Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC)
A crude oil tanker in the largest actively traded class: the backbone of long-haul Middle East to Asia oil transport.
- Category
- Vessel Size and Tonnage
- Abbreviation
- VLCC
- Deadweight
- 200,000 to 320,000 DWT
- Cargo
- about 2 million barrels
- Dictionary entry
- VLCC
- Last reviewed
How it works
A Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC) is a tanker carrying around two million barrels of crude oil. Above this size are Ultra Large Crude Carriers (ULCCs), now rare.
VLCCs handle the long-haul crude trades, particularly from the Arabian Gulf to East Asia, and their earnings are a closely watched barometer of the crude tanker market.
Where it shows up on The Maritime
Also known as: VLCC, very large crude carrier, ULCC.
The short dictionary definition is at Dictionary entry: VLCC. This page is the explainer.
Related terms
Suezmax
A crude tanker sized to the maximum that can transit the Suez Canal fully laden.
Aframax
A crude and product tanker class named for the Average Freight Rate Assessment scale, sized for regional and medium-haul trades.
Deadweight Tonnage (DWT)
The total weight a ship can carry (cargo plus fuel, stores, crew and water) at her load line, in metric tonnes.
Worldscale (WS)
A unified index of nominal tanker freight rates that lets the market quote any tanker voyage as a single percentage.
More vessel size and tonnage terms
A plain-English reference definition: our own explanation of a standard shipping concept, not a licensed source or legal advice. See the full glossary or the broader maritime dictionary.
Last reviewed: .