Dry bulk chartering

Voyage charters, time charters, contracts of affreightment and post-fixture support, worked from the UK on worldwide trades.

Chartering services

A UK shipbroker for both sides of the fixture

Vector Bulk acts for owners, operators, charterers and traders in the dry bulk market. We broker voyage and time charter business from Handysize to Capesize, and stay with each fixture through to the final laytime statement.

Whichever side you sit on, the job is the same: find the right counterparty, negotiate clear terms, and make sure what was agreed is what gets performed.

Spot and forward cargoes

Voyage charters

Under a voyage charter the owner carries a cargo between named ports for an agreed freight, and the charterer pays for the carriage rather than the ship's time. It is how most dry bulk cargoes move.

For charterers and traders we take the cargo to the market, test it against suitable tonnage and negotiate freight, laytime, demurrage and the rest of the terms. For owners and operators we find cargoes that fit the ship's position, size and gear.

Terms we negotiate

Freight rate and payment terms
Laycan, load and discharge rates, and laytime exceptions
Demurrage and despatch
Charter party form, riders and commissions

Trip and period

Time charters

On a time charter the charterer hires the ship for a trip or a period and pays hire per day, taking on voyage costs such as bunkers and port charges while the owner keeps running the vessel.

We broker trip time charters and period employment for owners placing tonnage and for operators or charterers taking it in. On time charter the small print decides the result, so delivery, redelivery, duration, trading limits and hire are worked through carefully.

Terms we negotiate

Delivery and redelivery ranges, and any ballast bonus
Trip description or period, and hire rate
Trading and cargo exclusions
Bunkers on delivery and redelivery, speed and consumption

Programmes over time

Contracts of affreightment

A contract of affreightment (COA) commits an owner or operator to carry a set volume of cargo over a period, in a series of shipments, without naming the ships in advance.

COAs suit charterers with regular liftings who want freight certainty, and owners or operators who want forward cover for their tonnage. We help structure the volume, shipment spread, nomination procedure and freight basis, then keep track of each lifting as the contract runs.

Laytime and demurrage

Post-fixture, laytime and demurrage

A fixture is not finished when the recap goes out. We follow the voyage through loading and discharge, keep both sides informed and deal with the paperwork that follows.

Laytime is calculated from the statements of facts and the charter party, checked against notices of readiness and exceptions, and agreed between the parties so that demurrage or despatch is settled without a drawn-out claim.

Voyage follow-up and notices
Laytime calculations from statements of facts
Demurrage and despatch claims
Freight and hire invoice checks

Tonnage covered

Four dry bulk segments on one desk. Sizes are indicative: what matters is the ship that fits the cargo and the ports.

Dry bulk vessel segments covered by Vector Bulk
Segment	Size	Typical profile
Handysize	25,000–40,000 dwt	Usually geared. Minor bulks, steels and parcels into ports with draught or equipment limits.
Supramax / Ultramax	50,000–66,000 dwt	Geared and flexible. Grains, fertilisers, cement, clinker and the wider minor bulk trades.
Panamax / Kamsarmax	70,000–85,000 dwt	Gearless tonnage for grains, coal and bauxite on the main long-haul routes.
Capesize	170,000–210,000 dwt	Iron ore and coal on long-haul trades, between deep-water terminals.

Chartering questions.

Straight answers about the chartering desk and what happens to your order.

What is the difference between a voyage charter and a time charter?

On a voyage charter the owner carries a specific cargo between named ports for a freight rate, and the charterer pays for the carriage. On a time charter the charterer hires the ship for a trip or a period, pays daily hire and covers voyage costs such as bunkers and port charges.

Which vessel sizes do you broker?

Handysize (25,000–40,000 dwt), Supramax and Ultramax (50,000–66,000 dwt), Panamax and Kamsarmax (70,000–85,000 dwt), and Capesize (170,000–210,000 dwt).

Which cargoes and trades do you cover?

Grains and oilseeds, coal, iron ore, bauxite, fertilisers, steels, cement and clinker, agribulks, minerals, scrap, salt, sugar and woodchips, on worldwide trades.

Do you handle laytime and demurrage after the fixture?

Yes. Post-fixture work is part of the service: we follow the voyage, calculate laytime from the statements of facts, and help the parties agree demurrage or despatch.

What should I include when sending a cargo order?

Cargo type and quantity, stowage factor, load and discharge ports or ranges, laycan, load and discharge rates and terms, and any special requirements. Owners sending a position should include vessel particulars, open port and date. The contact page has a full checklist.

Send an order or position

Email the desk with your cargo order, open tonnage or time charter requirement. It is read by a broker and worked in confidence.

Email the desk

What to include

The chartering desk

Cargo to cover or tonnage open?

Send orders, positions and enquiries to the desk. Owners, operators, charterers and traders are all welcome.

[email protected]

What to include in an order