Container ships
These ships carry large steel or aluminium containers filled with many types of small goods. Containers are stacked on top of each other in the ship’s holds and on the deck. The containers on deck are strongly secured to stop them falling off the ship in bad weather. Containers have become the most common way of importing and exporting consumable and other goods. Importing describes bringing cargo into a country. Exporting describes sending cargo to other countries.



Bulk carriers
These ships carry large volumes of raw material. This could be coal, grain, woodchips or any mineral that has been mined, such as iron ore.



Oil tankers
Oil tankers transport oil, petrol or other liquids that are refined from oil. They often transport crude oil from oil-producing countries to oil refineries.