Page 7 - Towards better compaction v0.5
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Towards Better Compaction
Shipping
The majority of vessels carrying woodchips are purpose-built woodchip carriers fitted with cranes,
hoppers and belt conveyors to facilitate unloading.
The carrying capacity of woodchip carriers is measured in terms of their cargo hold capacity (millions
of cubic feet of woodchips) rather than the deadweight capacity (DWT – Dead Weight Tonnage -
how much weight a ship can carry) of other bulk carriers due to the low specific gravity of
woodchips.
At the beginning of 2016, there were 138 dedicated woodchip carriers with 90 of these being more
than 10 years old.
The trend towards using bulk carriers (as distinct from woodchip carriers) has been driven by:
1. A greater number of bulk carriers available for charter
2. Larger hatch openings
3. Topside ballast tanks allowing easier loading
4. Claimed higher compaction rates
5. Reduced draft requirements (Panamax bulk carriers)
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