Types of Cargo Ships

Cargo ships are classified under different categories based on their size, dimension and weight..
Most common classifications are :

• Handy size, ships weighing between 28,000-40,000 DWT
• Handymax, ships weighing between 40,000-50,000 DWT
• Panamax, the largest size of ship which can pass through the Panama Canal – DWT of between 60,000 to 80,000 tons
• Aframax, generally tankers weighing between 75,000 and 115,000 DWT
• Suezmax, the largest size of ship which can pass through the Suez Canal – DWT of around 150,000 tons
• Malaccamax, the largest size of ship which can navigate through the Malacca Straits – would have a DWT of ideally between 280000 to 300,000 tons in terms of container ships
• Capesize, vessels larger than Panamax and Suezmax, which cannot pass through either the Panama Canal or Suez Canal and has to pass through the Cape of Good Hope and Cape Horn – above 150,000 long tons in DWT
• VLCC (Very Large Crude Carrier), supertankers between 150,000 and 320,000 DWT
• ULCC (Ultra Large Crude Carrier), supertankers between 320,000 and 550,000 DWT
• Seawaymax, the largest size of ship that can fit through the canal locks of the St. Lawrence Seaway – has a DWT of between 10,000 to 60,000 tons

Why ship is call as she?

Research that goes back 2000 years says that the Romans called their own vessels "she" and this appelation spread throughout Europe and the rst of the world. 

The only serious answers say that crews considered the shipv to be their "mother" since indeed it was responsible for their whole livelihood while aboard on long voyages. 

Scolars say that ship builders were passionate in building beautiful ships which would evoke admiration when they asked: 

Isn't she beautiful 

Other scholars say that early ships were dedicated to "goddesses" hoping that they would be protected from the dangers of the sea.