight. Mostly purpose – built ore carriers which are
designed for a specific trade.
2
Cargo holds and hatch covers
The basic shape of a bulk carrier cargo hold is the same, no matter the size.
The holds are designed as large and as square as possible, only the first and last compartment
will have noticeable taper as they approach the bow and stern flare of the vessel.
Each hold is fitted with bilge wells in the after end to drain any water out of the compartment. In
addition, two access ladders, one forward and one aft. are fitted.
Panamax and Cape-size vessels will usually have side opening covers where the smaller ship
types have fore and aft opening covers.
A bulk carrier’s hatch covers are not watertight when closed. Under the Loadline Rules
they are only required to be weathertight.
The covers are made weathertight with a set of gutters and wastepipes built into the underside
of the covers and coamings on the inner side of the seals. Any damage or blockage by cargo to
these gutters will cause water to enter the cargo hatch, which could subsequently damage
cargo.

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Dry bulk carriers

Types of bulk carrier

Type Cargo Number

The ships have five actual tonnages:

Displacement = Volume x Density

VLBC’s = Very Large Bulk Carrier

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