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Explanation: I have to say I wouldn't dare guess here, because of the neormous figures. If you can ask the customer, do so; if you can't, give the alternatives and point out that the Germna word may mean either.
I know the question is closed but I'd like to sort out the conversions and names anyway. Now being at my daytime job, I have checked my Physicist's Desk Reference (a US product), which shows the metric ton as 1000 kg, a short ton as 2000 lb or 907.18 kg, and a long ton as 2240 lb or 1016.0 kg. Further, the online dictionaries of Collins (collinsdictionary.com) and Oxford (oxforddictionaries.com) confirm the use of the spelling "tonne" for the metric ton, with both dictionaries showing this for both the US English and the British & World English versions.
Thanks to you all for you input here. A very pleasant first Kudoz experience. I selected David's input as the most helpful because I have now submitted the job and followed his advice to the letter. I used 'tonnes' but referred the client to the complications around the term. It's been very informative having all your input. Thanks very much! Alex
Ramey Rieger (X)
Germany
@Wendy
11:46 Sep 30, 2013
Why don't you post your suggestion. Alex is looking for the UK term, and we don't have that yet.
I think in the petroleum industry it is more usual to refer to a barrel as a Fass if using a German word, so therefore I'd go for ton(ne)s.
David Moore (X)
Hi again Alex,
08:10 Sep 30, 2013
as I understand it, the UK reader (and most other English native speakers) will understand a 'tonne' as a 'metric ton' (= 2204.6 lbs), while a 'ton' is differently understood by the US native speaker, being only 2000 lbs., the UK ton being 2240 lbs. Unless of course it is described as a 'short ton' - the US version.
Hidden away in the dark corners of many good dictionaries there is often a conversion table between decimal and UK and US weights and measures to be found. Alternatively, you could google "weights and measures"; personally I prefer it in black on white! It's a feature lots of dictionary owners never see, because they just don't know it's there.
And David - thanks for welcome and advice, I'll definitely query this with client. It looks like the document has been worked upon by a few different people so it may be that there is some discrepancy between how they are using the terminology. Better safe than sorry.
Now I'm a bit confused with the tonne vs. ton difference. The website references 'metric tons.' I'm translating into British English so I'm thinking 'tonne' is correct here. Can anyone confirm?
Thanks for all your answers!
David Moore (X)
Greetings Alex!
17:38 Sep 29, 2013
As a new poster. As an old poster, I would suggest you ask the customer to confirm - there really is no point in guessing! If your deadline demands a guess, then tell the customer that that's what it is and why...
no need to beg, you may differ... It may be that barrels is the term used in the US whereas tons is more frequent on the continent and/or elsewhere. I'll see if I can find confirmation.
Ramey Rieger (X)
Germany
Hey there Wendy!
15:32 Sep 29, 2013
Yes, I think it could be both, too, but am such a lousy researcher, that I could not find anything to back it up or to give Alex the proof he's looking for. According to franglish, it's barrels, which to my ears is more common than tons, Since oil is sold per barrel, and not per ton (I do believe), I would go with the commercial term. Both aspects, commercial and quantity are mentioned in the ST. So perhaps both should be used? Barrels for quantity sold, tons for quantity amassed? What do you think? (It's a beautiful Sunday, by the way, been out yet?)
Beg to differ! Is just as likely to be tonnes: A China-Russia oil pipeline has transported 30 million tonnes of crude oil two years since it began operating. http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/753302.shtml
.
Ramey Rieger (X)
Germany
Hi Alex Baker
13:20 Sep 29, 2013
Welcome to Kudoz! As it is oil, I would think barrels, but a barrel does not necessarily equal one ton. In that case, I would go with the literal translation unless you have further context revealing which term is meant.
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Answers
1 hr confidence: peer agreement (net): -1
barrels
Explanation: based on franglish's references
Ramey Rieger (X) Germany Local time: 10:46 Native speaker of: English
Explanation: Germany has been using metric units thoroughly for a long time. If the American unit were meant, it most likely would have been used untranslated, i.e., "3 Millionen Barrel". The translation of the name of the physical object "barrel" - that cylindrical metal container - is indeed "Tonne". Looking at the overview of pipelines in Germany (see my reference link), a 3 million metric ton capacity appears moderate.