Bulkschepen

Bulkschepen, or bulk carriers, are merchant ships designed to transport unpackaged dry bulk cargo in large cargo holds. They move bulk commodities rather than packaged goods, containers, or liquids. Common cargoes include grains, coal, iron ore, cement, bauxite, and various fertilizers. Bulkschepen are essential to global trade, linking production regions with consuming markets.

Most bulkschepen have multiple box-like holds with wide hatch openings to facilitate loading and unloading. The hull form, ballast system, and hatch design are optimized for stability when holds are loaded and for easy handling of cargo. Some vessels are equipped with deck cranes or other unloading gear, which is advantageous in ports with limited infrastructure.

Design and performance: bulkschepen typically feature robust, relatively simple hulls, a single deck, and no liquid cargo tanks. Cargo handling often relies on gear such as cranes or conveyor systems, depending on the vessel’s equipment and the port. Propulsion is usually diesel, and operating speeds commonly range from about 12 to 15 knots, varying with size and cargo.

Size classes and scales: small bulkschepen are often called handysize, roughly 15,000 to 40,000 deadweight ton (dwt). Supramax and larger feeder vessels range up to around 60,000 dwt. Panamax bulk carriers are typically about 60,000 to 80,000 dwt. Capesize bulk carriers exceed about 100,000 dwt and cannot pass through the Panama Canal when fully loaded. Very large bulkschepen can reach 150,000 to 200,000 dwt or more, with definitions varying by region.

Operation and regulation: bulkschepen operate globally on fixed or flexible routes, often under time or voyage charters. They face safety challenges related to stability and hull fatigue, and environmental concerns such as ballast water management, emissions, and hull corrosion, governed by international rules and industry standards.