Top 10 ShipBroking and Chartering Books
Note: This list on top 10 shipbroking and chartering books is in no particular order.
Shipbroking and chartering are an integral aspect of the shipping business. Shipbrokers serve as the middlemen or agents that enable companies to hire and lease ships from their owners.
In maritime terms, the hiring and leasing process is known as ship chartering. The two sides that make up the charter agreement are known as charter parties. Since most ship owners do not ply their own vessels, chartering forms an important part of the maritime sector.
Chartering can be of multiple types, but the most common include voyage chartering, and time chartering.
Voyage charters entail leasing a vessel for the length of a pre-set voyage. An estimate of the time taken to complete the journey is calculated, and a rough cost estimate is proposed. In the event of a delay in returning the ship back to its owners, a penalty is imposed. Two important terms that makeup voyage chartering are laytime and demurrage. Laytime refers to the time span provided to the charterer to complete the loading or unloading processes. In case they exceed this time frame, they are required by maritime law to pay a fine known as demurrage.
Time charters involve leasing a vessel for a fixed duration of time from the shipowners. The charterer is free to sail the vessel to any port and to transport any cargo they deem fit, subject to certain regulations laid out in the charter agreement. Most time charters involve a daily rate of payment, and the cost of fuel and crew is borne by the charterer. In all cases of law, the charterer is responsible for any damage that the vessel may cause whilst it is in their possession. In other words, once they charter a vessel, they are wholly responsible for it.
Charter agreements can be tricky documents to create. And this is where shipbrokers come into play. Shipbrokers help in preparing contracts, layout the various terms, and make the process considerably easier for the charter parties. This field can be quite exciting, albeit challenging. If not up to date on the latest developments in the field, it can have disastrous consequences.
It is therefore important to be aware of the latest changes in maritime law, types of acceptable cargo, rules of the charter agreement, maritime finances, and common chartering practices.
Whether you are a seasoned veteran of the maritime industry, or a novice looking to create a name, knowledge in the field of ship brokerage and chartering is extremely important.
Staying abreast of current developments can be challenging considering the vast number of resources available. To make this easier for you, we have compiled a list of the top 10 books that we recommend ( in no particular order) for this domain. Using relevant case studies, real-world applications, and easy to read the language, these guides are a must-have for all maritime professionals.
Now let’s take a look at each one of them in detail.
1. Shipbroking and Chartering Practice (Lloyd’s Practical Shipping Guide)
By Evi Plomaritou and Anthony Papadopoulos
This comprehensive 700-page book issued in conjunction with Lloyd’s Practical Guide is a must-read in this domain. This book uses hands-on explanations to acquaint the reader with the commercial field of chartering. It also covers the legal and financial sides of brokering.
By delving into the operations and management of a chartering business, it provides key insights into how the industry functions. In specific, it also covers the legal agreements between charter parties. The latest edition uses a combination of case studies, practical examples, and current market trends to educate the reader on the relevant concepts.
- Amazon Kindle Edition
- Plomaritou, Evi (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 770 Pages - 12/12/2017 (Publication Date) - Informa Law from Routledge (Publisher)
2. Chartering Manual by Practitioners: Ship Chartering written by Practitioners
By Thomas Pagonis and Captain Nick Pentheroudakis
Written in an easy to read manner, this book provides an overview of the chartering business in the shipping industry. With practical case studies discussed by seasoned professionals, it provides a complete understanding of different aspects of the shipping business.
The plus point of this book is the vast number of topics it covers. In addition to chartering, the concepts of marine banking, bills of lading, marine finance etc. are gone into in-depth. Fields such as insurance and third-party management have also been discussed. Combined with the experience of the authors, the content serves as a solid foundation for any individual with an interest in the field of marine chartering.
- Pagonis, Mr Thomas (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 392 Pages - 02/01/2019 (Publication Date) - National Centre of ISBN Greece (Publisher)
3. The Shipbroker’s Working Knowledge: Dry Cargo Chartering in Practice
By George Tsoudis
With extensive experience in the domain of dry cargo, George Tsoudis delves into the field of chartering in this comprehensive book. It covers the basics of the dry cargo sector in addition to the various types of charters. From time to voyage charters, each topic is discussed extensively with the aim of introducing beginners to commercial chartering.
Additionally, an entire chapter is devoted to the Charter Party clauses for Time Charters. This book is a must-read for all professionals looking to work or who are currently working in the shipping industry.
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4. Business Model Innovation for Shipbrokers in the Dry Bulk Industry
By Hilmi Armoush
This short booklet serves as a guide to developing a successful business model for shipbroking. In specific, it deals with the shipment of dry goods in a bulk cargo industry. The book analyses the strategic role of supply chain networks, logistics, and communications that budding shipbrokers must master.
The various financial aspects of brokerage along with the technological advancements in this field have also been discussed in considerable detail. In addition, the book also goes into covering the various elements of a business model. It also discusses the qualities that make any shipbroking organization profitable.
- Armoush, Hilmi (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 60 Pages - 07/24/2014 (Publication Date) - LAP LAMBERT Academic Publishing (Publisher)
5. Voyage Charters (Lloyd’s Shipping Law Library)
By Julian Cooke, Tim Young, Michael Ashcroft, Andrew Taylor, John Kimball, David Martowski, LeRoy Lambert, and Michael Sturley
With nearly 1,500 pages of detailed information, this book serves as a complete guide to voyage charters. Using a clause by clause analysis, charters and various treaties have been analysed in-depth. Interestingly, this book is currently the only text available that presents a maritime charter from the purview of Admiralty Law.
With eight highly qualified authors, a series of arbitrations and case laws have put been put forth in an easy to understand manner. For novices, this book provides a complete analysis of the domain of voyage charters, while it serves as an excellent refresher for professionals. It is often considered to be the final word on matters of arbitration related to voyage chartering.
- Hardcover Book
- Cooke, Julian (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 1329 Pages - 08/29/2014 (Publication Date) - Informa Law from Routledge (Publisher)
6. Time Charters (Lloyd’s Shipping Law Library)
By Julian Kenny, Andrew Baker, John Kimball, and Thomas H. Belknap Jr
This book is the second of the Lloyd’s Law Library series that makes it to the top 10 in our list. It builds a strong foundation on the legal aspect of time charters using the extensive experience of its many authors.
As a comprehensive guide book, the latest edition is a valuable addition to the library of ship charterers, ship owners, and maritime lawyers. To cover legal aspects from both sides of the Atlantic, it draws on numerous case studies.
It analyses various arbitrations involving time charters and uses a hands-on approach to reaching a final conclusion. It is often considered as the main reference for matters pertaining to the domain of time charters.
- Hardcover Book
- Baker, Andrew (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 1034 Pages - 09/30/2014 (Publication Date) - Informa Law from Routledge (Publisher)
7. Laytime and Demurrage (Lloyd’s Shipping Law Library)
By John Schofield
Now in its seventh edition, Lloyd’s guide to laytime and demurrage is a must-read for all aspiring maritime lawyers and charterers. With an easy to understand the style of writing, author John Schofield has compiled a comprehensive text that covers this field.
Right from the historic origins of these terms, to present-day cases of arbitration, there is an in-depth analysis of how these terms define maritime law.
It is also considered to be the go-to book on the legal aspect of demurrage and is said to be extremely reliable. In addition to lawyers, it will also provide a strong base for both maritime professionals and students.
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8. Principles of Chartering
By Photis M. Panayides
This 400-page book by PhD scholar M. Panayides is an excellent guide to the world of ship chartering. It gradually builds up the technical know-how of this domain, beginning with a basic introduction to the maritime shipping industry.
The various concepts covered in this book include charter parties, bills of lading, shipbroking, voyage charters, time charters etc. With actual scenarios and extensive case studies, the reader is quickly immersed in the intricacies of chartering.
Now in the third edition, this book also covers the various legal aspects of charters, with over 70 cases that have had an impact on modern chartering practices.
- Panayides, PhD, Photis M. (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 388 Pages - 04/12/2018 (Publication Date) - CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (Publisher)
9. Commercial Shipping Handbook
By Peter Brodie
This guide is an essential tool for anyone who wishes to grasp and comprehend the complex world of commercial shipping. With explanations that cover the A to Z of shipping, this text lays out the framework behind the maritime industry.
The important topics that this guide deals with include shipping finances, important terminology, principal documents, legal clauses, and a comprehensive beginner’s guide to shipping.
A plus point of this book is that it presents all details with an international context, which allows readers from all over the world to instantly connect. The simple language in which the information is provided makes it an integral part of any maritime professional’s reference library.
- Hardcover Book
- Brodie, Peter (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 332 Pages - 09/10/2015 (Publication Date) - Informa Law from Routledge (Publisher)
10. Shipbroking and Chartering Practice (Lloyd’s Practical Shipping Guides)
By Lars Gorton, Patrick Hillenius, Rolf Ihre, and Arne Sandevärn
Published under the Lloyd’s Practical Guide, this book offers a complete guide to the domain of brokerage and chartering. It is often considered to be a standard reference tool for professionals with an interest in the commercial shipping industry.
With an ensemble group of authors that bring several decades of experience to the table, this book provides a concise guide to the various practices followed in the domains of chartering and shipbroking.
Using a case study approach to analysing legal scenarios, it allows readers to develop a clear understanding of charters work.
- Used Book in Good Condition
- Hardcover Book
- Hillenius, Patrick (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 432 Pages - 05/01/2009 (Publication Date) - Informa Law from Routledge (Publisher)
Additional Mentions:
Essential Guide to Becoming A Shipbroker
By Callum Beaumont
The last book on our list is rather unique from the other texts provided. Although it does provide the reader with a concrete idea of how the ship brokering industry functions, it primarily serves as a guide to budding maritime professionals who are looking to learn the ropes of this industry.
Focused on the interview and selection procedures that most novices can expect, this guide prepares the reader for the exciting challenges up ahead. It also briefs them about what they can expect in the future while being a part of a brokerage organization.
Despite being less than 50 pages, it serves a very useful function, making its way to our list of the top 11 books to read on Ship Brokering and Chartering.
- Hardcover Book
- Brodie, Peter (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 332 Pages - 09/10/2015 (Publication Date) - Informa Law from Routledge (Publisher)
Over to you..
Do you know any other important book on shipbroking and chartering that can be added to this list?
Let’s know in the comments below
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About Author
Ajay Menon is a graduate of the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, with an integrated major in Ocean Engineering and Naval Architecture. Besides writing, he balances chess and works out tunes on his keyboard during his free time.
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