The cargo handling mode may be lift on/lift off to and from the holds by way of weather deck hatches or, alternatively, by way of specialized shore-based equipment. Various features may include:

• hopper side tanks (which may be combined with the topside tanks).
• strengthening for the carriage of heavy cargo (including ore).
• holds equipped for the carriage of containers (container securing arrangements) or for the carriage of vehicles (hoistable vehicle decks, accesssed by way of shell side doors).
• weather deck equipped with stanchions for the carriage of logs
• self-discharging apparatus, including hopper-shaped holds, in-hold conveyor belts and a self-unloading boom.
• design restraints and service restriction pertaining to operations in the Great Lakes of North America.

• Wood chip carrier.
• Cement carrier - with no weather deck hatches, but pumping and piping arrangements for the loading and unloading of cement.
• Ore carrier - two longitudinal bulkheads, side tanks - ore carried in centre holds only.
• Ore/Bulk/Oil carrier - a bulk carrier with the additional facilities for the alternative (but not simultaneous) bulk carriage of oil.
• Ore/Oil carrier - an ore carrier with additional facilities for alternative (but not simultaneous) bulk carriage of oil.