A matching engine can identify candidates quickly, but a broker still needs to understand why a result is strong or weak. The best workflow first removes impossible combinations, then ranks the remaining candidates by commercial fit and clearly labels missing information.
A practical matching sequence
- Trade and vessel type: determine whether the ship is suitable for the cargo form and intended trade.
- Geography: compare open port, loading port, ballast route and any repositioning constraints.
- Timing: compare open date and realistic arrival with the cargo laycan.
- Weight intake: review cargo quantity against deadweight cargo capacity, draft and voyage consumables.
- Cubic intake: compare cargo volume with grain or bale capacity where stowage factor matters.
- Technical limits: check dimensions, gear, holds, hatch openings, cranes, grabs, class and port restrictions.
- Economics: estimate ballast, voyage duration, bunker exposure, port costs and freight potential.
Deadweight, DWCC and cubic capacity
Deadweight tonnage is not automatically the quantity of cargo a vessel can load. The vessel must also carry bunkers, fresh water, stores, constants and other voyage requirements. Deadweight cargo capacity, when available and applicable to the expected draft, is a better direct intake indicator.
For measurement cargoes, weight alone is insufficient. Approximate cargo volume can be estimated as quantity multiplied by stowage factor. A cargo of 10,000 MT with a stowage factor of 55 ft3/MT needs about 550,000 ft3 before allowing for practical stowage loss, broken stowage and hold geometry.
Handling missing information
Missing cubic capacity should be marked as unverified. Where DWCC is absent, DWT can support an early screening comparison, but it is not a substitute for final intake confirmation. Similarly, a stated stowage factor near 1.0 may indicate a weight-dominated cargo or placeholder value; the original circular and cargo description should be checked before applying cubic logic.
Route and laycan flexibility
A nearby vessel is not always the best match. Ballast distance should be assessed on a sea route, including canal or strait restrictions where relevant. Timing should allow for weather, congestion, bunkering and prior employment. Close laycan gaps can remain visible with a lower score when commercial flexibility is plausible, but the result must state that an extension or improved schedule is required.
Before sending an offer
- Obtain the latest vessel position and estimated completion date.
- Confirm vessel particulars from an authoritative document.
- Check loadline, draft, air-draft and berth restrictions.
- Verify cargo quantity tolerance and stowage factor.
- Confirm excluded cargoes, previous cargo and cleanliness requirements.
- Recheck laycan in the same date format and year.
- Review sanctions, ownership, management and counterparty information.