Cargo planning
Aggregates: simple cargo name, highly route-dependent economics
Aggregates, sand, stone and limestone are often dense cargoes. On short regional voyages, the biggest commercial differences may come from parcel size, draft, loading/discharge productivity and waiting rather than the sea leg itself.
What matters most
| Input | Planning effect |
|---|---|
| Parcel size | Sets the first vessel-class and utilisation comparison. |
| Draft / berth limits | Can make a smaller class more practical despite higher modeled unit cost. |
| Loading and discharge rate | Can dominate total voyage time on short trades. |
| Gear / shore equipment | Changes whether geared tonnage has an operational advantage. |
Planning rule: use delay sensitivity aggressively on short-haul aggregate trades; one or two extra port days can matter more than small changes in sea distance.