Summary
There are to definition of bulk cargo, both of them are correct. The first defines “bulk cargo” physical characteristics whose allow it to be handling in bulk. The second is just concerned with transport economics. If the trade flow is large enough almost everything can be shipped in bulk to reduce costs.
There are five classes of bulk cargo, liquid bulk, dry bulk, unit loads, wheeled cargos and perishable cargos. Each needs a different bulk handling system to deal with its characteristics.
A tanker (or tank ship or tankship) is aship designed to transport liquids in bulk. Major types of tankship include the oil tanker, thechemical tanker, and Gas carrier.
The tanker market is a fascinating sector of the shipping industry. It has played a pivotal role in the transportation of oil from the major production centres to the major consuming ones. The industry is dynamic and very sensitive to political and environmental issues.
The tanker market has proved to be fruitful sector for applied economic research, ranging from modelling or rate and price behaviours, to measuring the economic impact of oil pollution on the environment. While the composition of the individual players has changed considerably over the past 30 years, it is still a very good example of a competitive industry.
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