Bulk carrier — emissions rankings

Bulk carriers are shipping's tramp workers: no fixed schedules, cargoes from iron ore to grain, and long idle spells at anchor that their emissions profile reflects. Per tonne of cargo, big slow bulkers are among the most efficient machines afloat — a Capesize at 12 knots moves a tonne of ore for less CO₂ than almost any other transport mode on earth.

The spread inside the type is what this ranking exposes: modern eco-Newcastlemaxes sit far below the fleet average while elderly Handysizes, small and hard-worked, populate the other end. Age and size explain most of the gap.

Verified data reported under the EU MRV regulation (source: EMSA / THETIS-MRV).

Most efficient: Bulk carrier

Ranked by CO₂ emitted per tonne of cargo carried over one nautical mile — the metric that makes ships of different sizes comparable. Lower is better.

Biggest CO₂ emitters