Tonnage, pronounced as /ˈtʌnɪdʒ/ is the word used to refer to the weight or amount of cargo that a ship can carry. It is derived from the French word "tonneau," meaning barrel or cask. The spelling of the word "tonnage" corresponds with the pronunciation in IPA, where /tʌn/ represents the word "ton" and /ɪdʒ/ stands for the "age" sound. The word is commonly used in the shipping industry and helps provide a clear understanding of a vessel's capacity for carrying goods.
Tonnage is a term used to describe the weight or carrying capacity of a ship, aircraft, or truck, or the total weight of goods transported by them. It is typically measured in tons. Tonnage is crucial in determining the size, capability, and efficiency of a vessel or vehicle in terms of cargo capacity.
In relation to ships, tonnage is categorized into two main types: gross tonnage and net tonnage. Gross tonnage refers to the entire internal volume of a ship, including the spaces that are not available for carrying cargo, such as crew cabins and machinery rooms. On the other hand, net tonnage represents the portion of the internal volume that is specifically designated for cargo transport, excluding non-cargo areas. Net tonnage is typically smaller than gross tonnage.
Tonnage plays a vital role in various aspects of the shipping industry. It is utilized for assessing port fees, calculating vessel capacities, determining vessel's registration requirements, and evaluating the taxation and insurance for ships. Freight rates may also be influenced by tonnage, as larger vessels often have higher carrying capacities, allowing for greater transportation efficiency.
In general, tonnage serves as a fundamental measurement in the transportation sector, enabling accurate evaluation of transportation capabilities and commercial viability of vessels, aircraft, or trucks. It facilitates standardized calculations and provides crucial information for logistics planning, financial assessments, and regulatory compliance.
• The weight of goods that may be carried in a ship; a duty or toll on vessels, or on goods carried on water.
• See ton.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "tonnage" has its roots in Old English and Middle English. It is derived from the word "tonne", which originally meant a large cask or barrel used to transport goods. The term "tonne" was borrowed from the Old French word "tonne", meaning a large tun or cask. This Old French word, in turn, came from the Late Latin "tunna", which referred to a large wine cask. Over time, "tonne" evolved to also represent the weight of the contents that a ship could carry, eventually giving rise to the modern-day meaning of "tonnage" as a measure of the capacity or weight of a vessel.