Chartering teams win on small edges. The right data at the right time turns a “maybe” into a clean fixture. Use the seven sources below to see supply, demand, risk, and timing before your competitors do. The layout includes quick checklists, sample queries, and simple calculators you can use on live deals.
Goal
See true prompt supply, confirm what actually fixed, price fuel and time, and avoid compliance delays.
How to use
Keep one page per lane: availabilities, fixtures, spreads, congestion, and any red flags. Refresh it before you quote.
Quick rule
If the page shows thin supply, rising tape, and clean approvals, move fast. If the page shows thick supply or slow tape, press on terms.
1️⃣ Prompt Supply Map: AIS + Local Redeliveries
For the next 7 to 14 days, count only hulls that can actually make your laycan with legal speed and draft. Add local redeliveries and subtract planned off-hire. This gives a realistic supply number for your lane.
- Ballast arrivals into load area within 3 to 7 days
- Local redeliveries inside 10 days
- Planned yard or vetting off-hire
- Draft and last cargo for cleaning needs
Simple count for your next quote.
Prompt supply estimate: 8 hulls
2️⃣ Done Deals vs Screens: Fixture Tape Gap
Screens can drift. The tape shows truth. Track the average of last five done deals on your lane and compare to the live whispers. The gap tells you if the market is heating, cooling, or flat.
- Tape above screen: owners have leverage
- Tape below screen: room to push terms
- Tape rising fast: shorten laycan or pre-book tonnage
Gap: +$1,500/day tape above screen
3️⃣ Lane TCE After Fuel: Grade and Spread
Quote net of fuel reality. Use the burn at sea, burn in port, sea days, port days, and grade spread to see the true daily cost on your route.
- Sea burn and port burn by speed
- Days at sea and in port for this lane
- HSFO, VLSFO, MGO, or LNG price
Estimated fuel cost per day: $0
4️⃣ Congestion, Weather, and Delay Cost
Queues and weather change the real laycan. Put a simple number on delay so you can decide to pay for speed or pick another window.
- Pilot and tug limits
- Swell and draft limits on exposed berths
- Canal slot backlogs
Estimated delay cost: $0
5️⃣ Counterparty Quality and Fall-Through Rate
Track who actually closes. A low fill rate means longer cycles and weaker pricing. A high fill rate means faster closes and less wiggle room.
- Fill rate: fixtures divided by firm offers
- Average cycle time: hours to recap
- Cancellation history and option lifts
Fill rate: 58%
6️⃣ Sanctions, Insurance, and Approvals Gates
Treat compliance like a traffic light. Green means all clear proofs on lists, class, P&I, and permits. Yellow means open questions with a timer. Red means stop until resolved.
- Company and vessel list checks with date and time
- Class status and any conditions
- P&I letters for the intended trade
- Port or STS permits if required
Risk score: 0 of 12 — Low
0 to 3 Low. 4 to 7 Medium. 8 to 12 High. Medium and High should pause for compliance review.
7️⃣ Opex and Performance Reality for This Hull
Before you choose between two candidates, compare daily opex, expected speed and consumption at your target draft, and maintenance plan. A small difference here changes your net rate.
- Speed and burn curves by draft
- Last dry dock date and planned maintenance
- Spare parts policy and alarm reliability
Estimated net per day: $0
Daily workflow to stay ahead
- Update prompt supply count for your lane.
- Check last five done deals vs screen gap.
- Recompute lane fuel cost per day at today’s prices.
- Price congestion delay for intended ports or canals.
- Refresh counterparty fill rate and cycle time.
- Run sanctions and approvals score and file proofs.
- Compare net rate for top two candidate hulls.
These seven sources are the ones that move a charter from talk to recap. They show real supply, confirmed prices, true daily cost, and the delays or risks that can slow you down. Keep the calculators on one page per lane, refresh before you quote, and write a short note with a go or hold call. Teams that do this daily will see the market earlier and fix on cleaner terms.
