Ship Chartering
Complete guide to ship chartering -- types of charters, the chartering process, negotiations, and rates for dry bulk shipping.
Back-to-Back Charter
How an operator structures a sub-charter that mirrors the head charter, where the mirroring fails, and why P&I clubs treat the disponent owner as a separate risk from the registered owner.
ExploreBareboat Charter
How a bareboat (demise) charter transfers possession, control, and operational risk of the vessel to the charterer, how BARECON 2017 structures the fixture, and when bareboat chartering makes sense.
Bill of Lading
What a bill of lading is in dry bulk shipping: its three classic functions, the rights of shipper, carrier and consignee, the types, and freight prepaid versus collect.
Charter Party Terms and Clauses
A reference list of the key charter party terms and clauses in dry bulk: laytime, demurrage, dispatch, notice of readiness, laycan, freight, FIO and more, each with a one-line definition and a link to the full page.
Bunker (Marine Fuel)
What bunkers are in shipping: the fuel types VLSFO, HSFO, MGO and LNG, the IMO 2020 sulphur cap, what bunkering means, and who pays for fuel under voyage and time charters.
Charter Party
What a charter party is, the contract that binds shipowner and charterer. The main types at a glance and the standard forms: GENCON, NYPE, BALTIME and SHELLVOY.
Charter Rates
What charter rates mean in dry bulk: time-charter hire quoted in USD per day, what drives the number, what hire includes versus excludes, and how period and trip charters price differently.
Chartering Negotiations
How charter negotiations work in dry bulk: the firm offer, the counter ladder on an accept-or-except basis, fixing on subjects, and the recap.
Ship Chartering Process
How the ship chartering process works end to end, from enquiry and firm offer through subjects, recap and clean recap to the signed charter party and performance.
Consecutive Voyages
How a consecutive voyages charter ties one specific vessel to back-to-back lifts on the same lane, governed by BIMCO's CONSEC form.
Demurrage
Complete guide to demurrage in shipping: what it is, how it's calculated, demurrage rates, and how to avoid demurrage charges.
Contract of Affreightment
How a Contract of Affreightment (COA) prices a programme of dry bulk lifts at a fixed per-tonne rate without committing either side to a specific vessel.
Dispatch Money
Understanding dispatch money: the reward for completing loading or discharging faster than the allowed laytime.
Chartering FAQ
Frequently asked questions about ship chartering -- answers to common questions about charter types, costs, and the chartering process.
FIO / FIOS / FIOST
How FIO terms allocate cargo-handling cost and time in dry bulk. Free in and out, FIOS, FIOST and their variants, contrasted with liner terms where the owner pays.
Fixture Recap
What a fixture recap is in dry bulk chartering: the broker-circulated summary of agreed main terms that binds the parties before the formal charter party is drawn up.
Freight Rate
What a freight rate is in dry bulk shipping: the price of carrying cargo on a voyage charter, quoted in USD per metric ton, and the supply, distance, fuel and port factors that move it.
Incoterms Guide
Incoterms 2020 for dry bulk: the trade term chosen decides who charters the vessel. Under CFR and CIF the seller books the ship, under FOB the buyer does.
Laycan
Understanding laycan in shipping: the laydays and cancelling date range, how it works, and its importance in charter parties.
Loading & Discharge Rates
Guide to loading and discharge rates in dry bulk chartering: how they are quoted, how they feed into laytime, and why they matter for vessel selection and demurrage exposure. Tanker analogues are covered separately under pumping rate warranties and total laytime.
Laytime
Understanding laytime: how loading and discharging time is calculated, laytime clauses, and its connection to demurrage.
Notice of Readiness
Understanding Notice of Readiness (NOR): when it's tendered, requirements, and its role in laytime calculation.
Port Captain / Ship Agent
What a port agent (ship agent) does in a bulk port call, and how owner's agent, charterer's agent, protecting agent and husbandry agent differ.
Spot Charter
How spot chartering works in dry bulk. The spot market prices a single voyage at prevailing freight rates, with the Baltic Exchange indices as the reference.
Time Charter
How a time charter allocates costs and risk between owner and charterer, how NYPE 2015 structures the fixture, and when a time charter beats a voyage charter in dry bulk.
Trip Charter
How a trip charter limits a time-charter fixture to a single laden voyage, when it suits a charterer better than a voyage charter, and the risk allocation around redelivery range and bunkers.
Voyage Estimate
How a dry-bulk voyage estimate works: the time charter equivalent calculation that decides go or no-go on a fixture, with a worked Panamax coal example.
Voyage Charter
How a voyage charter works in dry bulk shipping. Owner runs the ship, charterer pays freight per tonne, and laytime governs the clock at both ends.