Time Charter Order Example

A time charter order is a concise commercial instruction circulated by a charterer or charterer’s shipbroker to the market. Its purpose is to describe the charterer’s requirement clearly enough for shipowners and shipbrokers to propose suitable ships. A good time charter order should be short, accurate, and practical. It should identify the charterer, delivery area, laycan, redelivery range, approximate duration, intended employment, preferred ship size, technical requirements, charterparty form, and commissions.

The content of an order for a time charter will normally contain the following parameters:

  • Charterer's name and domicile
  • Places of delivery and redelivery of ship
  • The period within which the ship is to be presented for delivery
  • The time-charter period
  • Details about the intended trade
  • Any restrictions or preferences regarding type or size of ship
  • Charterparty form on which the charterer wishes to base the terms and conditions
  • Commissions to be paid by the owner
The following examples show how time charter orders may be drafted for different dry bulk trades. Each example uses the same charterer account and follows a professional market style.

Time Charter Order Example 1: North China to Red Sea Trip

• Acct: HANDYBULK LLC, Panama • Dely: N. China-Japan Range • Laycan: 15-20/Feb 2012 • Redely: Red Sea (Jeddah) or Port Said in owners option • Duration: Abt 45 days WOG • 42-S3K DWT SDBC, max twenty years age • Need ship's hold and tank-top dimensions to check workability • NYPE 1993 • 3.75 pct ADD COM + 1.25 pct brokerage

This order describes a trip time charter requirement for a single-decker bulk carrier to be delivered in the North China-Japan range and redelivered in the Red Sea or Port Said area. The duration is about forty-five days without guarantee. The ship should be within the stated deadweight range and should not exceed the age limit. The request for hold and tank-top dimensions shows that the charterer must check whether the ship can safely and practically perform the intended cargo operation.

Time Charter Order Example 2: Southeast Asia Round Voyage

• Acct: HANDYBULK LLC, Panama • Dely: Singapore-Malaysia Range • Laycan: 05-10/Mar 2026 • Redely: Singapore-Japan Range in charterers option • Duration: Abt 60/70 days WOG • Intention: steels, bagged cargoes, and general dry bulk parcels within lawful trading limits • Need 32-38K DWT geared handy bulk carrier, grabs preferred • Max age 18 years, class fully maintained • NYPE 1993 with logical rider clauses • 3.75 pct ADD COM + 1.25 pct brokerage

This order is suitable for a geared handy bulk carrier intended for a regional Asian employment. Because the cargo may include steel or bagged parcels, the charterer asks for a geared ship, preferably with grabs. The redelivery range is broad enough to provide commercial flexibility while still giving owners a reasonable view of the likely final employment area.

Time Charter Order Example 3: India to China Coal Trip

• Acct: HANDYBULK LLC, Panama • Dely: ECI-WCI Range, passing APS 1 safe port • Laycan: 20-25/Apr 2026 • Redely: China Range, intention South China • Duration: Abt 35/45 days WOG • Intention: coal or similar lawful dry bulk cargo • Need 50-58K DWT Supramax/Ultramax, geared and grabbed • Ship to be suitable for grab discharge and normal coal trade • NYPE 1993 or NYPE 2015 to be mutually agreed • 3.75 pct ADD COM + 1.25 pct brokerage

This order is drafted for a coal trip from India to China. The wording “APS 1 safe port” means the ship will be delivered on arrival at one safe port within the agreed Indian range. For coal cargoes, the charterer normally requires a ship suitable for dry bulk loading and discharge, with proper holds, grabs, and class status. The order leaves the exact discharge port open within the China range, which is common when final cargo sale or port nomination is still developing.

Time Charter Order Example 4: Atlantic Grain Trip

• Acct: HANDYBULK LLC, Panama • Dely: US Gulf-Brazil Range • Laycan: 10-15/May 2026 • Redely: Continent-Mediterranean Range • Duration: Abt 45/55 days WOG • Intention: grain, soybeans, corn, or agricultural bulk cargo • Need 55-64K DWT Ultramax, grain clean, holds suitable for agricultural cargo • Ship must pass normal grain inspection and have valid certificates • NYPE 1993 basis, with grain rider clauses • 3.75 pct ADD COM + 1.25 pct brokerage

This order concerns an Atlantic grain employment. The charterer needs a grain-clean ship, meaning the holds must be clean, dry, odor-free, and suitable for agricultural cargo. Grain cargoes often require inspection before loading, and the ship must be able to pass the relevant hold and documentation checks. The redelivery range gives owners a clear indication that the ship is expected to finish in Europe or the Mediterranean.

Time Charter Order Example 5: Pacific Nickel Ore or Bauxite Trip

• Acct: HANDYBULK LLC, Panama • Dely: Philippines-Indonesia Range • Laycan: 01-07/Jun 2026 • Redely: China Range • Duration: Abt 25/35 days WOG • Intention: nickel ore, bauxite, or similar lawful bulk cargo subject to IMSBC compliance • Need 45-56K DWT geared Supramax, max 20 years age • Owners to confirm ship suitable for cargo and all statutory certificates valid • Cargo to be loaded only in accordance with IMSBC Code requirements • NYPE 1993 with safety and cargo compliance clauses • 3.75 pct ADD COM + 1.25 pct brokerage

This order is more sensitive because nickel ore and some bauxite cargoes may raise safety issues, especially moisture and liquefaction risk. The order therefore includes a clear reference to IMSBC Code compliance. The charterer should not treat this as a routine bulk cargo order. Owners must consider cargo declaration, moisture certificates, TML requirements, ship suitability, and the master’s right to reject unsafe cargo.

Time Charter Order Example 6: Mediterranean Short Period Employment

• Acct: HANDYBULK LLC, Panama • Dely: East Mediterranean Range • Laycan: Prompt-10 days after fixing • Redely: Mediterranean-Black Sea Range • Duration: Min 3 months, max 5 months, about • Intention: lawful dry bulk cargoes excluding dangerous or dirty cargoes unless mutually agreed • Need 28-35K DWT handy bulk carrier, economical consumption preferred • Ship to be suitable for normal port rotation in Mediterranean and Black Sea trades • NYPE 1993, usual period charter terms • 3.75 pct ADD COM + 1.25 pct brokerage

This example is a short period order rather than a single trip. Period employment allows the charterer to use the ship for several voyages within the agreed trading limits. The charterer emphasizes economical consumption because bunker efficiency is commercially important under time charter, where the charterer normally pays for bunkers used during employment.

Time Charter Order Example 7: Fertilizer Trip from Baltic to West Africa

• Acct: HANDYBULK LLC, Panama • Dely: Baltic-Continent Range • Laycan: 12-18/Jul 2026 • Redely: West Africa Range, intention Abidjan-Lagos • Duration: Abt 40/50 days WOG • Intention: fertilizers in bulk or bagged form • Need 35-42K DWT geared handy/handymax, clean holds required • Ship must be suitable for fertilizer cargo and avoid contamination from previous cargoes • NYPE 1993 with fertilizer cargo clauses • 3.75 pct ADD COM + 1.25 pct brokerage

Fertilizer cargoes require clean and dry holds because contamination can create quality claims. If the cargo is bagged, the ship’s gear, hatch size, and stowage arrangements may be important. If the cargo is bulk fertilizer, the ship must be suitable for the relevant product and must protect the cargo from moisture and contamination.

Time Charter Order Example 8: Australia to Southeast Asia Minor Bulk Trip

• Acct: HANDYBULK LLC, Panama • Dely: Australia East Coast Range • Laycan: 03-08/Aug 2026 • Redely: Singapore-Thailand-Vietnam Range • Duration: Abt 30/40 days WOG • Intention: alumina, concentrates, salt, or other lawful minor bulk cargo • Need 28-38K DWT handy bulk carrier, geared preferred • Owners to provide full ship particulars, speed-consumption, hatch details, and last three cargoes • NYPE 1993 or otherwise mutually agreed • 3.75 pct ADD COM + 1.25 pct brokerage

This order is suitable for a minor bulk cargo movement from Australia to Southeast Asia. The charterer asks for the last three cargoes because hold cleanliness and contamination risk may be important. Full ship particulars help the charterer check whether the ship is workable for the intended cargo and ports.

Professional Notes on Time Charter Orders

A time charter order must be clear but not overloaded. If the order is too vague, owners cannot offer accurately. If the order is too complicated, owners may avoid the business or ask too many preliminary questions. The best order gives enough detail to attract workable ships while leaving commercial room for negotiation.

Important expressions such as WOG, APS, DOP, redelivery range, duration, ship size, age limit, intended cargo, charterparty form, and commission should be used carefully. If cargo is sensitive, dangerous, moisture-sensitive, or subject to special rules, the order should mention the relevant safety or compliance requirement at the beginning of the negotiation.

Every time charter order should be checked before circulation. The charterer should confirm that the account name, delivery range, laycan, redelivery range, duration, cargo intention, ship requirement, charterparty form, and commissions are commercially consistent. A well-drafted order saves time, avoids misunderstanding, and improves the chance of receiving suitable offers from serious shipowners.