A little less jargon
Cargo Ship Queries
Short answers to the questions that come up when you start looking beyond a ship’s outline.
Is a cargo ship the same as a container ship?
No. Cargo ship is a broad description. A container ship is one type, alongside bulk carriers, tankers, ro-ro ships and other cargo vessels. Our working-parts comparison shows how the main families differ.
What is the difference between bulk and breakbulk?
Bulk is loose material carried as a mass, such as grain. Breakbulk consists of separate pieces or packages, such as steel coils or machinery, handled individually. Compare the bulk guide with the specialist cargo guide.
Does TEU measure how much a ship weighs?
No. TEU is a measure of equivalent container capacity based on a nominal twenty-foot container. It is not a weight measure. A nominal forty-foot container counts as two TEU, but actual cargo weights can differ substantially.
Is deadweight the weight of the cargo alone?
No. Deadweight includes cargo and other variable loads, including fuel, water, stores and people, within the relevant loading condition. It should not be confused with displacement, which describes the ship’s total weight in a given condition.
Why do some cargo ships carry their own cranes?
Shipboard cranes can allow cargo operations at suitable ports without relying entirely on shore cranes. They also introduce weight, maintenance and operating constraints. A ship with cargo cranes is often called geared; one without them is often called gearless.
Can an oil tanker carry LNG?
A conventional oil tanker is not suitable for LNG. LNG requires purpose-designed low-temperature containment and associated systems; carriage depends on the vessel’s design and certification. See Understanding Tanker Families for the distinctions.
Are car carriers and passenger ferries the same?
No. Both may use ro-ro access, but vehicle cargo ships and passenger ferries serve different purposes. Carrying passengers introduces additional design and regulatory requirements. A shared loading method does not make the vessels equivalent.
Can a photograph reveal a ship’s exact capacity?
No. Visible features can suggest a vessel family, but exact capacity and permitted cargoes require reliable vessel-specific records. A photograph may also show a vessel at a different stage of its operating life.
Are these guides suitable for planning cargo operations?
No. They are educational introductions. Operations require current regulations, approved vessel documentation, cargo information and competent professional planning. Do not use our illustrations as loading, lifting or securing instructions.