Definition: Tankers

Category: PRODCOM

The use of the word tanker alone generally refers to oil tanker, carrying either crude oil or oil derivatives (normally referred to as "oil products") such as petroleum, kerosene or naphtha. Generally speaking crude oil moves in large amounts in very large ships (above around 100,000 tonnes dwt) and products in smaller "parcels" in smaller ships (up to around 70,000 tonnes dwt but typically in ships carrying up to around 45,000 tonnes).

Tankers, bulk carriers and container ships make up by far the largest portion of the fleet and a significant proportion of the output from the shipbuilding industry. http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/ramon/coded_files/CGT_first_marine_int_ltd.pdf