Top 20 Merchant Fleets of the World
Self-Propelled Oceangoing Vessels 1,000 Gross Tons and Greater
 

As of January 1, 2003
(Tonnage in Thousands)

 

Tanker

Dry Bulk

Full Container Other** Total
Flag of Registry

No.

Dwt

No.

Dwt

No.

Dwt

No.

Dwt

No.

Dwt

Panama* 1,170 63,397 1,509 93,822 564 18,570 1,617 13,733 4,860 189,521
Liberia* 557 41,445 311 18,781 342 11,589 244 4,109 1,454 75,924
Greece 303 28,952 280 16,867 45 2,072 107 650 735 48,542
Bahamas* 254 28,660 168 9,519 82 2,377 532 5,541 1,036 46,098
Malta* 286 18,084 466 19,869 59 1,382 447 3,896 1,258 43,231
Cyprus* 155 7,169 437 21,658 133 3,220 432 4,274 1,157 36,322
Singapore* 414 17,197 126 9,199 175 4,450 139 2,026 854 32,871
Norway (NIS)* 304 16,515 84 7,322 6 118 217 3,424 611 27,379
Hong Kong* 72 5,000 298 17,513 74 2,554 73 1,423 517 26,490
China* 286 4,205 321 11,265 120 2,134 753 6,017 1,480 23,621
Marshall Islands* 135 14,817 93 5,690 62 1,677 34 686 324 22,872
United States 120 6,552 18 797 90 3,292 198 3,212 426 13,853
Japan 246 7,234 150 4,832 18 590 179 914 593 13,570
Korea (South) 149 1,903 105 6,135 47 831 198 1,040 499 9,910
India 101 5,316 101 3,900 <>8 152 74 316 284 9,685
Italy 216 4,224 40 2,814 28 982 145 1,495 429 9,515
Denmark (DIS) 85 3,876 5 264 74 4,329 116 434 280 8,903
ST. Vincent & The Grenadines 81 833 123 4,494 30 204 480 3,264 714 8,796
Isle of Man 112 6,254 22 1,607 19 416 61 507 214 8,783
Turkey 92 1,580 129 4,913 32 362 268 1,565 521 8,420
 
All Other 2,153 52,974 998 37,799 926 23,283 6,438 34,921 10,515 148,977
Grand Total 7,291 336,189 5,784 299,059 2,934 84,583 12,752 93,448 28,761 813,279

Note: For details on the entire U.S.-Flag fleet operating in both domestic and international commerce, see the latest issue of Cargo-Carrying U.S.-Flag Fleet by Area of Operation and "U.S.-Flag Fleet of Passenger Vessels, Tugs/Towboats and Other Work Boats".

* Open registries.

** Roll-on/Roll-off, passenger, breakbulk ships, partial containerships, refrigerated cargo, barge carriers, and specialized cargo ships.
(Dwt) = Deadweight Tons
(NIS) = Norway International Shipping Registry
(DIS) = Denmark International Shipping Registry

Source: Lloyd's Register Fairplay

 

By Marad May 1, 2003