· Category: Dry Bulk Cargo · By Konstantin Kalnyi
Dry Bulk: How Cargo Density Changes Vessel Utilisation
How cargo density and stowage factor determine whether a dry bulk vessel reaches its weight or volume limit first.
A dry bulk vessel can be limited either by weight or by available cargo volume.
Cargo density determines which limit is reached first.
Dense products such as clinker occupy relatively little hold space for each tonne.
Lighter agricultural cargoes occupy considerably more.
This is why the same vessel cannot necessarily carry the same tonnage of every commodity.
The key figure is the stowage factor.
It helps owners estimate how much hold volume a parcel will require and whether the vessel will weigh out or cube out.
Cargo owners should therefore provide the correct commodity and, where available, its expected stowage factor.
This is particularly important when selecting smaller vessels where hold capacity can become the limiting factor.
Kiev Shipping compares parcel quantity and cargo characteristics with the deadweight and hold volume of available tonnage before requesting freight.
See our dry bulk cargo chartering services.