Aframax Tanker

An aframax tanker is an oil tanker that has a DWT (deadweight) of between 80,000 and 120,000 metric tonnes. The name aframax comes from Average Freight Rate Assessment (AFRA). In shipping terms meaning, this is a rating system used for tankers coined by Shell Oil in 1954 in order to standardize the terms of shipping contracts.

Because of their size, aframax tankers are best suited to short- to medium-haul journeys, however their size is also to their advantage as they are able to serve the majority of the world’s ports, particularly those in regions that are unable to accommodate VLCC (very large crude carriers) and ULCC (ultra large crude carriers) tankers due to their smaller ports or lack of offshore oil terminals.