Part Cargo or Full Vessel Charter for Machinery from Asia?

Industrial machinery moving from Asia does not always require an entire vessel. Depending on the quantity, dimensions, weight and delivery schedule, cargo owners may consider either a part-cargo booking or a full vessel charter.

The cheaper option cannot be determined from cargo weight alone. Schedule flexibility, port combinations, handling requirements and the availability of suitable vessels all influence the final decision.

When part cargo may work

Part cargo allows machinery to share a vessel with other compatible shipments. It can be practical when the cargo occupies only part of a hold or deck and the ship already has a suitable trading programme.

This option may reduce the ocean freight allocated to a relatively small shipment. However, the cargo owner normally has less control over the vessel’s schedule, rotation and final loading date.

The shipment may also be affected by the requirements of other cargoes. Compatibility, stowage position, lifting sequence and access at intermediate ports must all be considered.

Part cargo is most workable when:

• the shipment date is reasonably flexible;
• the units can be combined safely with other cargo;
• suitable regular or inducement tonnage is available;
• additional port calls do not create unacceptable risks;
• the cargo can be handled within the vessel’s existing gear arrangement.

When a full charter may be preferable

A full vessel charter gives the charterer greater control over the nominated ports, laycan, cargo plan and voyage sequence. It may be justified when the shipment includes numerous units, heavy pieces, large dimensions or strict delivery requirements.

The charterer also avoids waiting indefinitely for a vessel operator to assemble other compatible cargoes. For time-sensitive industrial projects, schedule control can be more valuable than the apparent saving offered by part cargo.

A full charter does not automatically mean that the vessel must be filled to its maximum deadweight. Project cargo often reaches a space, deck-strength, hatch-opening or crane limitation before it reaches the vessel’s weight capacity.

Information needed for comparison

To compare the two options, the shipbroker needs:

• a complete packing list;
• dimensions and weight of every unit;
• lifting drawings for heavy pieces;
• stacking and deck-stowage restrictions;
• loading and discharge ports;
• cargo readiness and acceptable shipment window;
• required delivery date;
• available shore equipment;
• preference for hold or deck stowage.

Photographs and technical drawings help determine how the machinery may fit into a vessel and whether it can be combined with other cargo.

Compare the complete transport basis

A part-cargo rate should be assessed together with schedule uncertainty, possible intermediate calls and handling conditions. A full charter should be evaluated against the control it provides over the vessel, ports and voyage programme.

Neither option is universally better. The correct solution depends on the cargo and the commercial priorities of the shipment.

Kiev Shipping Ltd providesproject cargo chartering from Asian ports, including vessel searches for machinery, heavy equipment and oversized industrial units.

Cargo owners cansubmit drawings and packing lists for an initial assessment of available chartering options.