Position Overview:

The Head of Chartering is responsible for the strategic management of acquiring, chartering, and disposing of maritime vessels to optimize the company’s trade routes and support expansion plans. This leadership role involves comprehensive oversight of chartering arrangements, vessel purchase negotiations, and sales transactions. The position demands strict adherence to budget constraints on daily vessel hires, verification of vessel conditions pre-acquisition or disposal, and compliance with maritime regulations, including SOLAS, MARPOL, and classification standards.

• Conduct in-depth analyses of vessel listings using shipbroker intelligence and secondhand sales platforms, while monitoring competitor activities to identify acquisition opportunities, with a focus on older tonnage.
• Evaluate vessels’ mechanical condition, age, trading history, and classification status, identifying potential hull or engine defects.
• Negotiate charter terms using standard forms (e.g., NYPE, Baltime), establishing rates, speed warranties, bunker clauses, and off-hire triggers, and adjust terms based on historical performance and mechanical incidents.
• Prepare shortlists of suitable vessels for new or existing trade routes, considering draft compliance, cargo capacity, and reefer plug counts, and referencing external shipping indices for indicative rates.
• Oversee the final negotiation of charter agreements, ensuring all cost components (bunkers, port dues, hull cleaning) are included in proforma budgets.
• Lead and manage the entire sale and purchase process, utilizing recognized agreements or sales forms (e.g., Norwegian Saleform).
• Supervise internal and external due diligence surveys to identify structural or mechanical liabilities and recommend refurbishments or shipyard visits for older vessels.
• Plan vessel disposal schedules when continued ownership is not justified by cost or route expansions, using real-time market data to estimate sale pricing.
• Analyze salvage or scrap potential for vessels nearing the end of their operational life.
• Monitor redelivery timelines for time-chartered vessels, issuing formal notices for early off-hire due to performance issues.

• Ensure compliance with maritime environmental standards such as MARPOL for emissions and SOLAS for structural integrity, when assessing hull or retrofit needs, and evaluate risks associated with restricted flagged states for certain trade routes.
• Stay informed about updates in ship recycling rules and environmental compliance to anticipate disposal timelines.
• Maintain readiness for re-charter or off-hire disputes by documenting evidence of underperformance or mechanical downtime.

• Strategic thinking with strong negotiation skills and a deep understanding of the maritime industry.
• Exceptional analytical abilities to assess vessel conditions and market trends.
• Leadership skills to manage cross-functional teams and complex projects.
• Excellent communication skills for effective negotiation and relationship building.
• Bachelors or master’s degree in Shipping business, supply chain management, or a related field.
• At least 10 years of experience in procurement or a shipping related field, with a track record of driving process improvements and cost savings.