Definitions #
A measure of how much weight a ship can safely carry, including cargo, fuel, fresh water, stores, and crew, not just the cargo itself.
Technical The maximum safe load capacity of a vessel, expressed in metric tons, comprising cargo, bunkers, fresh water, ballast, provisions, passengers, and crew, per the summer load line.
Example With a deadweight tonnage of 80,000 mt, the panamax can load about 70,000 mt of grain plus bunkers.
Etymology #
From deadweight, as the carrying capacity 'dead' weight is measured in tons, used in shipping contracts to define a vessel's capacity.
Collocations #
- summer deadweight 夏季载重吨（最大装载）
- scantling deadweight 结构载重吨（理论最大）
- deadweight cargo 按重量计的货载
Real Business Examples #
- The vessel's deadweight tonnage is listed in the ship's particulars, as key for chartering purposes.
- The charter party stated a minimum deadweight of 50,000 mt, but the owner tendered a ship with only 48,000 mt.
Register & Variants #
- Register: formal
- BrE/AmE: 全球通用
Synonyms & Antonyms #
- Synonyms: DWT, deadweight capacity
- Antonyms: gross tonnage（总吨，非载重）
Common Errors #
- Using DWT as the total cargo capacity only DWT includes fuel, water, stores, and crew, not just cargo; net cargo capacity is usually lower.
- Oversimplifying DWT as capacity in tones of cargo State the cargo actually carried by subtracting each item, because DWT is gross carrying capacity.
Confusable Terms #
- Gross Tonnage (GT) vs Deadweight Tonnage
- Gross tonnage is a measure of volume (cubic capacity) of the ship, not weight; it's used for registration and fees, not cargo capacity.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is DWT calculated??
It's the difference between the weight of a ship in light ship and in fully loaded condition at summer load line, including all weights.
Why is DWT important in chartering??
It determines how much cargo a ship can legally carry, which directly affects freight rates and vessel selection.
Published: 2026-09-26 Category: Shipping