oil tanker

Oil Tanker | Size / Capacity / Various Types

A TANKER is a Vessel that carries any type of Liquid Cargo in Bulk Form. No containers or barrels are used but the liquid is stored in a hold. Majorly Tankers carries oil, this is the reason the name is Oil TANKER. But some Tankers also carries cargo like Edible Oils, Treacle/Molasses and Wine.

Brief about OIL TANKERS

OIL TANKERS can vary in Size and Length. The smaller size TANKERS, measuring around 200 Feet (60 Meters) Long and their cargo capacity is between 1,500 DWT to 2,000 DWT (Deadweight Tons). These are called COASTAL SHIPS / INLAND VESSELS which sail inside a region or continent, traveling along a coastline and not crossing an ocean/international sea border.

DWT - “DWT” stands for “Deadweight Tons”. Deadweight is the Total Weight of Cargo in the Ship and additionally other factors like Fuel, Fresh Water, Lubricating Oil, Gear, Other Supplies, Crew etc.

Double Hull - A mandatory design feature on newly built oil tankers; double-hull construction means the ship has two hulls, one inside the other. This offers an extra layer of protection against damage that might otherwise result in catastrophic oil spills.

2 Types of TANKERS: PRODUCT TANKERS and CRUDE TANKERS

PRODUCT TANKER (CARRIER)

Two Types - Clean Petroleum Products (CPP) and Dirty Petroleum Products (DPP).
CPP - Gasoline, Diesel, Jet Fuel, Naphtha and Kerosene
DPP - Paraffin Wax, Tar, Asphalt, Lubricating Oils and Heavy Fuel Oils.

CRUDE TANKER (CARRIER)

Crude Oil - Non-refined Liquid Petroleum composed of Hydrocarbon (HC) Compounds.

General Purpose Product Tankers

Cargo Capacity: 10,000 DWT to 24,999 DWT.
Carry Refined Petroleum.

Medium Range (“MR”) Product Tankers

Cargo Capacity: 25,000 DWT To 44,999 DWT.
Carry CPP and Various Chemical Cargoes.

Handysize Product Tankers

Cargo Capacity is Less Than 50,000 DWT.
Carry CPP and Various Chemical Cargoes.

Long Range (“LR1”) Product Tankers

Cargo Capacity: 45,000 DWT TO 79,999 DWT.
Carry CPP and DPP:

Long Range (“LR2”) Product Tankers

Cargo Capacity: 85,000 DWT TO 159,999 DWT.
Carry DPP.

PANAMAX Tankers

Cargo Capacity: 52,500 DWT to 80,000 DWT / 350,000 to 500,000 Barrels.
Length: 200 Metres to 250 Metres, Beam: 29 Metres, Draft: 16 Metres.

AFRAMAX Tankers / LR1

Cargo Capacity: 80,000 DWT to 120,000 DWT.
Length: Around 240 Metres , Beam: 34 Metres, Draft: 20 Metres.

SUEZMAX Tankers / LR2

Cargo Capacity: 120,000 DWT to 200,000 DWT.
Length: Around 275 Metres , Beam: 45 Metres, Draft: 23 Metres.

VERY LARGE Crude Carrier Tankers (VLCC)

Cargo Capacity: 200,000 DWT to 320,000 DWT.

Length: Around 330 Metres , Beam: 55 Metres, Draft: 28 Metres.

ULTRA LARGE Crude Carrier Tankers (ULCC)

Cargo Capacity: 320,000 DWT to 550,000 DWT.
Length: Around 415 Metres , Beam: 63 Metres, Draft: 35 Metres.

LENGTH

Length Overall is the maximum length of a vessel's hull measured parallel to the waterline. This length is important while docking the ship.

Length Between Perpendiculars is the length of a ship along the summer load line from the forward surface of the stem, or main bow perpendicular member, to the after surface of the sternpost, or main stern perpendicular member.

Length at the Waterline (LWL) is the length of a ship or boat at the level where it sits in the water. The registered L.W.L it is measured from a default load condition.

BREADTH / BEAM

The Beam of a ship is its width at its widest point. The maximum beam (BMAX) is the distance between planes passing through the outer sides of the ship, beam of the hull (BH) only includes permanently fixed parts of the hull, and beam at waterline (BWL) is the maximum width where the hull intersects the surface of the water.

DRAFT / DRAUGHT

The Draft or Draught of a ship's hull is the vertical distance between the waterline and the bottom of the hull (keel). The draught of the vessel is the maximum depth of any part of the vessel, including appendages such as rudders, propellers and drop keels if deployed. Draft determines the minimum depth of water a ship or boat can safely navigate. The related term air draft is the maximum height of any part of the vessel above the water.