Trade ships

Last modified by Ketraar on 2023/08/15 17:16

Introduction

There are four overarching classes of cargo, which different ware types fit into:

Container (higher-end items like ship components).
Energy (Antimatter, Energy, Ion and Plasma Cells).
Bulk (stuff like minerals and refined materials).*
Liquid (Hydrogen, Ions, Plasma and Water).*

*Note that Mining Ships may also trade Bulk and Liquid wares if not equipped with mining drones.

There are 19 trade ships capable of carrying Container wares, although 8 are also able to carry at least one other cargo type. Eighteen are designated as "Trade" whereas the Phoenix Marauder is a "Fight" ship (see here for info on the significance of that). For Energy, Bulk and Liquid, there is one less ship because the Sanahar only comes in a Container class.

Statistics for all of them can be found in the table below (based on ship data linked from here ), and notes on trends and outliers follow.

Container Trade ship stats (click on heading to re-order)

Name	Storage type	Class	Cost¹ (M Cr)	Cargo² (m³)	Cargo (m³/ k Cr)	Speed (m/s)	Drone Bay	Hull (M)	Shield (M)	Total M HP	Total HP/k Cr	Shield / Total HP	k DPS (total)	Rev. (m/s)	Acc. (m/s²)	Pitch (m/s)
Gigurum	Container	M	1.3	12,000	9.4	183	0	0.05	0.04	0.09	74	46%	n/a	-37	47	21
Mercancias	Container	M	1.1	11,000	10.3	204	0	0.07	0.05	0.12	112	41%	n/a	-40	38	32
Nyanae	Container	M	1.3	13,000	10.1	175	0	0.09	0.06	0.15	113	38%	n/a	-40	28	24
Toucan	Container	M	1.3	12,000	9.2	189	0	0.09	0.06	0.15	118	40%	n/a	-52	38	27
Rahanas	Container	L	8.9	100,000	11.2	78	150	1.30	0.30	1.60	179	19%	11.2	-24	10	6
Sanahar	Container	L	11.9	110,000	9.2	98	150	1.00	0.30	1.30	109	23%	20.0	-24	18	8
Styrvok	Container	L	6.1	52,000	8.5	82	60	0.90	0.30	1.20	197	25%	11.2	-24	14	8
Vulture	Container	L	5.9	110,000	18.6	80	150	0.80	0.30	1.10	186	27%	15.4	-20	10	10
Lepton	Merged	L	4.0	40,000	9.9	84	60	0.60	0.30	0.90	222	33%	2.8	-28	14	16
Rahanas C+E	Segregated	L	8.9	55,000	6.2	78	150	1.30	0.30	1.60	180	19%	11.2	-24	10	6
Styrvok C+E	Segregated	L	9.0	52,000	5.8	74	60	1.25	0.30	1.55	173	19%	11.2	-24	10	6
Albatross	Container	XL	12.0	208,000	17.3	75	150	2.50	1.20	3.70	308	32%	45.7	-20	10	10
Albatross XL	Container	XL	16.7	416,000	25.0	75	150	3.10	1.20	4.30	258	28%	61.0	-20	10	10
Crane	Container	XL	9.3	208,000	22.4	75	150	2.20	0.60	2.80	302	21%	23.6	-20	10	10
Scaldis	Segregated	XL	17.5	90,000	5.1	64	150	2.10	1.80	3.90	223	46%	5.6	-20	8	4
Phoenix Marauder	Universal	XL	73.8	50,000	0.7	95	150	0.80	0.90	1.70	23	53%	80.7	-25	15	10
Lyramekron	Universal	XL	43.8	240,000	5.5	68	150	6.80	1.20	8.00	183	15%	166.3	-20	8	4
Lyranea	Universal	XL	14.7	270,000	18.3	72	150	3.60	0.60	4.20	285	14%	35.4	-20	9	5
Titurel	Universal	XL	18.8	250,000	13.3	51	150	1.80	1.20	3.00	159	40%	43.8	-20	9	5

Energy Trade ship stats (click on heading to re-order)

Name	Storage type	Class	Cost¹ (M Cr)	Cargo² (m³)	Cargo (m³/ k Cr)	Speed (m/s)	Drone Bay	Hull (M)	Shield (M)	Total M HP	Total HP/k Cr	Shield / Total HP	k DPS (total)	Rev. (m/s)	Acc. (m/s²)	Pitch (m/s)
Gigurum	Energy	M	0.5	14,000	25.5	172	0	0.05	0.04	0.10	173	45%	n/a	-32	42	16
Mercancias	Energy	M	0.5	12,000	25.2	204	0	0.07	0.05	0.12	250	41%	n/a	-40	38	32
Nyanae	Energy	M	0.5	16,000	30.3	175	0	0.09	0.06	0.15	275	38%	n/a	-40	28	24
Toucan	Energy	M	0.6	14,000	25.1	189	0	0.08	0.06	0.14	80	40%	n/a	-52	38	27
Rahanas	Energy	L	8.8	130,000	14.8	78	150	1.30	0.30	1.60	182	19%	11.2	-24	10	6
Styrvok	Energy	L	6.0	63,000	10.4	82	60	0.90	0.30	1.20	199	25%	11.2	-24	14	8
Vulture	Energy	L	6.6	130,000	19.6	80	150	0.80	0.30	1.10	166	27%	26.6	-20	10	10
Lepton	Merged	L	4.0	40,000	9.9	84	60	0.60	0.30	0.90	222	33%	2.8	-28	14	16
Rahanas C+E	Segregated	L	8.9	65,000	7.3	78	150	1.30	0.30	1.60	180	19%	11.2	-24	10	6
Styrvok C+E	Segregated	L	9.0	63,000	7.0	74	60	1.25	0.30	1.55	173	19%	11.2	-24	10	6
Albatross	Energy	XL	11.8	42,000	3.6	75	150	2.50	1.20	3.70	314	32%	45.7	-20	10	10
Albatross XL	Energy	XL	14.8	84,000	5.7	75	150	3.00	1.20	4.20	285	29%	45.7	-20	10	10
Crane	Energy	XL	9.1	42,000	4.6	75	150	2.20	0.60	2.80	309	21%	23.6	-20	10	10
Scaldis	Segregated	XL	17.5	30,000	1.7	64	150	2.10	1.80	3.90	223	46%	5.6	-20	8	4
Phoenix Marauder	Universal	XL	73.8	50,000	0.7	95	150	0.80	0.90	1.70	23	53%	80.7	-25	15	10
Lyramekron	Universal	XL	43.8	240,000	5.5	68	150	6.80	1.20	8.00	183	15%	166.3	-20	8	4
Lyranea	Universal	XL	14.7	270,000	18.3	72	150	3.60	0.60	4.20	285	14%	35.4	-20	9	5
Titurel	Universal	XL	18.8	250,000	13.3	51	150	1.80	1.20	3.00	159	40%	43.8	-20	9	5

Bulk Trade ship stats (click on heading to re-order)

Name	Storage type	Class	Cost¹ (M Cr)	Cargo² (m³)	Cargo (m³/ k Cr)	Speed (m/s)	Drone Bay	Hull (M)	Shield (M)	Total M HP	Total HP/k Cr	Shield / Total HP	k DPS (total)	Rev. (m/s)	Acc. (m/s²)	Pitch (m/s)
Gigurum	Bulk	M	0.5	18,000	36.6	183	0	0.05	0.04	0.10	195	45%	n/a	-37	47	21
Mercancias	Bulk	M	0.5	18,000	34.2	204	0	0.07	0.05	0.12	254	41%	n/a	-40	38	32
Nyanae	Bulk	M	0.5	18,000	33.9	175	0	0.09	0.06	0.15	273	38%	n/a	-40	28	24
Toucan	Bulk	M	0.5	18,000	32.8	189	0	0.09	0.08	0.17	97	45%	n/a	-52	38	27
Rahanas	Bulk	L	8.4	170,000	20.2	78	150	1.30	0.30	1.60	190	19%	11.2	-24	10	6
Styrvok	Bulk	L	5.8	78,000	13.4	82	60	0.90	0.30	1.20	206	25%	11.2	-24	14	8
Vulture	Bulk	L	5.7	280,000	49.2	80	150	0.80	0.30	1.10	193	27%	15.4	-20	10	10
Hermod	Merged	L	6.6	240,000	36.3	76	300	1.10	0.30	1.40	212	21%	5.6	-24	9	7
Rahanas B+L	Segregated	L	8.4	85,000	10.1	78	150	1.30	0.30	1.60	190	19%	11.2	-24	10	6
Styrvok B+L	Segregated	L	8.5	78,000	9.1	74	60	1.25	0.30	1.55	181	19%	11.2	-24	10	6
Albatross	Bulk	XL	11.5	208,000	18.1	75	150	2.50	1.20	3.70	322	32%	45.7	-20	10	10
Albatross XL	Bulk	XL	14.2	416,000	29.4	75	150	3.00	1.20	4.20	296	29%	45.7	-20	10	10
Crane	Bulk	XL	8.8	208,000	23.5	75	150	2.20	0.60	2.80	316	21%	23.6	-20	10	10
Scaldis	Segregated	XL	17.5	40,000	2.3	64	150	2.10	1.80	3.90	223	46%	5.6	-20	8	4
Phoenix Marauder	Universal	XL	73.8	50,000	0.7	95	150	0.80	0.90	1.70	23	53%	80.7	-25	15	10
Lyramekron	Universal	XL	43.8	240,000	5.5	68	150	6.80	1.20	8.00	183	15%	166.3	-20	8	4
Lyranea	Universal	XL	14.7	270,000	18.3	72	150	3.60	0.60	4.20	285	14%	35.4	-20	9	5
Titurel	Universal	XL	18.8	250,000	13.3	51	150	1.80	1.20	3.00	159	40%	43.8	-20	9	5

Liquid Trade ship stats (click on heading to re-order)

Name	Storage type	Class	Cost¹ (M Cr)	Cargo² (m³)	Cargo (m³/ k Cr)	Speed (m/s)	Drone Bay	Hull (M)	Shield (M)	Total M HP	Total HP/k Cr	Shield / Total HP	k DPS (total)	Rev. (m/s)	Acc. (m/s²)	Pitch (m/s)
Gigurum	Liquid	M	0.5	32,000	65.1	194	0	0.05	0.04	0.09	191	46%	n/a	-42	52	27
Mercancias	Liquid	M	0.4	28,000	69.5	204	0	0.07	0.05	0.12	295	41%	n/a	-40	38	32
Nyanae	Liquid	M	0.5	36,000	71.6	175	0	0.09	0.06	0.15	288	38%	n/a	-40	28	24
Toucan	Liquid	M	0.5	32,000	64.8	189	0	0.09	0.06	0.15	310	40%	n/a	-52	38	27
Rahanas	Liquid	L	8.5	310,000	36.6	78	150	1.30	0.30	1.60	189	19%	11.2	-24	10	6
Styrvok	Liquid	L	5.9	147,000	25.0	82	60	0.90	0.30	1.20	204	25%	11.2	-24	14	8
Vulture	Liquid	L	4.9	80,000	16.3	80	150	0.80	0.30	1.10	224	27%	4.2	-20	10	10
Hermod	Merged	L	6.6	240,000	36.3	76	300	1.10	0.30	1.40	212	21%	5.6	-24	9	7
Rahanas B+L	Segregated	L	8.4	155,000	18.4	78	150	1.30	0.30	1.60	190	19%	11.2	-24	10	6
Styrvok B+L	Segregated	L	8.5	147,000	17.2	74	60	1.25	0.30	1.55	181	19%	11.2	-24	10	6
Albatross	Liquid	XL	11.8	132,000	11.1	75	150	2.50	1.20	3.70	313	32%	45.7	-20	10	10
Albatross XL	Liquid	XL	15.0	264,000	17.6	75	150	3.00	1.20	4.20	280	29%	45.7	-20	10	10
Crane	Liquid	XL	9.3	132,000	14.3	75	150	2.20	0.60	2.80	303	21%	23.6	-20	10	10
Scaldis	Segregated	XL	17.5	70,000	4.0	64	150	2.10	1.80	3.90	223	46%	5.6	-20	8	4
Phoenix Marauder	Universal	XL	73.8	50,000	0.7	95	150	0.80	0.90	1.70	23	53%	80.7	-25	15	10
Lyramekron	Universal	XL	43.8	240,000	5.5	68	150	6.80	1.20	8.00	183	15%	166.3	-20	8	4
Lyranea	Universal	XL	14.7	270,000	18.3	72	150	3.60	0.60	4.20	285	14%	35.4	-20	9	5
Titurel	Universal	XL	18.8	250,000	13.3	51	150	1.80	1.20	3.00	159	40%	43.8	-20	9	5

1. Full price estimated to be hull+SEs+crew+drones:

Hull: Encyclopaedia base price (approximately equal to 2 x sum cost of all components at their base price).
SE (Surface Elements): Sold by shipyards at approximately 2 x base costs (1 Capital Field Generator = 3 FFPs).
Crew: 240 k Cr assumed for L/XL ships (65k Captain; 35k Engineer; 140k DO), or 30k for a Pilot.
Drones: 1.6 M Cr assumed for L/XL ships (5 constructors, 10 Cargo, and 5 Intie. Mk I).

2. In the case of Large and Extra Large ships, the listed cargo volume is the volume available for trading (10,000 m³ extra available for fuel).

Merged storage type: The entire cargo bay capacity can be used for any of the compatible ware type.
Segregated storage type: The cargo bay is divided into smaller compartments for each of the compatible ware type. Once a compartment is full, no more wares of that type can be loaded, even if the other compartments still have room.

Table changelog

Date	Change	Notes
20.02.2016	Improved hull cost estimates	Switched hull cost to encyclopaedia base price from 'cost of wares'
	Corrected SE cost estimates	Shipyards sell SEs at 2x their base cost and now this table does too
21.03.2016	Fixed multi-storage Styrvok stats	Corrected tables to use segregated storage instead of merged
24.03.2016	Added Trends and Outliners	Aimed at providing some details for ships not apparent from the tables Maybe too wordy or needs its own page
18.04.2016	Added Drone capacity	Added drone bay statistics to all ships. Should be useful
05.05.2016	Fixed M Trader cargo volumes	Different racial M Traders now correctly have different cargo volumes

Ship-specific notes

The Lyramekron has very solid combat capabilities, and its cost-to-DPS ratio is excellent. However, it has some shortcomings as a trade vessel. Its sluggish acceleration, agility, and huge size often means lengthy docking and cargo transfer times (not so much a problem OOZ). It should also be noted that the majority of its damage comes from the massive number of HIT/MA turrets, which is a class below true destroyer weaponry such as Plasma/JET LR. Still, it is good for performing trade runs in dangerous areas, where its tough hull and combines DPS is likely to guarantee survivability.

The Titurel does not appear to have anything special going for it. However, it is fairly compact and agile, which allows for quick docking and cargo transfer times. It is also decently armed, able to easily deter pirate fighter squadrons. It is a very common sight, due to being heavily used by pirate factions, which makes them easy to acquire by early game players (good boarding practice) who may not have the money to purchase a large trading fleet otherwise.

The Phoenix Marauder is a unique ship. It is a combat vessel with an universal cargo bay. This makes it the only ship that's completely safe to use for trading in Fields of Opportunity, since the Teladi pirates are programmed to only attack ships designated with the "Trade" specialization. It is also an extremely fast and agile ship, with a speed of 95m/s and maneuvering thrusters facing both sides, allowing for quick turning. These qualities make it an excellent ship for making quick, high-value trade runs in general.