The 10 Best Ships for Cargo Shipping

What's in this article?

Reefer Ships
Dry Cargo Ships
Container Ships
Tanker Ships
Roll-On/Roll-Off or RO-RO ships
General Cargo Vessels
Feeder Ships
Heavy-Lift Ships
Barge Ships
Livestock Vessels
Wrapping Up
Related Information

An International shipping company helps businesses move their products from one place to another. Moving goods involves transporting them from the warehouse or factory to the central shipping hub, such as a port or airport. From there, various shipping services move the goods from that location to their final destination.

A company's ability to ship its products cost-effectively and efficiently directly impacts its ability to compete in the marketplace and achieve profitability.

Shipping is an essential business operation for most companies since it helps lower costs, expand markets and reach new customers. So let's take a closer look at the world's top 10 most innovative ships for cargo shipping.

1) Reefer Ships

A reefer ship is a refrigerated vessel used for perishable shipping goods such as fresh produce, fish, and flowers.

Reefer ships are specially equipped with cooling systems and fresh-water reservoirs to keep the ambient temperature below 10° Celsius.

While refrigerated vessels are the most economical option for shipping perishable goods, they can be more challenging to find.

Also, the longer the voyage, the more costly it is to keep the ship's chilled environment active, leading to higher shipping costs.

2) Dry Cargo Ships

Dry bulk vessels are designed to carry non-fragile materials that are not affected by water.

These vessels are not equipped with built-in refrigeration systems, making them a more affordable option for shipping non-perishable goods like grains and ores.

When choosing a dry bulk vessel, it's essential to consider the type of goods you're shipping.

For example, dirt, mud, and other particulates found in mining ores require special handling. If these materials are allowed to mix with the rest of the goods on the ship, they can clog the filtering system and cause damage to the ship's engine.

Specialized equipment is needed to remove these materials from the load before goods are offloaded.

3) Container Ships

Container ships are the most common type used for international cargo shipping.

They are also the largest ships, equipped with built-in cranes that can lift containers from the vessel and place them on trucks, trains, or other vessels.

Most container vessels can carry between 5,000 and 10,000 TEUs. The largest container ship can hold up to 18,000 TEUs. While container ships are often the cheapest option for shipping goods over long distances, there are a few things to remember before you book.

Most container ships can only travel between 12 and 14 days before turning around and returning to port. So if you're shipping over a short distance and can be flexible with your delivery date, finding a container shipping company may be the best option.

If you need your goods to arrive at a specific time, you may want to look into other ship types.

4) Tanker Ships

Tanker ships are designed to carry liquid cargo. There are different kinds of tanker ships for specific kinds of cargo:

Oil tankers transport crude oil and petroleum products.
Gas carriers deliver liquid petroleum gas (LPG), liquid natural gas (LNG), or liquefied chemical gases.
Chemical tankers carry chemicals and other liquid cargoes. There are multiple tanks on board to prevent the accidental mixing of fluids.

Tanker ships are usually operated by specialized companies and are not available for booking through freight-forwarding companies.

This type of vessel is built to withstand the pressure of holding thousands of gallons of liquid without risk of contamination.

Tanker ships can be as large as 400,000 tons and hold around 100,000-200,000 cubic meters of liquid. They're designed to be as large as possible to reduce the cost per ton per kilometer.

These are the most visible ships in the world and are very easy to spot while they're at sea.

5) Roll-On/Roll-Off or RO-RO ships

RO-RO ships are designed to carry wheeled cargo in containers, such as automobiles and trucks. This type of ship is usually combined with a container ship as part of a voyage.

Though these ships are often used for car transport, they can also carry other wheeled cargo like railroad cars, tractors, or construction equipment.

They offer several advantages over other modes of transportation like trucking and trains, including a lower cost per mile traveled and less time spent in transit.

The main advantage of this type of shipping is the low rates for transporting large numbers of automobiles.

RO-RO ships have a stern ramp that allows vehicles to drive directly on or off the ship without needing to be lifted. Depending on the ship's length, they can carry between 500 and 1,700 cars.

6) General Cargo Vessels

General cargo ships aren't limited to one type of material; they are designed to carry multiple types of goods in one container. That means shippers don't need to break up their goods and can keep them all in their current shipping containers.

General cargo ships are the workhorses of the shipping industry. They're designed to carry various products, including:

Manufactured goods like furniture, clothing, and appliances
Foodstuffs
Break bulk cargo like mining and construction equipment.
Livestock
Automobiles

General cargo ships rely on internal conveyor belts to move goods around the ship. This means you can load your cargo at any time throughout the day and any stage in the shipping process.

However, general cargo vessels are typically used for short-haul or intra-regional trade.

One downside to these ships is that you're at the mercy of the shipping company's schedule. A general cargo ship is not a good choice for your shipping needs if you're shipping time-sensitive cargo.

The vital thing to note about these ships is that they have limited or no refrigeration or freezing capacity. This means they cannot ship perishable goods, like fresh fruit and vegetables.

If you're shipping a perishable product, select a vessel with the appropriate refrigeration system.

7) Feeder Ships

Feeder ships are smaller vessels that connect larger, long-distance cargo ships to port cities.

If you're shipping to a smaller port city, it would be impractical to use one of the biggest ships, which would need to travel much farther and incur higher operational costs.

Feeder ships are also used when demand for a specific product is low, so you'll find them primarily in areas with low trade volume.

They are typically designed for short-haul routes, so their carrying capacity is significantly lower than other cargo ships.

Feeder ships have a smaller capacity for temperature-sensitive products, like fresh produce than larger cargo ships.

When shipping on a feeder ship, check the route, as it may have several stops. This can impact your delivery time.

8) Heavy-Lift Ships

Heavy-lift ships are the most suitable type when transporting large and oversized cargo, such as wind turbines, steel structures, oil rigs, and assembled machinery.

Heavy-lift ships also require special cranes and loading equipment at the destination port.

However, choosing a heavy-lift ship for your cargo is essential as this type has the highest capacity for oversized freight.

These ships are specifically designed to lift and transport heavy, bulky items, not liquids or containers. They can be equipped with cranes for loading and offloading cargo.

Heavy-lift ships are usually larger than feeder ships and have strengthened hulls that can withstand dragging on the ground.

Construction companies often charter these vessels, and they are also used to transport military machinery.

9) Barge Ships

Barge ships are not a common type of vessel for cargo shipping. A barge is a smaller ship designed to carry another vessel.

Freighters or other vessels removed from the water for repair or modification are often placed on barges for transport via water. Some barges are used as floating platforms for building bridges.

These ships have limited capacity, usually less than 5,000 tons, and are often used for short-run shipping.

Barges are typical in places where the cost of building a bridge is prohibitive, such as across a large river.

10) Livestock Vessels

Livestock vessels are used to transport cows, pigs, or other livestock. These ships have special sections where animals can be kept, with ventilation and enough space to move around comfortably.

Because of the risk of disease that can cause infection in crew members or other problems, livestock ships and crew onboard are subject to strict regulations.

This can be a problem for crew members and cause trouble for other ships. Therefore, livestock ships are often kept at the end of the line, waiting to discharge as the last ship at the destination port.

Wrapping Up

Shipping cargo isn't just about booking a suitable vessel. When choosing a ship for your freight forwarding company, you must consider factors like the size of the vessel and how many containers each can carry.

You also have to factor in the distance between the origin and destination points and how long the voyage will take.

The best ships for cargo shipping are those that can carry the maximum amount of cargo for the lowest cost.

If you want to keep your shipping expenses as low as possible, it's critical to select the proper ship for your purposes; alternatively, find the most reliable shipping agent to assist you in this area.

At A-1 Auto Transport, one of the largest shipping companies in the U.S, we can confidently offer you the most optimal cargo shipping services for your business or personal needs.

Don't hesitate to contact us any time. We are glad to be your shipping solution!

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