CHAPTER 1

During the last two decades, the dramatic development has taken place in regard to size of the
ships, as well as the introduction of new specialized ships, the most important of which are the
container ships and huge oil tank. The transport cost per tone-nautical miles decreases with
increasing carrying capacity of ships. However, general cargo ships have not changed very much
in size.
1.2.1. Definition of ship dimension
The definition of the dimensions of ships is shown below.

1.2.2. Size of ship

The size of the ship is normally expressed as
DWT (Deadweight Tonnage)
The carrying capacity of the ship, namely the total weight of cargo, fuel, fresh water etc.
GRT (Gross Registered Tonnage)
Total volume of the ship (in m3) divided by 2.83 m3.
NRT (Net Registered Tonnage)
Available volume for cargo, i.e. GRT minus the volume of engine room,
compartments for operation and ballast tanks.
DT (Displacement tonnage)
The total weight of the ship, i.e. the weight of the sea water displaced by the ship.
It is normal that the dimensions of the ships are not clearly known at the design stage of the port.
Table below lists the average dimensions of various types of ships
Type
Bulk cargo
(oil, ore)

GRT
(ton)

DWT
(ton)

DT
(ton)

400 000
300 000
200 000
100 000
50 000

460 000
356 000
240 000
125 000
60 000

Overall
Length
(m)
392
364
345
280
225

Beam
Width
(m)
66.0
59.5
51.0
41.0
32.0

Moulded
Depth
(m)
29.0
27.0
25.0
21.0
16.5

Max. Draft
(m)
24.0
22.0
19.5
15.0
12.0

Container

Mixed
cargo (on
deck)

Passenger

Fishing

10 000
7 000
4 000
1 000
500
40 000
30 000
20 000
10 000
5 000
2 000
2 500
1 000
200

15 000
50 000
42 000
30 000
20 000
10 000
15 000
10 000
6 000
1 500
700

20 000
73 500
61 000
41 500
27 000
13 500
20 000
14 000
8 000
2 000
1 00
35 000
30 000
20 000
10 000
5 000
2 000
2 800
1 750
400

165
290
285
220
198
159
165
145
125
70
55
265
230
200
165
135
90
90
75
40

21.0
32.4
32.3
31.0
28.7
23.5
21.5
20.0
16.5
10.0
8.5
29.5
28.0
25.0
20.5
17.2
14.0
14.0
11.0
7.0

12.0

12.0
11.5
9.5
5.1
4.5
18.0
17.0
15.0
12.3
8.4
6.2

9.5
13.0
12.0
11.3
10.0
8.0
9.5
8.5
7.5
4.3
3.8
10.0
10.0
9.2
8.2
6.0
4.5
5.9
5.0
3.5