A
cargo ship or
freighter is any sort of
ship or vessel that carries
cargo, goods, and materials from one port to another. Thousands of cargo carriers ply the world's seas and oceans each year, handling the bulk of
international trade. Cargo ships are usually specially designed for the task, often being equipped with
cranes and other mechanisms to load and unload, and come in all sizes. Today, they are almost always built by welded steel, and with some exceptions generally have a life expectancy of 25 to 30 years before being scrapped.