Ship chartering is the hiring out the use of a ship by a vessel owner to another company, the charterer, for the transportation of goods. There are many different types of charter contracts, various cost components, and of course many different players involved. The two main players in ship chartering are the ship owner and the charterer.

Chartering plays a crucial role in the shipping industry as it helps in the efficient transportation of cargo. It allows cargo owners to transport goods to different parts of the world without having to invest in a ship themselves.. Moreover, chartering provides flexibility to both cargo owners and shipowners as they can choose the type of charter that suits their needs.