📘 12 Chartering Mistakes I’ve Seen from the Bridge — A Captain’s View for Brokers & Operators

By Capt. Vijayy Aghicha

⚠️ 1. Incomplete or Vague Cargo Descriptions

What happens ashore: Brokers rush fixtures with cargo listed in minimal terms — “lubes,” “used cooking oil,” “fertilizer mix” — without clear specs, temperatures, contamination history, or load/discharge compatibility.

On board impact: We spend hours preparing tanks or holds only to find the cargo needs different temperatures, can’t be mixed, or reacts dangerously with residues from the last voyage.

Captain’s Insight: “The ship isn’t a guessing game. A few extra lines in your fixture note can save hundreds of thousands in decontamination, delays, and claims.”

📅 2. Unrealistic Laycan Windows

What happens ashore: Charterers push for aggressive laycans to beat competitors or gain freight advantage. They believe ships are machines that can “make it work.”

On board impact: It pressures the crew to cut corners — sail faster through rough weather, delay bunkering, or skip safety checks. Fatigue builds. Safety drops. One missed ETA, and we’re left justifying impossible plans.

Captain’s Insight: “Ships don’t operate in spreadsheets — we sail through storms, queues, and international bureaucracy. Add margins, not just pressure.”

📜 3. Overcomplicated CP Clauses (with Conflicting Terms)

What happens ashore: CPs (Charter Parties) are stitched from old templates with inconsistent bunker clauses, contradictory laytime definitions, or mismatched port/berth/nor terms.

On board impact: We get conflicting instructions: Should we slow down to save bunkers or speed up for laycan? Do we follow NOR rules for berth or port? We’re stuck between legal ambiguity and operational reality.

Captain’s Insight: “If I need a lawyer to interpret your CP while dodging a cyclone, we have a problem. Keep it tight. Keep it clear.”

🛳️ 4. Lack of Vessel-Port Compatibility Checks

What happens ashore: Charterers often accept port nominations based on rates or pressure — not based on whether the vessel actually fits (air draft, tide windows, crane outreach, etc.).

On board impact: We arrive and realize the port can’t berth us. Draught exceeds river draft. Gear can’t reach shore. Berth space is too short. Now we lose time, the ship goes off-hire, and fingers start pointing.

Captain’s Insight: “Always check the ship-port fit — not just on paper, but practically. A few phone calls can prevent a full-day delay.”

💡 5. Ignoring Masters’ Port Warnings or Operational Advice

What happens ashore: Commercial teams sometimes dismiss “soft feedback” from ships — like congestion updates, local agent issues, or weather abnormalities.

On board impact: We’re forced to follow instructions that go against everything our experience and real-time data are screaming. The cost? Waiting days in anchorage, tug delays, or failing to berth before closure.

Captain’s Insight: “If your Master flags a red light, don’t treat it as over-cautiousness. It’s not pessimism — it’s prevention.”

🌐 6. Assuming Internet = Seamless Communication

What happens ashore: Charterers and brokers expect 24/7 real-time responses — sending PDFs, Excel sheets, routing updates, and crew instructions on email and expecting replies in minutes.

On board impact: Satellite connections are patchy. Crew are busy. Emails are missed. Important clarifications slip through the cracks, causing misinterpretations.

Captain’s Insight: “We’re not on WhatsApp all the time. Keep your instructions concise, prioritized, and structured. Assume nothing.”

🕐 7. No Buffer for Canal Delays or Bunkering Queues

What happens ashore: Voyage planning doesn’t account for the long wait times at Suez, Panama, or major bunkering ports like Singapore or Fujairah.

On board impact: We miss laycan, face penalties, or get blamed for delays. Even worse, Masters are pressured to skip proper rest or reduce speed post-delay, compromising safety.

Captain’s Insight: “A canal is not just a tollgate — it’s a bottleneck. Don’t plan a tightrope walk on a moving ship.”

📦 8. Inadequate Instructions for Multi-Port Loading/Discharge

What happens ashore: Charterers frequently change load/discharge sequences or fail to provide a complete cargo plan early.

On board impact: We face impossible stowage challenges. Port crane sequencing becomes inefficient. Ballast operations get rushed. In extreme cases, cargo has to be restowed — at huge cost.

Captain’s Insight: “The first cargo plan is like the ship’s heartbeat — if that’s off, everything else suffers. Don’t keep it an afterthought.”

📉 9. Misaligned Incentives Between Owners and Charterers

What happens ashore: Owners want to save fuel. Charterers want to meet delivery schedules. Commercial goals clash without real-time coordination.

On board impact: Masters get conflicting speed and routing orders. Fuel savings lead to late arrival. Speed-up leads to overconsumption — and we end up penalized either way.

Captain’s Insight: “Set performance goals that are win-win — or clarify priorities in writing. Don’t make us guess what’s more important.”

🛠️ 10. No Contingency for Equipment Failures or Technical Downtime

What happens ashore: Charterers assume all equipment will work flawlessly — no line chokes, pump failures, or ECDIS resets. They plan minute-to-minute turnarounds.

On board impact: Even a 6-hour pump motor failure becomes a full-day issue when the schedule has zero slack. Meanwhile, blame rolls downhill.

Captain’s Insight: “The best chartering plans have Plan B built in. Not because we want to fail — but because sometimes, the ocean rewrites the script.”

🌊 11. Poor Weather Routing Expectations

What happens ashore: Voyage estimates are built on ideal weather and optimistic sea states. Real storm advisories are ignored or overridden.

On board impact: Masters are forced to choose between going into bad weather or facing commercial backlash. Safety vs. schedule becomes a daily mental burden.

Captain’s Insight: “You may not control the weather, but you can control how your fixture respects it. Stop treating safety as negotiable.”

🤝 12. Minimal Collaboration Between Commercial and Technical Teams

What happens ashore: Chartering teams often work in silos — unaware of vessel limitations, engine parameters, or technical downtime forecasts.

On board impact: Masters receive unrealistic instructions. C/Es are asked to push machinery beyond safe tolerances. Everyone becomes reactive instead of coordinated.

Captain’s Insight: “Bridge and engine work as one. So should chartering and technical. Otherwise, the disconnect becomes expensive.”

🔚 Final Message from the Bridge:

“Every clause in your CP echoes on the bridge. Every delay, every risk, every missed port call — we live it. Fixing communication and planning at the source isn’t just good business. It’s good seamanship.”