VLCC

Abbreviation: VLCC

Very Large Crude Carrier — single-hull-era 200,000-320,000 DWT crude tanker; today all double-hull post-OPA-90.

Regulatory detail & full definition

Workhorse of the long-haul Middle East-to-Far East crude trade. Typical: 333 m LOA, 60 m beam, 22 m draft loaded. Operating speed 14-15 knots. AFRA classification range. Spot-market chartering quoted in Worldscale. Larger ULCCs (>320,000 DWT) are virtually extinct post-Knock Nevis.

Source: Industry AFRA convention; Clarksons Tanker Register

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