LaycanDeskSupramax & Ultramax Chartering
50–65,000 dwt geared bulkers for coal, grain, fertilizer and minerals. Geared Supramax and Ultramax tonnage fixed on voyage and trip time charter for coal, grains, fertilizer, cement clinker, ores and steels, on the Indonesia–India, Gulf–India, Black Sea and East Africa lanes.
Supramax bulkers sit between roughly 50,000 and 60,000 dwt, Ultramaxes from about 60,000 to 65,000 dwt, and both carry their own cranes, usually four of 30 to 36 tonnes, often with grabs. That gear is the whole point: they load and discharge at anchorages and at ports with no shore equipment, which is why they dominate the Indonesian coal trade into India, the Gulf fertilizer and sulphur trades, and most of the ore, clinker and grain parcels that a Panamax cannot reach. Five holds, hatches sized for grabs, and a draft that fits most secondary ports keep them the most flexible ship in the dry bulk fleet.
We work Supramax and Ultramax business two ways. Charterers send us a stem with load and discharge rates, laytime terms and a commission basis, and we come back with named ships, positions and a freight or hire idea rather than a general level. Owners and operators send us positions, and we put them against the stems on the board and tell them only when something fits. Every counterparty is screened before an offer goes out, and a ship is put against a cargo only once her IMO number has cleared our checks.
Cargoes
- Coal and petcoke
- Grains and oilseeds
- Fertilizer and sulphur
- Cement clinker
- Iron ore and minerals
- Steels and scrap
Lanes we work
- Indonesia / Sumatra anchorages to India
- Arabian Gulf to India and East Africa
- Black Sea to the Med and East Africa
- South Africa to China
Questions charterers and owners ask
What is the difference between a Supramax and an Ultramax?
Size, mainly. Supramaxes run from about 50,000 to 60,000 dwt and Ultramaxes from about 60,000 to 65,000 dwt; both are geared with four cranes and both trade the same routes. An Ultramax carries a few thousand tonnes more on the same draft and usually burns a little less fuel per tonne, which is why charterers often ask for either.
What do owners need before they will quote a Supramax stem?
Cargo and stowage factor, load and discharge ports with their draft and restrictions, load and discharge rates with the laytime terms, laycan, commission basis and the charterer's name. A stem without rates or a charterer cannot be priced, so we ask for those before it goes to owners.
Can you fix anchorage loadings, for example Indonesian coal?
Yes. Anchorage loading off Sumatra and Kalimantan by barge or floating crane is the normal Supramax coal trade into India. Owners price it on the loading rate and the number of barges or cranes the shipper provides, so those two figures need to be in the enquiry.
Do you take Supramax positions from owners?
Yes. Send name, IMO number, dwt, gear, open port and dates to desk-a005f1@in.laycandesk.com. Positions go on the board and you hear from us only when a cargo fits.