How to Submit a Vessel Chartering Enquiry

After 28 years in the chartering market, I follow clear rules when reviewing cargo and vessel enquiries. This page explains who I work with, what information is required and how a chartering enquiry should be submitted.

Who I Work With

I do not accept firm vessel chartering enquiries from unknown brokers, intermediaries, mediators, mandates or long chains of representatives.

For actual vessel chartering, I work only with:

• direct cargo owners;
• charterers and contracting parties;
• officially authorised representatives who can disclose the real client and confirm their authority.

Before approaching shipowners, I must be able to verify the cargo, the contracting party and the commercial basis of the proposed shipment.

One Shipment — One Responsible Broker

I do not participate in shipments where other brokers are already involved.

“Money likes silence” is a basic rule of banking. The same principle applies to chartering: confidentiality, clear responsibility and controlled communication are essential for achieving a result.

I handle the entire chartering process independently:

• assessing the cargo enquiry;
• searching for suitable tonnage;
• negotiating freight and charter-party terms;
• preparing and agreeing the charter party;
• coordinating the commercial performance of the fixture;
• following the voyage through to completion.

I do not work as one member of a large group of competing or overlapping brokers. If a client wishes to involve a “football team” of brokers in the same shipment, that is not my working model.

I take direct responsibility for the chartering process and focus on delivering the result.

Two Different Types of Enquiries

It is important to distinguish between two separate services.

1. Preliminary Freight Estimate

I can provide an indicative freight level for budgeting, planning or assessing whether a shipment is commercially viable.

For a preliminary estimate, the minimum information required is:

• Cargo: exact commodity.
• Quantity: metric tonnes.
• Loading port: exact port.
• Discharging port: exact port.
• Expected shipment period: approximate dates.
• Loading and discharging rates: if known.

The request must clearly state that only a preliminary freight estimate or market indication is required.

Any estimate is non-binding and may change depending on the final laycan, vessel availability, port restrictions, bunker prices, war-risk exposure and market conditions at the time of fixing.

2. Firm Vessel Chartering Enquiry

A request to find and charter an actual vessel is treated as a firm chartering enquiry. The following information is required:

• Cargo: exact commodity and relevant specifications.
• Quantity: metric tonnes, including any tolerance.
• Loading port: exact port and terminal, where known.
• Discharging port: exact port and terminal, where known.
• Laycan: confirmed cargo readiness dates.
• Loading rate: tonnes per 24 working or consecutive hours.
• Discharging rate: tonnes per 24 working or consecutive hours.
• Port working time: working days, weekends and holidays at both ports.
• Physical shipper: full legal name of the company physically delivering the cargo.
• Charterer: full legal and registration details of the contracting party.
• Chartering experience: details of previous sea shipments and vessels chartered.
• Target freight: realistic freight target or approved transport budget.
• Agents: proposed vessel agents at the loading and discharging ports.

Cargo and Client Verification

For a firm cargo:

• the shipper must be prepared to nominate the vessel’s agent at the loading port;
• the buyer or receiver must be prepared to nominate the vessel’s agent at the discharging port;
• the existence of the cargo and its readiness for the declared laycan must be verifiable.

As part of professional due diligence, I assess:

• the existence and origin of the cargo;
• cargo readiness;
• the authority of the applicant;
• the legal status and commercial background of the charterer;
• previous chartering experience;
• whether the target freight is realistic in the current market.

Incomplete, anonymous or unverified firm cargo enquiries are not circulated to shipowners.

Enquiry Format

Please state clearly whether you require:

• a preliminary freight estimate, or
• an actual vessel search and chartering service.

These are two different services and are considered separately.