Logistics
Shipping, matched to the cargo
Bulk vessels for full cargoes, containers for smaller lots, reefers for frozen goods and flexitanks for edible oils. What each one carries, and how long the voyage takes.
01Dry bulk
Ship sizes for bulk cargoes
Handysize
Smaller and shallower ports, and part cargoes.
- Typical grain cargo
- 20,000–35,000 t
- Deadweight
- 15,000–40,000 t
- Length
- 130–180 m
- Draught
- 9–10.5 m
- Cranes
- Usually its own cranes
Supramax / Ultramax
The workhorse of the grain trade: it can discharge where there are no shore cranes.
- Typical grain cargo
- 45,000–55,000 t
- Deadweight
- 50,000–66,000 t
- Length
- 190–200 m
- Draught
- 12–13.5 m
- Cranes
- Own cranes and grabs
Panamax / Kamsarmax
Large cargoes into deep-water ports with shore unloaders.
- Typical grain cargo
- 55,000–70,000 t
- Deadweight
- 65,000–85,000 t
- Length
- 225–229 m
- Draught
- 13.5–14.5 m
- Cranes
- Usually none
Typical ranges; every vessel and port is different. The cargo size also depends on how much space the product takes per tonne and on the draught allowed at both ports. Ships drawn to scale by length.
02Containers
Containers, reefers and flexitanks
20′ dry container
Bagged cargo in 25 or 50 kg bags or 1 t big bags.
- Inside length
- 5.9 m
- Volume
- about 33 m³
- Typical load
- 24–26 t of bagged grain, pulses, rice or sugar
40′ high-cube reefer
Frozen halal meat and poultry in cartons, with a temperature record for the whole voyage.
- Inside length
- 11.6 m
- Volume
- about 67 m³
- Temperature
- held at −18 °C or colder for frozen meat
Flexitank in a 20′ container
Crude and refined edible oils.
- Capacity
- 16,000–24,000 litres
- Typical load
- about 20–22 t of edible oil
- Bladder
- food grade, used once
Typical figures. Payloads depend on the shipping line, the container and the road weight limits at both ends.
03Transit times
Typical sailing times
| From | To | Days at sea |
|---|---|---|
| Black Sea (Novorossiysk, Constanța) | Alexandria, Damietta | 3–5 |
| Black Sea | Jeddah, via Suez | 6–8 |
| Santos, Brazil | Alexandria, Damietta | 19–21 |
| US Gulf | Alexandria, Damietta | 20–23 |
| West coast of India (Kandla, Mundra) | Jebel Ali | 3–4 |
| Malaysia (Port Klang) | Jebel Ali | 10–12 |
| Thailand (Laem Chabang) | Jebel Ali | 13–15 |
Indicative, for planning only. Routing (for example around the Red Sea), weather and port congestion change voyage times; we confirm the expected arrival for every shipment.
04The voyage
From laycan to discharge
- 01
Nomination
The party that books the freight nominates the vessel, and the other party accepts it.
- 02
Laycan
The loading window: the vessel must arrive between the first lay day and the cancelling date.
- 03
Notice of readiness
At the loading port the master declares the vessel ready to load, and the agreed loading time starts.
- 04
Loading and survey
Holds are inspected, then the cargo is loaded, sampled and weighed; a draft survey confirms the quantity.
- 05
Bills of lading
The bills of lading are issued and go to the bank with the other documents.
- 06
Voyage
The vessel sails, and the buyer is kept informed of the expected arrival.
- 07
Discharge
Notice of readiness at the discharge port, then discharge within the agreed time; time beyond it is demurrage.
Enquiries
Buying or supplying? Tell us what you need.
Send the product, quantity, Incoterm and port. Our trading desk replies from an @soficolebaron.com address.