Mini bulker (1,500-10,000 DWT)

A mini-bulker is a small dry-bulk ship of about 1,500 to 10,000 dwt working short-sea, coastal, and river-sea trades. Shallow draft, single or twin holds, and box-shaped cargo spaces let it call at small ports, inland terminals, and tidal berths that larger bulkers cannot reach. Many are single-hold, geared with one or two deck cranes, and built to river-sea rules that allow limited inland navigation. Typical cargoes are grain, fertilizer, aggregates, scrap, cement, and bagged goods on short hauls within Europe, the Baltic, the Mediterranean, and Southeast Asia. The class fills the gap between inland barges and the deep-sea Handysize fleet.