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Chartering · 03

Dry Bulk Cargo Chartering from Asian Ports

Kiev Shipping Ltd arranges vessel chartering and maritime brokerage for dry bulk cargoes from China, South Korea, Japan and other Asian ports.

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Grab discharging grain from the cargo hold

We work as independent shipbrokers and search the international freight market for suitable tonnage according to cargo type, quantity, route, laycan, port restrictions and current market conditions.

Our primary role is to help cargo owners, traders, exporters and importers identify suitable vessels, obtain freight indications, negotiate fixture terms and support the voyage from enquiry to discharge follow-up.

Typical Dry Bulk Cargoes

Cargoes may include:

wheat
corn
barley
soybeans
sunflower meal
rapeseed meal
fertilizers
urea
NPK
potash
coal
ores and minerals
cement
clinker
gypsum
salt
metal scrap, where suitable for bulk shipment
other dry bulk commodities

Vessel Chartering

Kiev Shipping Ltd works with suitable bulk carriers and general cargo vessels available through the international freight market.

Depending on cargo quantity, port restrictions and trading area, enquiries may involve vessels in different size ranges, including approximately:

5,000 to 7,000 MT
10,000 to 15,000 MT
20,000 to 25,000 MT
30,000 to 35,000 MT
larger or smaller tonnage where commercially suitable

The final vessel selection depends on cargo characteristics, loading and discharging ports, draft restrictions, laycan and current freight-market availability.

Vessel Selection

An available vessel is not automatically a suitable vessel. For dry bulk cargoes the choice of tonnage is driven by the cargo itself and by the limits of the loading and discharging ports.

Parameters normally checked before a fixture:

deadweight and cargo intake
cubic capacity against the stowage factor of the cargo
number and dimensions of holds and hatches
geared or gearless vessel, and shore crane availability
maximum permissible draft at the loading and discharging berths
length overall and beam limits of the berth
hold cleanliness standards and previous cargoes carried
suitability for grain loading, where applicable
vessel position and open dates against the laycan

A vessel that matches the tonnage but not the port restrictions or the stowage factor of the cargo will not produce a workable voyage.

Bulk Carrier Size Classes

The parameters above are checked against a specific ship, but the market talks in size classes first. A class fixes roughly what a vessel can carry, which berths she can enter and whether she works with her own cranes or needs shore equipment.

Smaller parcels are commonly carried by coasters, mini bulkers, small handy vessels or suitable general cargo vessels. Larger parcels may involve Handysize and larger bulk-carrier classes, subject to cargo intake and port restrictions.

The figures are indicative market ranges for typical modern designs. Actual deadweight, dimensions, hold arrangement and gear vary from ship to ship and are confirmed from the vessel's particulars before fixing.

Typical modern configurations — indicative market ranges
Coaster / Mini Bulker	approximately 3,000–10,000 dwt · configurations vary · often geared or suitable for shore handling
Small Handy	approximately 10,000–28,000 dwt · typically geared · hold and hatch arrangements vary
Handysize	28,000–42,000 dwt · LOA 170–180 m · beam 28–32 m · 5 holds · 4 cranes
Handymax	43,000–55,000 dwt · LOA 185–190 m · beam 30–32.3 m · 5 holds · 4 cranes
Supramax	50,000–60,000 dwt · LOA 190–200 m · beam 32.3 m · 5 holds · 4 cranes
Ultramax	60,000–66,000 dwt · LOA 199–200 m · beam 32.3 m · 5 holds · 4 cranes
Panamax	65,000–80,000 dwt · LOA 220–229 m · beam 32.3 m · 7 holds · gearless
Kamsarmax	80,000–85,000 dwt · LOA 228–229 m · beam 32.3 m · 7 holds · gearless
Post-Panamax	90,000–120,000 dwt · LOA 235–260 m · beam 38–44 m · 7 holds · gearless
Capesize	170,000–190,000 dwt · LOA 290–300 m · beam 45–50 m · 9 holds · gearless
Newcastlemax	200,000–210,000 dwt · LOA ≈ 300 m · beam ≈ 50 m · 9 holds · gearless
VLOC / Valemax	250,000–400,000 dwt · LOA 330–362 m · beam 57–65 m · typically 7–9 holds, depending on design · gearless

Bulk carrier size guide: ten classes from Handysize 28,000 dwt to VLOC / Valemax 400,000 dwt, with deadweight, length overall, beam, number of cargo holds and gear for each class

Typical Trading Areas

We handle dry bulk chartering enquiries from China, South Korea, Japan and other Asian ports to:

Northern Europe and the Continent
Mediterranean Sea
Black Sea
Baltic Sea
Red Sea
Persian Gulf
other destinations subject to vessel availability and market conditions

Typical loading ports may include Shanghai, Ningbo, Qingdao, Tianjin, Shenzhen, Busan, Ulsan, Yokohama, Kobe and other suitable Asian ports.

Our Work

Kiev Shipping Ltd assists clients with:

freight market checks
vessel search
freight indications
fixture negotiations
charter-party negotiations and coordination
laycan coordination
loading and discharging terms
commercial voyage follow-up
communication between charterers, shipowners and other parties involved in the fixture

Depending on the cargo and trade, voyage fixtures may use GENCON or another agreed charter-party form. Grain fixtures may also use forms such as SYNACOMEX, subject to agreement between the parties.

Freight Factors

Freight for dry bulk cargo is formed by the market and is not a function of distance alone.

Levels may move with:

vessel size and cargo quantity
stowage factor and characteristics of the cargo
position of suitable tonnage in the region
loading and discharging rates
demurrage and despatch terms
port and terminal costs
canal and transit dues
bunker prices
draft and berth restrictions
congestion at the loading or discharging port
seasonality of the trade
geopolitical and operational risks on the route

A freight indication therefore reflects a particular market situation and should not be treated as a fixed tariff. The final freight depends on the nominated vessel, its position and the agreed terms of the voyage.

Our Role as Shipbrokers

Kiev Shipping Ltd does not own vessels and does not provide container shipping, crewing or technical vessel management.

We work through the international freight market and charter suitable tonnage according to each individual cargo enquiry.

Our role is commercial: vessel search, freight negotiations, fixture support, charter-party coordination and voyage follow-up.

Gallery

Photos

Bulk terminal: salt stockpile before loading

Information required for a freight indication

exact cargo description and specification
quantity and tolerance, or number of units
dimensions and weight of each unit, if applicable
packing
loading port
discharging port
cargo readiness date or required laycan
loading and discharging terms and rates
photos, technical drawings or packing list, if applicable
special handling requirements, dangerous-goods status or berth restrictions

For a dry bulk freight indication, please provide the exact cargo description and grade, whether the cargo is shipped in bulk or in bags, quantity and tolerance, stowage factor, loading and discharging ports, laycan, loading and discharging rates, charter-party terms (FIO, FIOS or FIOST), draft and berth restrictions and any grab or shore-crane requirements.

WhatsApp / Viber / Telegram: +380674010506

Direct lines

Phone / WhatsApp / Viber / Telegram: +380 67 401 05 06
Dry bulk, breakbulk and general cargo chartering: [email protected]
General enquiries: [email protected]

Send Enquiry

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Do you own the vessels you offer?

No. We work as experienced shipbrokers and charter suitable tonnage through the international freight market according to cargo, quantity, route, laycan, port restrictions and current market conditions.

What do you need for a freight indication?

Cargo name and quantity, loading port, discharging port, laycan, loading/discharging terms and any special requirements. We review options against the current market and reply with realistic figures.

What cargo volumes do you handle?

We generally handle cargo enquiries of approximately 3,000–50,000 mt per voyage — bulk, dry bulk, breakbulk and bagged cargoes — depending on cargo type, route and vessel availability. Smaller parcels may also be considered subject to suitable tonnage and market conditions.

Which contract forms do you work with?

For grain cargoes, SYNACOMEX 2000 may be used as a contractual basis. GENCON and other voyage charter party forms may also be considered depending on cargo, route, vessel and agreement between the parties.

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