Any bulker size can be employed for grain shipment.

The bulker size in dwt, which you want to charter depends on a number of considerations and limitations.

-What is the annual throughput of the terminal and how big is your storage? (Incoming ships, bigger than the storage facility does not seem logical)

-What is the distance, the grain has to be transported? (Location of origine)

-What are the port limitations in respect of berth length and berth draft?

-What are the limitations of the berth jetty in respect to unloader mass and corner loads?

In the port of Rotterdam, bulk carriers of up to 200.000 dwt (300 m length) were/are unloaded by pneumatic unloaders of nominal 800 - 1000 tons/hr each. (1980’s)

A number of these pneumatic unloaders are now replaced for grab cranes and weighing towers.

I suggest, that you make a business plan, based on the expected trade and physical limitations.

I believe that trends in vessel size are irrelevant for a terminal design, although the shipping market can be volatile in rates for specific groups of vessels.

The lifetime of the terminal will be longer than those volatilities will exist.

Take care ■

If the ship must enter the Black Sea then you need to know the allowable passage limits. That's what classification is for.

If it is confined to the Black Sea then you need to know the present shipyard capacity and, in that part of the world, the expected lifespan of that shipyard! Why not build a whaling station instead?

If the climate particularly suits vermin and insects then you must heed Teus regarding storage. Funny how de-gassing gets into the frame.

Your client is approaching this job back to front. Port throughput is the issue. What goes in must come out. How big the consignments are is not the main issue. So you build for the biggest vessel you might ever get and then wait. Wait for room on the berth and wait for vacant storage. It is a matter of logistics. Engineering is secondary, at best!

I think that's about the same as mentioned before. ■