How much oil can a typical tanker carry through the Strait of Hormuz?

The capacity of an oil tanker passing through the Strait of Hormuz varies significantly based on the vessel's size class. Because the strait is deep enough to accommodate large ships, it is a primary route for supertankers, which are among the largest vessels afloat.12

Typical capacities for tankers that may transit the region include:

• Ultralarge crude carriers (ULCCs): These are the largest ships, capable of carrying from two million to more than three million barrels of crude.1
• Very large crude carriers (VLCCs): These vessels generally carry in the area of two million barrels.1
• Suezmax: These tankers typically carry between 800,000 and more than 1,000,000 barrels.1
• Aframax: Often referred to as the "workhorses" of the fleet, these carry roughly 500,000 to 800,000 barrels.1
• Panamax: These tankers generally carry between 350,000 and 500,000 barrels.1

Smaller vessels, such as Handymax and coastal tankers, have capacities of less than 50,000 deadweight tons.1