Nature. Tropical storms are violent storms with very strong winds and heavy seas.

Origin. They occur mostly in the late summer and early autumn (December to April in the southern hemisphere).
They originate in the tropics between latitude 5° and latitude 10° north or south and develop only over the oceans.

Types of bulk carriers: Slide 1 of 7

Types of bulk carriers: Slide 1 of 7

Types of bulk carriers: Slide 2 of 7

Types of bulk carriers: Slide 2 of 7

A Capesize bulker

Types of bulk carriers: Slide 3 of 7

Types of bulk carriers: Slide 3 of 7

A Panamax bulker: seven hatches & gearless. (Some have cranes.)

Types of bulk carriers: Slide 4 of 7

Types of bulk carriers: Slide 4 of 7

A Handysize bulker: five hatches & geared.

Types of bulk carriers: Slide 5 of 7

Types of bulk carriers: Slide 5 of 7

A Handysize bulker loading nitrates in Chile. Photo: Grindrod

Types of bulk carriers: Slide 6 of 7

Types of bulk carriers: Slide 6 of 7

Aboard a handysize bulker

A: Hatch cover open.
B: Hatch cover closed.
C: Hatch coaming.

Types of bulk carriers: Slide 7 of 7

Types of bulk carriers: Slide 7 of 7

Sometimes a part-cargo of one commodity is available for shipment. Several of these can be shipped in one ship, usually a Panamax or a Handysize ship.

Hatch No 1: Steel • Loading in Durban • Discharging in Antwerp
Hatch No 2: Woodchip • Loading in Durban • Discharging in Le Havre
Hatch No 3: Ferrochrome • Loading in Durban • Discharging in Antwerp
Hatch No 4: Titanium Slag • Loading in Durban • Discharging in Le Havre
Hatch No 5: Zircon • Loading in Durban • Discharging in Antwerp
Hatch No 6: Anthracite • Loading in Durban • Discharging in Le Havre