Tank Vessel Market Indicators 

July 2006 

Office Of Statistical and Economic Analysis 

www.marad.dot.gov/marad_statistics

iii 

Contents 

Preface ........................................................................... v 

Notes and Sources ................................................................ vi 

Highlights (Trades, Calls, Fleets and Rates)....................................... 1 

Summary Tables .................................................................... 5 

Figures 

(Highlights) 

H-1. U.S. Waterborne Tanker Imports V. Domestic Tank Vessel Shipments, 1994-2005 . 2 

H-2. U.S. Coastal Tank Vessel Trades by Vessel type, 1994-2005 ................... 2 

H-3. U.S. Product Tanker Trades by Region, 1994-2005 ............................. 2 

H-4. U.S. Gulf to Atlantic Pipeline Movements of Petroleum Products, 1994-2005 ... 2 

H-5. U.S. Domestic Tank Vessel Trades, Average Haul, 1994-2005 ................... 3 

H-6. U.S. Crude Carrier Trades V. Alaska Crude oil Production, 1994-2005.......... 3 

H-7. Tanker Calls at U.S. Ports, Double-Hull V. Single Hull, 1998-2005............ 3 

H-8. Tanker Calls at U.S. Ports by Flag (U.S. and Foreign), 1998-2005 ............ 3 

H-9. Age Profile for U.S. Flag Tank Vessels, Year-End 2005........................ 4 

H-10. Age Profile for Global Tankers, Year-End 2005 ............................... 4 

H-11. Tanker Timecharter Rates 2001-2005........................................... 4 

Tables 

(Summary) 

S-1. U.S. domestic Ocean Trades and U.S. Waterborne Tanker Imports, 1994-2005, 

 (Metric tons and Metric Ton-Miles)........................................... 5 

S-2. Tanker Calls at U.S. Ports by Flag and Vessel type, 1998-2005, 

 (Number of Calls) ........................................................... 6 

S-3. Tanker Capacity Calling at U.S Ports by Flag and Vessel Type, 1998-2005, 

 (Deadweight in Thousands).................................................... 7 

S-4. Age Profile in of Tank Vessels by Type, Year End 2005 

 (Deadweight in Thousands) ................................................... 8 

S-5. Other U.S. Tank Vessel Market Indicators, 1994-2005, (Million Barrels) ...... 9 

v 

Preface 

The following report contains data on U.S. domestic tank vessel trades. The tank 

vessels are: product tankers (10,000-69,999 DWT), crude carriers (70,000 DWT or 

greater), and coastal tank barges (5,000 DWT or greater). The tank vessel market 

indicators are trades, calls, fleets and timecharter rates. This report also includes data related to U.S. tank vessel markets indicators; petroleum demand, 

stocks, production and pipeline shipments. This report and additional data are 

available at http://www.marad.dot.gov/marad_statistics. 

Comments and recommendations as to the content and format of the report can be made 

at data.marad@marad.dot.gov. In addition, to learn more about the Maritime Administration or the maritime industry visit the agency’s website at http://

www.marad.dot.gov. 
vi 

Notes and Sources 

Sources

Clarson Research Services, Clarkson’s Tanker Register, January 2006, 

www.clarksons.net, London: Clarkson Research Services, 2006. This source contains 

data for the world tanker fleet. 

Energy Information Agency, Petroleum Supply Annual, 1994-2005 issues, 

www.eia.doe.gov, Wash., DC: U.S. Department of Energy, June 1994,...June 2006. This 

source contains data on U.s. petroleum demand, imports, stocks, production and pipeline shipments. 

Lloyd’s Maritime Intelligence Unit, Vessel Movements Data Files, 1998-2005,

www.seasearcher.com, London: Lloyd’s Maritime Intelligence Unit, 1998-2005. 

This source contains data for vessel port calls, ports and active fleets. 

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Waterborne Commerce of the United States, 1994-

2004 detail files, www.iwr.usace.army.mil/ndc, New Orleans: Navigation Data Center, 

1994-2004. This source contains data for U.S. domestic and international waterborne 

trade. It also contains data on vessels engaged in those trades. 

Estimates

The 2005 estimates for waterborne trade are based on changes in related series; 

tanker calls, Alaskan crude oil production, petroleum imports (all modes). 
1 

Highlights 

Trades: 

• For the period 1994 to 2005, domestic tank vessel trades declined by 22 

percent to 173.8 million metric tons (Figure H-1). Crude carrier trades 

declined by 54 percent while domestic product tanker trades declined by 19 

percent (Figures H-2 and H-3). For the same period, shipments by foreign 

tankers (imports), a substitute for domestic shipments, increased by 58 

percent. Pipeline shipments to the Atlantic coast, a substitute for product tanker shipments, increased by 13 percent to 886 million barrels

(Figure H-4). 

• The average length of haul (metric ton-miles/metric tons) for domestic 

tank vessel shipments declined by 20 percent from 1994 to 2005, due 

largely to a decline in long-haul crude carrier trades (Figure H-5). 

• The decline in the Alaska crude oil trades reflect a decline in Alaska 

crude oil production which is moved by crude carriers from Valdez to the 

lower 48 states. Long-haul shipments to the U.S. Virgin Islands and Panama ended in the late 1990’s, and exports of Alaska crude (on U.S.-flag 

tankers) ended in 2000 (Figure H-6). 

Calls: 

• In 2005, 79 percent of the tanker calls (U.S.-flag and foreign-flag) at 

U.S. ports were by double-hull tankers, up from 37 percent seven years 

earlier (Figure H-7). In 2005, 18 percent of the calls were by U.S.-flag 

tankers (Figure H-8). Fifty-five percent of the U.S.-flag calls were by 

double-hull tankers (Table S-2). 

Fleets: 

• Fifty-three new/retrofitted double-hull tank barges were added to the U.S. 

Domestic fleet over the last five years. Another 30 new/retrofitted double hull tank barges will be delivered over the next two years. Currently, the fleet consists of 202 total tank barges (Table S-4). 

• Seven U.S.-flag crude carriers were built in U.S. shipyards over the last 

five years (Table S-4). Two additional crude carriers will be delivered 

from U.S. shipyards over the next two years. Of the 64 U.S.-flag domestic 

tankers, 43 are older than 20 years. 

Rates: 

• International tanker charter rates have increased sharply in recent years 

reflecting a surge in international petroleum stocks and trades (Exhibit 

11). 
2 

Highlights 

U.S. Waterborne Tanker Imports 

V. Domestic Tank Vessel 

Shipments, 1994 to 2005

0

150

300

450

600

750

1994 2005e

Year

Mil. 

Metric 

Tons

Imports

Domestic Tank Vessel

U.S. Gulf to Atlantic Pipeline 

Movements of Petroleum 

Products, 1994 to 2005

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1994 2005

Year

Mil. 

Bbls.

e - estimate 

Figure H-1 Figure H-2 

U.S. Product Tanker Trades by 

Region, 1994 to 2005

0

20

40

60

80

100

1994 2005e

Year

Bil. 

Tonmiles 

Figure H-3 Figure H-4 

e - estimate 

U.S. Coastal Tank Vessel Trades 

by Vessel Type, 1994 to 2005

0

50

100

150

200

250

1994 2005e

Year

Mil.

Metric 

Tons

Tank Barge Product Tanker

Crude Carrier

e - estimate 

e - estimate 
3 

Highlights 

U.S. Domestic Tank Vessel 

Trades, Average Haul

 1994 to 2005

0

300

600

900

1,200

1,500

1994 2005e

Year

Miles

Figure H-5 Figure H-6 

Tanker Calls at U.S. Ports by 

Flag (U.S. and Foreign) 

1998 to 2005

0

4

8

12

16

20

1998 2005

Year

Thous.

Calls

U.S. Flag

Foreign Flag

Figure H-8 

e - estimate 

Figure H-7 

U.S. Crude Carrier Trades V. 

Alaska Crude Oil Production,

 1994 to 2005

0

50

100

1994 2005e Year

Mil. 

Metric 

Tons

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

Prod.

Mil. 

Bbl.

AK/USWC AK/Panama

AK/Foreign AK/V.I.

Other Domestic AK Production

e - estimate 

Tanker Calls at U.S. Ports,

Double-Hull V. Single-Hull,

1998 to 2005

0

5

10

15

20

25

1998 2005

Year

Thous. 

Calls

Single Hull

Double Hull
4 

Highlights 

 

Figure H-9 Figure H-10 

Tanker Timecharter Rates,

 2001 to 2005

0

10,000

20,000

30,000

40,000

50,000

2001 2002 2003 2004 2005

Year

$/day

47,000 DWT (foreign)

150,000 DWT (foreign)

47,000 DWT (domestic)

Age Profile for U.S. 

Flag Tank Vessels,

 Year-End 2005

0

500

1,000

1,500

2,000

2,500

3,000

3,500

4,000

<1986

1986-901991-95

1996-00>2000Orders

Year Built

Thous.

DWT

Tank Barges Product Tankers

Crude Carriers

Age Profile for Global Tankers,

Year-End 2005

0

25,000

50,000

75,000

100,000

125,000

150,000

<19861986-901991-95

1996-00>2000Orders

Year Built

Thous.

DWT

Product Tankers Crude Carriers

Figure H-11 
5 

Summary Tables 

Table S-1 

U.S. Tank Vessel Trades 

Trade and Vessel Type 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005e

Domestic Trades

 Million Tons 222.9 213.3 212.5 211.9 198.4 183.0 187.1 184.7 174.7 177.2 175.2 173.8

 Billion Ton-miles 276.6 257.8 248.5 234.6 209.8 191.1 184.7 181.6 177.5 178.4 173.9 172.3

Product Tanker

 All Trades

 Million Metric Tons 60.7 58.5 55.2 51.8 50.5 46.8 54.4 50.7 48.0 45.8 44.6 48.9

 Billion Metric Ton-Miles 87.0 82.4 81.9 77.7 68.7 68.6 75.4 66.7 68.5 63.9 64.5 68.2

 Gulf and Atlantic

 Million Metric Tons 36.1 32.6 29.3 30.6 34.0 32.3 36.2 33.0 31.0 32.5 31.6

 Billion Metric Ton-Miles 61.5 56.3 50.4 50.1 47.0 44.1 48.7 42.5 40.7 42.0 40.6

 Gulf/West Coast

 Million Metric Tons 1.6 1.4 2.1 2.0 1.8 2.5 2.1 1.4 1.5 1.7 2.1

 Billion Metric Ton-Miles 10.0 8.8 13.3 12.7 11.3 15.7 13.0 8.7 9.5 10.5 13.5

 West Coast

 Million Metric Tons 23.1 24.5 23.8 19.2 14.6 12.0 16.2 16.2 15.4 11.6 10.8

 Billion Metric Ton-Miles 15.5 17.2 18.3 14.9 10.4 8.8 13.7 15.6 18.3 11.4 10.3

Coastal Tank Barge

 All Trades

 Million Metric Tons 86.1 87.5 92.9 98.9 95.1 91.6 92.1 92.1 88.1 89.9 91.1 90.0

 Billion Metric Ton-miles 29.5 34.4 36.6 38.9 37.9 36.6 35.9 35.4 37.2 38.3 36.4 35.0

 Gulf and Atlantic

 Million Metric Tons 78.8 77.4 80.5 86.9 84.6 79.4 77.8 80.0 78.1 78.5 77.5

 Billion Metric Ton-miles 27.2 30.8 31.7 34.7 33.6 32.1 31.8 31.1 33.2 33.3 30.2

 Intra-West Coast

 Million Metric Tons 7.3 10.2 12.5 12.0 10.5 12.2 14.3 12.1 10.1 11.4 13.5

 Billion Metric Ton-miles 2.3 3.6 4.9 4.2 4.3 4.5 4.1 4.3 4.0 5.0 6.2

Crude Carrier

 All Trades

 Million Metric Tons 76.1 67.3 64.4 61.2 52.8 44.6 40.6 41.9 38.5 41.5 39.6 34.9

 Billion Metric Ton-miles 160.1 141.0 130.0 118.0 103.2 85.9 73.4 79.5 71.8 76.2 73.0 69.1

 Alaska/West Coast

 Million Metric Tons 66.1 62.5 60.5 59.1 50.4 42.7 38.1 41.0 38.5 41.5 39.5 34.9

 Billion Metric Ton-miles 131.5 123.0 118.8 113.2 97.0 81.8 72.8 76.7 71.8 76.2 73.0 69.1

U.S. Tanker Imports

 Million Metric Tons 408 378 426 495 514 531 548 573 569 605 630 645

Source: Corps of Engineers, Waterborne Commerce of the United States, for U.S. domestic trades; and Clarkson Research Studies, Shipping Review and Outlook, for world trades.
6 

Summary Tables 

Table S-2 

Tanker Calls at U.S. Ports by Flag and Vessel Type, 1998-2005 

Flag and Vessel Type 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005

U.S.-Flag

Crude and Product 4,345 4,095 4,103 4,009 3,549 3,759 3,591 3,676

 Double-Hull 984 1,114 1,414 1,513 1,448 1,637 1,798 2,012

Product Tankers 2,880 2,849 2,932 2,861 2,430 2,369 2,459 2,532

 Double-Hull 862 958 1,228 1,250 1,062 1,168 1,277 1,372

Crude Carriers 1,465 1,246 1,171 1,148 1,119 1,168 1,142 1,144

 Double-Hull 122 156 186 263 386 469 521 640

ITB’s 287 273 430 526 489 579 526 607

Foreign-Flag

Crude & Product 12,496 13,184 14,432 14,378 13,771 14,744 15,725 16,442

 Double-Hull 5,271 5,828 7,328 8,055 8,597 10,266 11,127 13,790

Product Tankers 7,328 8,026 8,936 8,919 8,519 8,629 9,113 9,685

 Double-Hull 2,750 3,038 3,956 4,505 4,708 5,408 5,482 7,386

Crude Carriers 5,168 5,158 5,496 5,459 5,252 6,115 6,602 6,757

 Double-Hull 2,521 2,790 3,372 3,550 3,889 4,858 5,645 6,404

All Flags

Crude & Product 16,841 17,279 18,535 18,387 17,320 18,503 19,316 20,118

 Double-Hull 6,255 6,942 8,742 9,568 10,045 11,903 12,925 15,802

Product Tankers 10,208 10,875 11,868 11,780 10,949 10,998 11,572 12,217

 Double-Hull 3,612 3,996 5,184 5,755 5,770 6,576 6,759 8,758

Crude Carriers 6,633 6,404 6,667 6,607 6,371 7,505 7,744 7,901

 Double-Hull 2,643 2,946 3,558 3,813 4,275 5,327 6,166 7,044

Source: Maritime Administration, Vessel Calls at U.S. and World Ports 2005.
7 

Summary Tables 

Table S-3 

Tanker Capacity Calling at U.S. Ports by Flag and Vessel Type, 1998-2005 

(DWT in Thousands) 

Flag and Vessel Type 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005

U.S.-Flag

Crude & Product 299,919 274,067 268,317 268,050 246,176 273,399 248,801 267,793

 Double-Hull 47,513 56,390 71,119 82,890 92,937 108,558 121,909 145,626

Product Tankers 115,374 114,537 119,312 116,885 100,223 96,577 99,176 103,217

 Double-Hull 32,345 37,023 47,996 49,289 42,217 45,890 51,021 52,871

Crude Carriers 184,545 159,530 149,005 151,165 145,954 176,822 149,625 164,576

 Double-Hull 15,168 19,367 23,122 33,601 50,719 62,668 70,889 92,754

ITB’s 12,977 12,430 19,694 24,212 22,239 26,294 23,777 27,442

Foreign-Flag

Crude & Product 856,548 896,113 983,737 1,006,401 956,037 1,065,970 1,116,640 1,181,831

 Double-Hull 377,175 423,134 528,918 595,617 659,306 801,515 874,114 1,055,115

Product Tankers 261,011 293,446 317,193 326,184 305,440 319,039 336,904 360,487

 Double-Hull 93,246 100,335 128,645 158,929 166,244 198,097 210,308 278,457

Crude Carriers 595,536 602,667 666,544 680,217 650,597 746,931 779,735 821,343

 Double-Hull 283,929 322,799 400,272 436,688 493,062 603,419 663,806 776,658

All Flags

Crude & Product 1,156,467 1,170,180 1,252,054 1,274,451 1,202,213 1,339,369 1,365,441 1,449,624

 Double-Hull 424,688 479,524 600,036 678,507 752,243 910,074 996,024 1,200,741

Product Tankers 376,386 407,982 436,505 443,069 405,663 415,615 436,080 463,705

 Double-Hull 125,590 137,358 176,642 208,218 208,461 243,987 261,329 331,329

Crude Carriers 780,082 762,197 815,549 831,382 796,550 923,753 929,360 985,919

 Double-Hull 299,097 342,166 423,394 470,289 543,781 666,087 734,695 869,412

Source: Maritime Administration, Vessel Calls at U.S. and World Ports.
8 

Summary Tables 

Table S-4 

Age Profile of Tank Vessels by Type, Year-end 2005 

(DWT in Thousands)

Before 1986 1986-1990 1991-1995 1996-2000 After 2000 Total Orders

Vessel Type No. DWT No. DWT No. DWT No. DWT No. DWT No. DWT No. DWT

Domestic

Product-Tanker 36 1,497 3 113 0 0 10 432 0 0 49 2,042 10 450

 Double-Hull 8 295 2 66 0 0 10 432 0 0 20 793 10 450

Crude Carrier 7 1,070 1 215 0 0 0 0 7 1,145 15 2,430 2 327

 Double-Hull 3 372 0 0 0 0 0 0 7 1,145 10 1,517 2 327

Tank Barge 107 1,135 12 137 14 176 16 274 53 830 202 2,551 30 600

 Double-Hull 16 281 4 52 14 176 16 274 53 830 103 1,613 30 600

Total 150 3,702 16 465 14 176 26 706 61 2,010 267 7,058 42 1,377

 Double-Hull 27 948 6 118 14 176 26 706 61 2,010 134 3,958 42 1,377

Global

Product-Tanker 1,641 28,312 484 10,009 628 10,719 682 15,044 1,041 27,283 4,449 91,368 918 24,153

 Double-Hull 153 2,297 95 2,753 313 7,071 662 14,725 1,038 27,271 2,261 54,117 918 24,153

Crude Carrier 113 17,743 198 29,236 328 59,416 346 61,585 608 100,140 1,593 265,120 414 62,120

 Double-Hull 6 665 29 2,629 168 24,411 344 61,029 608 100,140 1,155 188,873 414 62,120

Total 1,727 43,055 682 39,246 956 70,135 1,028 76,629 1,649 127,423 6,042 356,488 1,332 86,274

 Double-Hull 159 2,961 124 5,382 481 31,483 1,006 75,753 1,646 127,411 3,416 242,991 1,332 86,274

Source: Clarkson Research Studies, Tanker Register, January 2006; U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Vessel Master 

File, for tank barges.
9 

Summary Tables 

Table S-5 

Other U.S. Tank Vessel Market Indicators 

All Flags 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005

Petroleum: 

Demand 6,467 6,469 6,701 6,796 6,905 7,125 7,211 7,172 7,213 7,312 7,588 7,539

Imports 3,284 3,225 3,469 3,709 3,908 3,961 4,194 4,333 4,209 4,477 4,811

Production* 2,431 2,394 2,366 2,355 2,282 2,147 2,131 2,118 2,097 2,073 1,983 1,869

 Alaska 569 542 510 473 429 383 355 351 359 356 332 315

 Other 1,862 1,853 1,856 1,882 1,853 1,764 1,776 1,766 1,738 1,718 1,651 1,554

U.S. Stocks 1,653 1,563 1,507 1,560 1,647 1,493 1,468 1,586 1,548 1,568 1,644 1,696

Pipeline 

 Gulf to Atl. 784 797 835 838 867 854 855 877 857 900 927 890

 Gulf to WC 23 22 25 26 30 33 32 33 33 33 33 32

*Crude 

Source: Energy Information Agency, Petroleum Supply Annual.