The need for speed

I need to put something out there into 'cyberspace' for shipowners, freight traders, charterers and voyage cargo shipbrokers.

If you are presented with a piece of voyage business that needs to be evaluated / considered, quoted on etc, if you have not offered or replied to the customer within 2 hours you HAVE NOT done your job properly.

Consider this..

If you are a commodity based client - say a steel mill, and you need a freight rate asap and you contact a shipowner or freight trader etc - who will you give support to? A service provider that takes 3 days to reply or someone that can give you backing within 30 minutes?

Too many shipping people get caught up in the process rather than understanding the flow.

Shipping, commodity trading, freight trading is a TRADING environment, and if you snooze you lose. Some of your clients can win business on the basis that they can provide their customers with a quick freight solution. This is a fact!

I can hear a few of you already screaming that moving so quickly can be problematic and leave you open for mistakes. You will also point out that one needs to check port costs, restrictions etc etc...

Well I beg to differ. There is so much information ou there that being able to make quick decisions regarding freight prices should be easy.

If you cannot run a quick number ask yourself

1) Are you really prepared?
2) Can you actually run a quick and effective voyage calculation?
3) Have you kept previous calculations?
4) Do you have all the information at close quarters
4) Do you know how to submit a number and cover your butt with a suitable 'sub' clause
5) Do you know how to condition the client to give you feedback during the process that if the cargo does look like happening that you have time to sure up your numbers.
6) Do you fully appreciate that your clients business could very well hinge on the fact that they need "quick' service from clients..
7) Do you know how to factor in contingencies into you calc in order to protect you bottom line?
8) Do you have access to a colleague/mentor in order to check your numbers?
9) Do you have a good generic, market understanding of port costs / restrictions on various commodity trades and geographical regions?

If you answer yes to ALL the above then you my friend are a winner in whatever role you have in this crazy business we call international bulk shipping..

Have a nice day

Yours/VS