Vessel Charter Services
Full and part charters for bulk, project and oversized cargo
Coasters, multipurpose, heavy lift, Ro-Ro and bulk ships, matched to your cargo, ports and dates.
- Voyage, time and part charter
- Ports and stevedores arranged
- Road legs included
What Is Vessel Chartering?
Vessel chartering means hiring a ship, or a share of one, for your cargo instead of booking space on a scheduled container or liner service. You agree the ports, dates and cargo with the shipowner in a contract called a charter party.
It is used for cargo that does not suit containers, such as bulk commodities, heavy machinery, steel, vehicles and project equipment, or for volumes big enough to fill a ship. It also opens up ports that scheduled services do not call at.
Ships range from small coasters on short-sea routes around Europe to multipurpose and heavy lift vessels with their own cranes, Ro-Ro ships and bulk carriers.
Request a Vessel Charter Quote
Get vessel options, routing and charter availability confirmed
Vessel charter at a glance
Watch out for: if loading or discharge takes longer than the agreed laytime, demurrage is charged for every extra day, and it can be expensive. Make sure the cargo, permits and port equipment are ready before the ship arrives.
Why Choose Qube Cargo for Vessel Chartering
We arrange charters through shipbrokers and owners, matching the vessel to your cargo, ports and timing.
The right ship for the cargo
Vessel size, cranes, hold dimensions and deck strength checked against your cargo list.
Charter terms explained
We go through the charter party with you, including laytime, demurrage and who pays for loading and discharge.
Ports and handling
Stevedores, cranes, lashing and port agents arranged at both ends.
Road legs included
Haulage to the loading port and from the discharge port, including abnormal loads.
Talk to a person
Call us on 07544 381501.
Vessel Chartering Services We Provide
We provide vessel charter solutions tailored to cargo type, volume, and routing requirements, supporting both standalone shipments and complex project movements worldwide.
- Full Vessel Charter
Used for large-volume or project cargo shipments where exclusive use of a vessel is required, allowing direct routing and full control over scheduling and delivery.
- Part Vessel Charter
Suitable for shipments that require dedicated space without committing to a full vessel, offering a more flexible approach while maintaining control over cargo handling.
- Heavy Lift & Project Cargo
For oversized or complex cargo that requires specialist vessels, lifting equipment, and detailed planning to ensure safe and efficient transport.
- Ro-Ro Vessel Charter
Efficient transport for wheeled cargo such as vehicles, plant, and machinery, allowing cargo to be driven on and off the vessel for streamlined handling.
- Bulk Cargo Charter
Used for large quantities of unpackaged goods, with bulk carrier vessels selected based on cargo type, volume, and destination.
When Vessel Chartering Is Required
Container shipping is usually the cheapest way to move general cargo by sea, so a charter makes sense when containers or scheduled services cannot do the job:
The cargo is too big or heavy for containers, flat racks or space on a scheduled breakbulk sailing.
The volume fills a ship, such as grain, aggregates, timber or steel, where a full charter is cheaper per tonne.
The port is not served by regular services, or has limited cranes and needs a ship with its own.
The timing is fixed, such as project deliveries tied to a construction schedule.
Everything must travel together, such as a complete plant, rather than spread over several sailings.
Smaller out-of-gauge loads are often better suited to breakbulk or heavy lift space on a scheduled sailing.
Charter terms explained
The main terms you will see in a charter quote or charter party.
Voyage charter
The ship carries your cargo between agreed ports for a rate per tonne or a lump sum. The owner pays the ship’s running costs and fuel.
Time charter
You hire the ship for a set period and decide where it goes, paying daily hire plus fuel and port costs. Used for repeated voyages.
Part charter
You book part of a ship’s capacity, alongside other cargo. Useful when a whole ship is more than you need.
Laytime
The time allowed for loading and discharge, set in the charter party as hours, days or a daily rate.
Demurrage and despatch
Demurrage is paid to the owner if laytime runs over. Some charters pay despatch back if the work finishes early.
Liner terms and FIO
Under liner terms, the freight includes loading and discharge. Under FIO (free in and out), the charterer pays for them separately.
Groupage
Next Day
Hazardous
Drop Shipping
Freight Insurance
Customs Clearance
Rail Freight
Container Haulage
eCommerce
UK, European & Global Coverage
We coordinate vessel charter movements across major global trade routes, supporting both port-to-port shipments and complex project cargo deliveries.
From established commercial ports in the UK and Europe to international hubs and remote destinations, each movement is planned to ensure reliable scheduling and controlled execution.
- UK and European commercial ports
- International shipping routes and trade lanes
- Major global cargo hubs and terminals
- Remote and project-specific destinations
Case Example – Bulk Agricultural Shipment
A client required the transport of 5,000 tonnes of grain to a Pacific island with limited port access.
A bulk carrier was arranged, with staged offloading coordinated via feeder vessels to accommodate port constraints.
The shipment was delivered on schedule, ensuring continuity of supply.
Vessel Charter FAQs
It depends on the ship size, route, time of year and the freight market, which changes week to week. Short-sea coasters are usually the cheapest, while heavy lift ships cost more because of their cranes. Fuel, port costs and loading may be included or charged separately, depending on the terms.
As early as you can. A few weeks’ notice gives the widest choice of ships, but a suitable vessel can sometimes be found at short notice if one is free near the loading port.
A cargo list with each piece’s dimensions and weight and whether it can be stacked, plus the loading and discharge ports, when the cargo is ready and when it is needed, and any lifting points. For bulk cargo, the commodity, total tonnage and stowage factor.
The contract between the shipowner and the charterer. It sets out the ship, ports, dates, freight rate, laytime, demurrage and who pays which costs. Standard forms such as GENCON are often used as the starting point.
Yes, if the ship has its own cranes. Heavy lift ships can lift several hundred tonnes with their own gear, which makes them useful for ports with limited equipment.
No. The shipowner’s insurance covers the ship and its liabilities, not the full value of your cargo, so cargo insurance should be arranged separately.