How to Charter a Vessel for Dry Cargo

Chartering vessels for dry cargo is a common way of transporting goods across oceans. In order to avoid having to use the overpriced shipping lines, many dry cargo shippers will charter their own temporary vessels at great cost. Chartering, or leasing, a vessel is typically quite complex and it is the owner of the cargo that is responsible for overseeing the process.

The charterers you choose to hire will not only need to monitor the condition of the ship and its equipment but also keep an eye out for your cargo while transporting it to its destination. Find a competent team in dry cargo vessel technical management in UAE that can deliver these services in no time.

Dry cargo shipping refers to the process of transporting products that are not in a liquid form. These products can be supplied in boxes, and bags (cargo packs) or just loose on pallets and crates. Dry cargo hulls are typically slightly different from tankers and tend to be faster 

Determine your shipping needs

Before you contact a marine management company that specialises in vessel sale and purchase in UAE, you should determine your shipping needs. This will help narrow down your options and ensure that you don’t waste time looking at vessels that aren’t suitable for your cargo.

A good first step is to determine if you need an ocean-going, coastal or inland vessel. Ocean-going ships are used to travel long distances across oceans, while coastal ships are used to transport goods along coastlines and lakes. Inland ships are used for transporting goods within one country or continent.

Determining the cargo volume and the type of loading method that you require is just the beginning. You also need to consider what kind of ship is best suited for your needs.

Do you require a dry cargo time-charter or a voyage-charter? When you ship more than one load over a period of time, then it could be worth your while to hire out the entire dry cargo vessel instead of just renting it by the trip. This means that when your shipment is complete, so is your contract with the owner.

Consider what kind of loading methods you need - grab, conveyor belt, etc. It will likely be easier if you rent an open hatch vessel instead of one with enclosed holds to ship something large like heavy machinery or construction equipment. Having open hatches means that there's no need to remove any items from their packaging before loading them onto the ship; they can simply be lifted in as they are without causing damage or any other issues!

Look at the extras that may be available on the ship. For example, some vessels have ice-breaking equipment attached that allows them to travel through ice during winter months. This is an important consideration if you plan on shipping goods in cold climates.

Types of Vessels

The type of vessel you will need depends on the size of your shipment and its destination. Here is a guide to the different types of vessels available:

Bulk carrier – A bulk carrier is a special type of cargo ship or freighter which carries all of its load in a single compartment, with the exception of liquefied gases and liquids. These ships are designed to transport large volumes of goods at all times such as used coal, ore, grains and other dry commodities in large quantities.

General Cargo – General cargo ships are used for transporting goods that aren't as heavy as bulk carriers. They can also be used to transport cargo that needs refrigeration, such as fruit and vegetables or frozen goods. These also include general merchandise such as machinery and vehicles as well as construction materials such as steel bars and cement bags. They can also carry liquid chemicals such as oil and chemicals.

Ro-Ro – Ro-Ro vessels are used to transport automobiles and trucks on their open decks. Ro-Ro stands for "roll on roll off," which means that vehicles can drive onto the ship by driving right off a ramp into the hold where they will remain secure during transit. They are mainly used on short sea routes but may also operate on long distance routes when fully loaded with cars or trucks from one port to another port close by.

Get pricing quotes from several brokers

Sourcing to charter a vessel for dry cargo requires you to get some quotes from dry cargo and offshore vessel charterers in UAE. You can find them online or through phone calls or emails. You should be able to get an idea of how much it will cost to charter a ship from the information you receive from these brokers.

Ask them questions about their services and how they can help you with your dry cargo needs. Enquire about their experience, what types of vessels they offer and where they operate. You should also ask about the different types of ships available and what they're used for in general - not just dry cargoes but also other types of cargoes like oil and gas products or chemical products that require special handling onboard due to their properties (such as corrosiveness). This will help you decide which vessel would be best suited for your needs so that you don't end up paying extra money for something that isn't necessary for your business' needs.

Review the contract

Before agreeing to any terms, you should read and understand the contract. It is important to know exactly what you are getting into and what your obligations are, before you sign on with a shipping company or agent. If you can't afford to lose the money that it takes to charter a vessel for dry cargo, don't do it.

You will be responsible for all expenses associated with the hire of the vessel, including but not limited to:

-Port fees and taxes;

-Insurance coverage (if required);

-Fuel costs;

-Crew wages; and

-Vessel maintenance.

Here are some of the most important elements of a dry cargo charter:

Chartering Terms: The term is the period of time during which the vessel will be used for your operation. The longer the term, the more economical the overall cost of using the vessel. However, if you don't need it for an extended period of time, it may not make sense to sign on for longer than necessary.

Daily Rate: This is how much you pay per day or week. It's calculated based on several factors including fuel consumption, port charges and crew costs as well as your planned itinerary and seasonality factors such as weather conditions in certain ports during particular months.

Port Charges: Port charges are fees charged by ports for berthing services and other services provided by port authorities or their agents (e.g., pilotage). Port charges vary by location, but they can be substantial — especially when combined with other expenses like bunker fuel costs and crew expenses.

Marine Vessel Inspection

Before you hire a vessel, you need to make sure that everything is ready when conducting the condition survey of vessel in UAE. This will include having all of the necessary documents with you and ensuring that there are no issues with the cargo or the condition of the vessel itself. The inspection will be conducted by a surveyor appointed by the owner of the boat. If there are any issues with anything, then it is a good idea to address them before boarding because once on board, you will no longer have access to these things.

The following are some of the things that you should do before the inspection:

Check that all the documents related to the boat are in order and up-to-date. This includes registration papers, insurance certificates, licences and permits as well as crew lists and other relevant information.

Make sure that all equipment on board is working properly and that it is in good condition. This includes navigation equipment, life jackets, radio communications equipment, fire extinguishers and so on.

Ensure that there are no safety violations on board. If there are any violations such as damaged life rafts or missing safety equipment then inform your broker immediately so that they can take care of it before the inspection takes place.

Bottom Line

There are no universal rules for dry cargo chartering & broking UAE, although there are some tips to follow, as shared above. Chartered vessels serve as low-cost, flexible labour that is ready to be deployed on scheduled routes. The crew can also be contracted to individual shippers, making it feasible for small or new businesses to hire dry cargo shipping support.

We hope that you now have a clear idea of what chartering a vessel entails, and the best ways to go about it. Whenever you are interested in a particular vessel or have specific questions, email Seaspeed Marine Management team at dry@cspeed.ae. We look forward to assisting you.