A person chartering a tonnage (ship) is called a charterer. A shipowner providing a vessel for sea transportation of goods is called a freighter. According to the drafted charter agreement, the freighter undertakes to transport the cargo from port A to port B and the charterer to pay a specified fee (freight) for this service.

In fact, a shipping contract is an agreement. Under this agreement, one party (shipping company, ship owner, carrier, charterer) undertakes to transport from one port to another, and the other party (charterer, cargo owner) to commit its financial obligations.

Chartering of a vessel is carried out by a qualified intermediary - a freight broker. Brokerage firms or individuals can act as intermediaries.

A freight broker is a highly qualified specialist who has extensive experience and certain knowledge. The broker must know everything about the conjuncture of the world freight market, be informed about the supply and demand for tonnage and various cargo flows.

 A shipowner with a free tonnage searches for a cargo on the market with the help of a freight broker, most often it is container shipping.