Clarksons Research has identified a new major milestone for the world fleet.
The capacity of merchant vessels has topped 2bn dwt for the first time, it said.
At the start of 2019, the figure stood at a "tantalising 1.98bn dwt," analyst Trevor Crowe added.
But by the start of May it had passed the landmark.
Clarksons said the 1bn figure was reached 13 years ago.
