In international shipping, container ships, bulk carriers, tankers and ro-ro ships are the most common types of cargo ships, and their carrying capacity ranges from several thousand tons to hundreds of thousands of tons.

Small container ships: The carrying capacity of such ships is usually between 1,000 and 3,000 TEU, mainly used for short-distance transportation on near-sea routes and within regions.

As of now, the largest cargo ship in the world is the HMM Algeciras of Hyundai Merchant Marine (HMM) of South Korea. This giant container ship has become an iconic presence in the global shipping industry with its huge carrying capacity and advanced technology.