Sea freight carriers drive the world economy, with 80% of goods moved through maritime transport globally. The seamless flow of goods is possible, thanks to the variety of ocean freight carriers developed that cater specific industries and goods. Container ships, tankers, general cargo, and RoRo vessels are just a few examples of freight carriers operated by shipping services in the Philippines.

Which type of ocean freight carrier has the best features to store and transport your goods safely? Read on to be familiar with these vessels and their functions.

6 Types of Ocean Carriers and What They Are Used For

1. Container Ships

This type of sea freight carriers mainly transport shipping containers. These vessels are the most widely-used mode of shipping commodities domestically and across the globe. Shipping services typically offer full container load (FCL) or less than container load (LCL). Thanks to its convenience and versatility, container ships are used to move products in retail, electronics, manufacturing, perishable goods, consumer goods, machinery, and dry general cargo.

2. Dry Bulk Carriers

Raw materials like grains, ore, or minerals are typically transported on dry bulk carriers. These are ocean carriers designed with on-board cranes, conveyor belts, and large hopper-shaped holds. With these features, dry bulk vessels can easily transfer loose, unpackaged commodities from the port to its destination.

3. Tankers

Tankers are also known as liquid bulk carriers. Diverse sizes and types within this category are specifically designed to accommodate certain kinds of liquid and gaseous commodities. For example, crude tankers are used just for crude oil and petroleum products. Chemical tankers carry acids, oils, or other flammable fluids. LNG carriers transport liquefied natural gas, following strict safety measures for safe deliveries.

4. General Cargo Ships

Ocean freighters that carry general cargo deal with a diverse combination of breakbulk goods. This includes non-containerized, palletized, boxed items, industrial machinery, and vehicles. If your business deals with anything like agricultural products, finished consumer goods, heavy equipment, or construction materials, then general cargo vessels will work best for you.

5. RoRo

Roll-on / roll-off vessels are sea freight carriers equipped with ramps, which rolling cargo (cars, buses, trucks, vans, motorcycles, heavy machinery) can be driven on and off. RoRo can also accommodate trailer containers and other forms of cargo. In most cases, the RoPax variant offers comfortable passenger accommodation, so vehicle owners can take their cars along for the trip.

6. Reefer Ships

Perishable and temperature-sensitive goods require specialized sea carriers, refrigerated ships.  They are designed with precise temperature control features, superior insulation, and moisture-proof sealing. These features are essential to preserve the quality and freshness of items. It also protects against contamination and spoilage. It is used by the pharmaceutical, food and beverage, agricultural, dairy, and seafood industries. 

Different ocean freight vessels are built with features that serve a specific purpose. Through these properties, cargo is protected to a superior degree, loading is made easier, and the overall logistics process becomes smoother. Use this brief guide to explore your options for cargo shipping services in the Philippines. 

ALSO READ: A Detailed Look into Cargo Vessel Ships

Get leading shipping and logistics solutions with Chelsea Shipping Corp., your expert partner in ocean freight. Our cargo ships and tankers can ship your products anywhere in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. Chelsea Shipping also makes port calls overseas, such as China, Ecuador, South Korea, Malaysia, Oman, Singapore, UAE, and Vietnam. We also provide assistive tugboat services, ship management, crewing, and chartering services. If you want to know more, don’t hesitate to connect with us today.