What Is a Bulk Carrier? Types, Sizes & Cargo

Last updated: 23 October 2026

A bulk carrier is a ship that carries loose, unpackaged cargo such as iron ore, coal, grain, bauxite or cement in large holds. Bulk carriers make up a large share of the world’s merchant fleet and move the raw materials that power industry and feed the world. Here’s how they work.

What do bulk carriers carry?

Cargo	Rutas típicas
Iron ore	Australia and Brazil to China
Coal	Australia, Indonesia and others to Asia
Grain (wheat, corn, soybeans)	The Americas, the Black Sea and Australia to the world
Bauxite and alumina	West Africa and Australia to China
Fertilisers, cement, steel products	Many routes

Seascape — Bulk carriers sail tramp routes wherever cargo takes them.

Bulk carrier sizes

Bulk carriers are grouped by deadweight tonnage (DWT), the weight of cargo, fuel and stores they can carry.

Class	Approx. DWT	Notas
Handysize	10,000–40,000	Flexible; many have their own cranes
Handymax / Supramax	40,000–65,000	Often with cranes; very versatile
Panamax	65,000–80,000+	Sized for the old Panama Canal locks
Kamsarmax	about 82,000	Fits ports such as Kamsar in Guinea
Capesize	100,000–200,000+	Too big for Panama; sails around the Capes
Very Large Ore Carrier (VLOC)	200,000–400,000	Including Valemax ships of about 400,000 DWT

How bulk carriers are loaded and unloaded

Loading: conveyors and shiploaders pour cargo into the holds.
Unloading: grabs, conveyors or suction equipment for grain.
Hatches: large covers seal each hold.
Geared ships: smaller bulkers carry their own cranes for ports without equipment.

Crane unloading cargo at a terminal — Bulk cargo is loaded by conveyors, chutes and grabs.

Bulk carrier vs container ship

	Bulk carrier	Container ship
Cargo	Loose raw materials	Manufactured goods in boxes
Schedule	Often tramp: goes where the cargo is	Liner: fixed routes and schedules
Speed	About 12–15 knots	About 14–20 knots. See how fast container ships go.
Pasajeros	Rarely	Sometimes, on selected routes

Can you travel on a bulk carrier?

Occasionally, but it is much less common than container ships. Bulkers often don’t follow fixed schedules, which makes planning difficult. Most freighter passengers travel on container ships. See shipping lines that take passengers.

More ship types: what is a ro-ro ship, freight ship types y biggest ships in the world.

Preguntas frecuentes

What is a bulk carrier?

A ship that carries loose cargo such as iron ore, coal or grain in large holds.

What is a Capesize ship?

A bulk carrier of about 100,000–200,000+ DWT, too large for the Panama Canal.

What is the biggest bulk carrier?

Valemax ore carriers of about 400,000 DWT are among the largest.

What is the difference between a bulk carrier and a container ship?

Bulk carriers carry loose raw materials, while container ships carry goods packed in containers.

Can you travel as a passenger on a bulk carrier?

Rarely. Most freighter passengers travel on container ships.

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Steve Joury

Asesor de viajes de carga at Cargoholidays

Apasionado de los viajes lentos y del mar. Steve conoce la mayoría de las rutas marítimas y el procedimiento para descubrir nuestro hermoso mundo desde el mar en un barco de contenedores. Ha estado en la mayoría de los viajes desde 7 días de viaje de carga hasta 140 días a bordo.