The World Fleet and Fleet Type
Buoyed by growth of global trade and demand for shipping, world fleet size has grown from 750 million dwt in 2000 to more than 970 million dwt¹⁴ in 2006. Orders for new ships have grown substantially in recent years.

Increasing concerns about global climate changes and environment protection have also affected ship navigation and design of ships. International and national authorities are imposing new rules and regulations with the objective of reducing the threat to safety and environment. Such regulations touch on areas such as regulating the emissions from ships or compulsory navigation of ships in areas where there is a threat to marine environment.

Below is a quick introduction to the basic types of ships.

Container Ships
They carry most of the world’s manufactured goods and products, usually through established routes and schedules. The typical measurement of a container ship’s capacity is in twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), which is the measurement of one twenty-foot container (6.06m length by 2.44m width by 2.59m height).


Source: A. P. Moller Singapore Pte Ltd

Bulk
Identifiable by the hatches raised above deck level covering the large cargo holds, bulk carriers are the workhorses of the fleet, transporting raw materials such as iron ore, coal and grain such as wheat and soya beans.


Source: “K” Line Pte Ltd

Tankers
Tankers may appear similar to bulk carriers, but a tanker’s deck is covered by pipelines and vents to facilitate the transfer of their liquid cargo onshore. They are employed to safely transport fresh water, wine, chemicals such as ammonia and chlorine, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), liquefied natural gas (LNG) and other petroleum products.


Source: Tanker Pacific Management (Singapore) Pte Ltd

Car Carriers
            Most car carriers are RO-RO (roll on-roll off) ships which are like huge multi-storey car parks where vehicles can drive straight on and off, making it a speedy and easy way to transport vehicles.

In the 1970s, a boom in the car import and export market prompted the use of car carriers. These carriers are designed solely for the transport of cars and trucks, and can move 4,000 to 8,000 cars per trip.

Source: A. P. Moller Singapore Pte Ltd

Specialist Ships
These are ships that are constructed for certain functions that normal ships are unable to perform, such as anchor handling, ice breaking and lifting of heavy structures.

Anchor handling tug supply vessels are mainly used for the offshore oil and gas industry to tow oil rigs and anchor them at sea. They can also be used to transport supplies to oil rigs so as to enable them to remain at sea for long periods.  

Ice-breakers have a strengthened and specially-shaped hull that can direct broken ice under or around the vessel, and enough power to push through ice.

Semi-submersible heavy-lift ships are used to transport massive structures out at sea. Such ships have a low deck that allows it to be submerged when the ship’s ballast tanks are filled. This allows structures such as oil rigs to be carried on the deck and transported to another location.

¹⁴Source: UNCTAD Review of Maritime Transport 2007