tonnage
/ˈtʌnɪdʒ/ (bre, ipa) · [tˈʌnədʒ] /ˈtʌnɪdʒ/ (ame, ipa) · [tˈʌnədʒ] /ˈtə-nij How to pronounce tonnage (audio)/ (ame, mw)
tonnage — noun
1. a measurement of how large a ship is or how much cargo it can hold, expressed in
a measurement of how large a ship is or how much cargo it can hold, expressed in a unit called a ton
The Port of Kaohsiung can now handle container ships with a tonnage of over 100,000 tons.
collocation: gross tonnage / net tonnage
Shipbuilders increased the new vessel's tonnage so it could carry more freight.
Liang checked the ship's tonnage certificate before the harbour master allowed it to dock.
The Panama Canal restricts the maximum tonnage of vessels passing through its locks.
Rania's shipping company bought a cargo vessel with a registered tonnage of 15,000 tonnes.
- displacement
specifically the weight of water a ship pushes aside; used for warships rather than cargo capacity
- burden
an older term for a ship's carrying capacity, now largely replaced by 'tonnage' in modern shipping
- cargo capacity
focuses on the weight of goods rather than the ship's overall volume
用法筆記
Frequently uncountable when referring to capacity in general; countable when specifying a particular ship's measurement ('a tonnage of 50,000 tons').
常見錯誤
2. the total weight of something, measured in tons
the total weight of something, measured in tons
The tonnage of plastic waste collected from the beach reached 300 tons this year.
collocation: tonnage of [material]
Farmers in the region reported a record tonnage of rice harvested during the autumn season.
Heavy snowfall added significant tonnage to the roof of the old stadium, causing safety concerns.
Kofi calculated the total tonnage of steel beams required for the new bridge project.
The factory reduced its annual tonnage of carbon emissions by switching to solar power.
用法筆記
Common in commercial, industrial, or environmental contexts when reporting production, harvest, or waste volumes.
常見錯誤
3. a charge that the owner of a ship must pay to a government, based on the size of
a charge that the owner of a ship must pay to a government, based on the size of the ship or the amount of cargo it carries
The Greek government introduced a new tonnage on all foreign vessels entering its ports.
formal register; count noun: a tonnage
Shipping companies protested against the sharp increase in tonnage announced by the trade ministry.
Darius paid 5,000 euros in tonnage before the port authority let him unload the cargo.
The tax inspector examined the ship's cargo documents to calculate the correct tonnage owed.
- duty
a broader term for any government tax on imported or exported goods
- levy
a formal term for a compulsory payment collected by an authority
- harbour due
a similar charge for using port facilities, often used interchangeably in modern contexts
用法筆記
A historical and legal term; less common in modern everyday language. In contemporary contexts, this duty is often referred to as a 'port charge' or 'harbour due' rather than 'tonnage'.