Draft
Meaning
Draft (or draught) is the depth of the ship below the waterline. It limits which ports, berths and canals a laden tanker can use.
Also written as Draught, Laden draft, Max draft
Draft explained
A laden VLCC draws around 22 metres, a Suezmax around 17, an Aframax around 14 to 15 and an MR around 12 to 13. Ports, berths and canals publish maximum drafts, and cargo quantity is often limited by them rather than by deadweight.
The Suez Canal accepts drafts up to about 20 metres, the Panama Canal's Neopanamax locks about 15 metres, which is why fully laden VLCCs use neither.
Related terms
Deadweight
Deadweight (DWT) is the total weight a ship can carry, cargo plus fuel, water, stores and crew, at its maximum permitted draft, in tonnes.
Suez Canal
The Suez Canal links the Mediterranean and the Red Sea, saving thousands of miles on Europe–Asia voyages; its draft limit is about 20 metres.
Panama Canal
The Panama Canal links the Atlantic and Pacific; its Neopanamax locks take ships up to about 15 metres draft, which rules out laden VLCCs.
Always afloat
Always afloat (AA) means the ship must be able to stay afloat at all states of the tide at the berth or place it is ordered to.