About this calculator
In the dry bulk and tanker charter markets, a freight offer per tonne only makes sense once it is converted into TCE (time charter equivalent): the net earnings per day equivalent to letting the ship on time charter. TCE lets you compare voyage charters with different routes, ports and fuel against a daily time-charter offer.
This calculator builds a simple voyage estimate like a chartering desk would. Revenue = cargo × freight rate (or a lumpsum), less address and brokerage commission. Voyage days come from the ballast distance (empty, towards the load port) and the laden distance divided by their speeds, plus a weather margin and the port days for loading, discharging and waiting. Fuel at sea is counted for ballast and laden conditions separately, and port consumption is counted on its own with its own price. Voyage costs = bunkers + port costs + canal dues + other costs.
TCE = (net freight − voyage costs) ÷ total voyage days. If you are a charterer who has chartered the ship in, enter the daily hire to see the voyage profit or loss. Ship operating costs such as crew, maintenance and hull insurance (OPEX) are not part of TCE because the owner carries them under a time charter. The result is an estimate; laytime, demurrage, despatch and the actual port costs can change the outcome significantly.
Worked example
50,000 t × USD 20/t = USD 1,000,000, commission 3.75% → net freight USD 962,500:
- Ballast 1,248 nm ÷ 13 knots = 96 hours = 4 days; laden 2,880 ÷ 12 knots = 10 days; port 6 days → 20 days
- Sea bunkers: 4 × 22 t + 10 × 25 t = 338 t × USD 600 = USD 202,800; port 18 t × USD 800 = USD 14,400 → USD 217,200
- Voyage costs: 217,200 + port 120,000 + other 5,300 = USD 342,500
- Net result USD 620,000 → TCE USD 31,000 per day
If the ship is chartered in at USD 25,000/day × 20 days = USD 500,000, the charterer's voyage result is USD 120,000.
How to use it
Enter revenue
Enter the cargo quantity and freight rate per tonne or a lumpsum, plus total commission in percent.
Enter route and speed
Enter ballast and laden distances, speed and consumption for each condition, port days and the weather margin.
Enter costs
Enter sea and port fuel prices, port, canal and other costs, and the daily hire when the ship is chartered in.
Read the TCE
Compare the TCE per day with time-charter offers or with the daily hire to see the voyage result.