Glossary
DWT (Deadweight Tonnage)
Definition: DWT — Deadweight Tonnage — a vessel's cargo-carrying capacity expressed in metric tons. Includes fuel, crew, water and cargo; distinct from gross tonnage (GT measures internal volume; DWT measures carrying capacity).
Where it's used
DWT is the standard in the commercial vessel segment:
- Dry bulk: Handysize 25k–60k dwt, Panamax 60k–80k, Capesize 100k+
- Tanker: Aframax 80k–120k dwt, Suezmax 120k–200k, VLCC 200k+
- Container: TEU dominates; DWT secondary
In the yacht segment
DWT is rarely used on the yacht side — instead LOA (length overall) and GT (gross tonnage) are used.
On the financing side
In commercial ship financing, DWT is a pricing + LTV reference:
- Dollar / DWT pricing trends are a market indicator
- Banks use DWT as a base unit for valuation
- Combined with class + age for the valuation structure