How CharterPulse models freight
CharterPulse is designed for fast pre-fixture planning. It combines an approximate voyage-distance model with vessel-class defaults, bunker assumptions, port time and port costs to produce a modeled scenario range. The result is a planning aid, not evidence of a vessel offer, fixture or current owner idea.
The implementation details below describe the calculator currently running on CharterPulse. They are published so users can judge the estimate rather than treating it as a black box.
Current calculation basis
| Component | Current implementation |
|---|---|
| Distance | Great-circle distance between the selected port coordinates, multiplied by 1.12 as a routing allowance. This is not navigable sea-routing data. |
| Sea days | Modeled distance ÷ selected vessel speed ÷ 24. |
| Bunker cost | Sea days × class fuel/day × bunker price, plus port days × 4 MT/day × bunker price. |
| Time-related vessel cost | (Sea days + port days + 2 days) × class daily-cost default. |
| Base cost / MT | (Bunker cost + time-related vessel cost + entered port costs) ÷ cargo quantity. |
| Cargo adjustment | Coal × 1.03; nickel/bauxite × 1.07; other cargoes × 1.00. |
| Urgency adjustment | Planning × 1.00; Firm × 1.04; Prompt × 1.07. |
| Lower scenario | Base cost/MT × vessel-class factor × cargo adjustment × urgency adjustment × 1.12 model factor. |
| Upper scenario | Lower scenario × 1.17. This is a modeled spread, not a statistically calibrated confidence interval. |
Current vessel-class defaults
| Class | Nominal DWT | Speed | Fuel/day | Daily cost | Class factor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Handysize | 35,000 | 11.5 kn | 20 MT | $11,500 | 1.09 |
| Supramax | 55,000 | 12.2 kn | 25 MT | $14,500 | 1.04 |
| Ultramax | 63,000 | 12.4 kn | 27 MT | $15,800 | 1.00 |
| Panamax | 76,000 | 12.5 kn | 30 MT | $17,800 | 0.96 |
| Kamsarmax | 82,000 | 12.5 kn | 31 MT | $18,800 | 0.94 |
| Capesize | 180,000 | 12.8 kn | 43 MT | $24,500 | 0.91 |
These are CharterPulse planning defaults, not live hire, bunker or vessel-performance observations. Users should replace editable assumptions where they have better information.
The model answers a planning question
That is different from “What will an owner quote right now?” The second question requires current vessel position, appetite, laycan fit and market negotiation.
Inputs that can materially change the outcome
| Input | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Origin and destination | Changes sea distance, voyage time and positioning context. |
| Cargo quantity | Affects the freight-per-ton denominator and feasible vessel classes. |
| Vessel class | Changes carrying capacity, operating economics and commercial suitability. |
| Port time | Extra days increase time-related voyage cost and can materially change unit freight. |
| Port costs | Terminal, agency and port-call assumptions flow directly into voyage cost. |
| Bunker price | Fuel-price assumptions change the sailing cost component. |
| Laytime / demurrage | Commercial exposure depends on agreed terms and actual operational performance. |
What the estimator does not claim
It does not claim a particular ship is open, that an owner will accept the modeled level, that a port will accept a nominated vessel, or that the model is a current market quote. Terminal restrictions, draft, gear, weather, exact load/discharge terms, vessel position and negotiation can change the commercial result.
Why the displayed range should be read as a scenario band
The upper value is currently generated as 17% above the lower value. It is therefore a modeled scenario band, not a confidence interval derived from historical fixtures. The calculator exposes assumptions so users can stress-test them instead of treating either edge as executable freight.
Capacity safeguard
The calculator now rejects a cargo quantity above the selected class’s nominal DWT and warns when cargo exceeds 90% of nominal DWT. This is only a first-pass check: actual cargo intake depends on bunkers, stores, draft, density, vessel particulars and port limits.
When to move from model to market
If the decision requires current owner ideas, vessel availability or broker follow-up, use the market-check actions after calculating. CharterPulse saves the requirement separately so the planning model remains distinct from live market work.