"**Typical pre-1950 oil tankers had capacity of only 16,000 deadweight tons** (mostly the ship’s cargo, but also its fuel, ballast, provision, and crew). The first tanker of more than 50,000 deadweight tons was launched in 1956, and by the mid-1960s [[Japanese]] shipyards began launching very large crude carriers (VLCC) with capacities of between 180,000 and 320,000 deadweight tons. Beyond that came ultra large crude carriers (ULCC) and seven ships larger than 500,000 deadweight tons were launched during the 1970s, too large to allow for flexible routing as they can be accommodated only at the deepest ports." ([Location 2334](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B08SGC3TD3&location=2334)) --- **Tags** -- [[quotes]], [[maritime]], [[globalisation]] **Source** -- [[202412030828 - B - How the World Really Works]]