When time is invested poorly, it is missing where it matters most. The delayed update on port congestion in Santos, for example can be decisive in determining whether it still makes economic sense to position a Panamax from the Plate region empty towards Brazil. Such delays rarely stem from a lack of expertise. More often, they are caused by inefficient information flows.

Below are five recurring time drains in day-to-day chartering, and where time is typically lost, which have a direct impact on commercial decisions.

Time Drain 1:  
Fragmented information sources

In chartering, relevant information rarely resides in a single place. Instead, it is scattered across multiple channels and formats: the Baltic Exchange, port agents, terminal updates, WhatsApp messages, and traders’ emails. The way information is stored and shared creates daily challenges:

The result is often delayed decision-making. When updating line-ups or cargo lists, a narrow laycan window means that 5 to 15 minutes can make or break a fixture's commercial viability. Time lost to information gathering is therefore not a luxury issue, but a clear operational disadvantage.

Time Drain 2:  
Manual tracking

Many chartering teams still maintain market reports, port updates, freight commitments, and operational KPIs primarilly by hand. While this is common practice, it becomes a risk in fast-moving markets. Manual tracking leads to:

The consequence: the time spent on manual tracking becomes a hidden cost. Day-to-day experience in chartering suggests that inefficient information handling in chartering can cost roughly 1.5 to 3 hours per person per day. Cross-industry studies, including those by McKinsey, indicate that 20-30% of operational time is spent searching for information. These are precious resources that would be better invested in market analysis, risk assessment, or client engagement.

Time Drain 3:
More channels, less oversight

The growing number of communication channels is another source of inefficiency. Many teams use a mix of Slack, WhatsApp, WeChat, email, and other platforms. What appears efficient at first often reduces clarity in practice:

As a result, brokers spend additional time aligning information. A typical scenario: an owner sends updated charter party clauses via WhatsApp, while the charterer sends a counteroffer by email. Without synchronisation, the broker can lose track of which version is the current one.

Time Drain 4:
Overload through irrelevance

Chartering today faces the opposite of data scarcity: information overload. The issue is not volume itself, but the amount of irrelevant data presented without sufficient context.

Chartering is a context market: Only information that relates directly to the current position, vessel size, and market situation is relevant. Many brokers receive numerous market reports, newsletters, and updates daily. Much of which is irrelevant to a specific position or vessel size. Relevance filters are often missing, making it increasingly complex to separate what matters from what does not. This leads to:

Time Drain 5:
Outdated information costs time (and money)

Daily chartering decisions are built from multiple inputs: market movements, port conditions, weather data, and recent fixtures. When key information is outdated, for example, congestion reports, weather windows, or daily fixing levels, miscalculations can quickly lead to significant losses.

Without sufficient up-to-date information, brokers are forced to check additional sources, contact colleagues,and re-validate information. Valuable minutes are lost, decision-making slows down, and fixtures may be concluded too late or at sub-optimal levels.

Having access to current and reliable data is therefore indispensable for sound decision-making:

Essence by seabo:
Reducing time drains — create space for what matters

Time drains have a direct impact on operational efficiency in chartering, as well as on speed, accuracy, and ultimately commercial outcomes. Teams that systematically structure information flows, communication channels, and data quality reduce delays, increase their fix rate, and gain greater control in fast-moving market situations.

The guiding principle for modern chartering is clear: curated, contextualised information rather than unfiltered data volumes. Only those who can quickly identify what matters for a specific decision are better positioned to act decisively and spend their time where it adds the most value: understanding the market, managing risk, and maintaining commercial relationships.

Digital work tools can support this approach when they fit existing chartering workflows rather than forcing new ones. The practical question for chartering desks is straightforward: Does the tool fit how the desk actually works? If not, it risks becoming another time drain itself.

seabo is designed to support established chartering processes by consolidating relevant information in one place. This helps reduce search time, prioritise decision-relevant content, and maintain a clearer, shared overview across the desk. In practical terms, it provides a more reliable basis for reaching a clear decision faster.