Charterers’ Shipbrokers

Charterers’ Shipbrokers often work exclusively for, and sometimes even be owned by, one charterer, often a large trading house or one of the oil majors, although these shipbrokers will not necessarily bear the same name as their parent company.

Charterers’ Shipbrokers could well be independent shipbrokers who specialise in working for a number of charterers, in which case these charterers might retain them on an exclusive basis.

Shipbroker’s Commission

Some shipbrokers also look after all the post-fixture work for their charterers, thereby sometimes earning a retainer fee as well as the usual Shipbroker’s Commission, which is 1.25% of the value of the total freight.

Exclusivity may perhaps apply only to the trading centre such as a city or a country where the Shipbroker is situated, for example exclusive for the UK, or the Shipbroker may be totally exclusive on a world-wide basis.

Exclusive Shipbrokers

Such a totally Exclusive Shipbroker will not have to share his exclusivity/work with any other Shipbroker but an exclusivity which is restricted to one country or region may well mean that a number of Semi-Exclusive Shipbrokers may be called upon by the trader to find a suitable vessel.

Direct Shipbrokers

Some shipbrokers who work in this way call themselves Direct Shipbrokers, thereby distinguishing themselves from those other shipbrokers whom they approach in the course of trying to locate the right vessel for their principals.

Direct Shipbrokers report directly to the charterers rather than via a Competitive Intermediary Shipbroker.

Do Not Confuse Charterers’ Agents

Charterers’ Agents: this name sometimes causes confusion, since it also refers to those Port Agents who have been nominated by Charterers.