Cargo Ships

Almost everything you buy has traveled on a cargo ship at some point. These huge ships carry goods across the ocean in big metal boxes called containers. A single cargo ship can carry thousands of containers. Without cargo ships, stores would have far fewer things to sell.

Container Ships

Most cargo ships today are container ships. The containers are all the same size, so they stack neatly like building blocks. Giant cranes load and unload the containers at ports. A big container ship can carry over 20,000 containers at once!

Other Cargo Ships

Not all cargo ships carry containers. Tankers carry oil and other liquids. Bulk carriers haul things like grain, coal, and iron ore. Car carriers are like floating parking garages that can hold thousands of vehicles. Each type is specially designed for its cargo.

Fun Facts

• The largest container ships are longer than four football fields.
• About 90% of everything bought in stores traveled by ship at some point.
• A cargo ship crew is usually only about 20 to 25 people, even on the biggest ships.

Did You Know?

Shipping containers changed the world! Before containers were invented in 1956, loading a ship took weeks. Now it takes just hours because containers stack so easily.