Bulk Vessel Size Guide — DWT, Cargo Capacity, Port Constraints
Bulk dry vessel size reference for international commodity trade. Handysize, Handymax, Supramax, Ultramax, Panamax, Kamsarmax, Post-Panamax, Capesize. DWT ranges, cargo capacity, draft, port suitability for Egyptian commodity exports.
Bulk Vessel Size Guide — From Handysize to Capesize
International dry bulk shipping uses 7 standard vessel size classes, distinguished by deadweight tonnage (DWT), beam, draft, and the canals/ports they can transit. Understanding which vessel size matches your cargo + lane economics is critical for FOB/CIF pricing accuracy.
| Class | DWT range | Typical cargo capacity | Draft | LOA | Beam |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Handysize | 10,000-35,000 | 8,000-30,000 MT | 8-11 m | 130-180 m | 22-28 m |
| Handymax | 35,000-50,000 | 30,000-44,000 MT | 11-12 m | 180-200 m | 28-32 m |
| Supramax | 50,000-60,000 | 44,000-54,000 MT | 12-13 m | 195-210 m | 32-34 m |
| Ultramax | 60,000-65,000 | 54,000-58,000 MT | 13 m | 200 m | 34 m |
| Panamax | 65,000-80,000 | 58,000-72,000 MT | 14 m | 225 m | 32 m (max for old Panama locks) |
| Kamsarmax | 80,000-90,000 | 72,000-82,000 MT | 14.5 m | 229 m | 32 m |
| Capesize | 100,000+ (typical 170-180k) | 90,000-170,000 MT | 18 m+ | 290 m | 45 m |
| Port | Max draft | Typical largest vessel | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damietta (EGDAM) | 15 m | Kamsarmax, partial Capesize | Egypt's deepest container + bulk port |
| Alexandria (EGALY) | 14 m | Panamax/Kamsarmax | Older infrastructure, slower turnaround |
| El Dekheila (EGEDK) | 17 m | Capesize | Deep-water terminal, large cement + iron ore |
| Ain Sokhna (EGSOK) | 17 m | Capesize | Red Sea side, container hub |
| Port Said East (EGPSE) | 18.5 m | Capesize+ | New container terminal, deepest in Egypt |
| Al-Arish (EGEAR) | 9 m | Handysize | Coastal sea-salt port, limited |
| Adabiya (EGADA) | 10-11 m | Handymax | Niche bulk |
| Suez (EGSUZ) | 11 m | Handymax/Supramax | Mostly transit, some discharge |
| Safaga (EGSGA) | 10 m | Handysize | Niche, phosphate exports |
Cement + Clinker
Salt (de-icing + industrial)
Gypsum + Plaster
Fertilizers (Urea, DAP, NPK, MAP)
Iron ore + bauxite + coal
Suez Canal Capacity
- SCNT (Suez Canal Net Tonnage) is the basis for transit fees
- Suezmax refers historically to tankers/bulk vessels at the canal's maximum drift restrictions
- New Suez Canal expansion (2015) allows two-way Capesize transit
- Cargo to/from Mediterranean Egyptian ports avoids canal entirely; Red Sea Egyptian ports use canal for Atlantic/European destinations
Panama Canal expansion
- Original locks: max beam 32.3 m (true Panamax)
- Expanded locks (2016): allow up to 49 m beam, 366 m LOA — opens Post-Panamax routes for Capesize-style vessels
- Affects Asia ↔ US East Coast + Europe ↔ Pacific Latin America economics
Vessel speed + bunker
- Bulk vessels: eco-speed 11-12 knots, service speed 14-15 knots, full speed 16-17 knots
- Voyage planning: roughly 0.4-0.5 days per 1,000 nautical miles at service speed
- Damietta → Hamburg ~3,200 nm = ~12-15 day voyage at service speed
Larger vessels = lower $/MT freight, but require deeper port draft, larger cargo lot size, longer lay-can. Smaller vessels = higher $/MT but more flexible.
Typical breakeven for Egyptian commodity exports:
We have framework rate agreements with 12+ shipping lines covering Handysize → Kamsarmax bulk vessels from all 7 Egyptian export ports. We quote freight as part of CIF based on vessel size that fits your cargo lot.
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