Ship shape
Not all types of freighters carry passengers – for instance those which
carry dangerous cargos, such as tankers do not. Those freighters that do carry passengers include:
Container Ships
The most usual way to send goods by sea these days is on a container ship or box
ship. The containers themselves are manufactured to a worldwide standard of twenty
foot and forty foot in length and eight foot in height, making them very quick
and efficient to load and unload. This means that container ships tend to spend
less time in port than traditional freighters. Container ship capacity is described
in TEUs (twenty foot equivalent units) – thus a vessel capable of carrying
2,000 forty foot containers would be described as having a capacity of 4,000 TEUs.
An infinite variety of goods is carried in containers.
Reefers
One type of general cargo ship is the Reefer, such as the banana boat (though
the traditional carriers, Fyffes and Geest, no longer take passengers). Reefers
carry perishable goods in specially ventilated holds to keep the cargo at an evenly
cool temperature. Refrigerated containers which plug in to the electrical system
on container ships are also known as reefers.
Multipurpose Vessels
As their name suggests, these ships combine the features of general cargo and
container ships with roll–on–roll–off facilities.
RO–ROs
Roll–On Roll–Off ships are unlovely looking vessels (though comfortable inside)
which are like giant car ferries, transporting thousands of vehicles which are
loaded by being driven on board via a stern ramp.
Bulk Carriers
Carrying loose cargo, such as coal, phosphates, grain, and mineral ores, these
ships tend to be employed in a “tramp” service, not having an established
route, but following the delivery requirements of the cargo they are carrying.
