Vessel Chartering
Charter a Vessel in
Nigeria & West Africa
NPA Licensed Agent — Apapa, Lagos
Nigeria's Trusted Vessel Charter Broker
West Africa Vessel Charter connects charterers with the right vessel at the right rate — tankers, offshore support, bulk carriers — across the Gulf of Guinea and beyond. We respond within the hour and manage each fixture from enquiry to delivery.
The West African tanker market is evolving rapidly. The Dangote Refinery's ramp-up is reshaping regional product trade flows — shifting demand from long-haul product imports towards crude export and coastal distribution trades. Our chartering desk tracks these shifts in real time, ensuring clients fix on the right structure at the right point in the market.
All charters are concluded on BIMCO-standard charter party forms — providing internationally recognised documentation that protects both parties and meets oil major vetting requirements.
How We Work
We work with cargo owners, licensed traders, and operators acting for named principals. Vessel positions are shared only after principal status is confirmed and a signed LOI on company letterhead is received. Introducing brokers are welcome — please provide direct principal contact with your enquiry.
Vessels Chartered
Years Operating
Operational Support
Response Time
Vessel Charter Types
Time Charter
Secure a vessel for a defined period — weeks to years. You control the voyage; we handle the vessel. Ideal for operators with consistent cargo flows requiring predictable capacity.
- —Flexible contract durations
- —Predictable capacity costs
- —Owner manages crew & maintenance
Voyage Charter
Single-voyage fixtures from load port to discharge port. Best suited for spot cargo requirements, one-off shipments, or when avoiding long-term commitments.
- —Competitive spot rates
- —No long-term obligation
- —Quick mobilisation
COA / Contracts of Affreightment
Long-term volume agreements covering multiple voyages at agreed rates. Combines the price certainty of a time charter with voyage-by-voyage flexibility.
- —Volume-based pricing
- —Rate certainty over time
- —Scheduling flexibility
Available Vessel Classes
Request Specific Vessel →MR Tankers
25,000 – 55,000 DWT
Clean / dirty products, refined petroleum
Aframax Tankers
80,000 – 120,000 DWT
Crude oil, fuel oil — West African crude routes
Suezmax Tankers
120,000 – 200,000 DWT
Crude exports from Bonny, Escravos, Forcados
VLCC
200,000 – 320,000 DWT
Ultra-large crude carriers for export trades
Platform Supply Vessels
Various sizes
Offshore supply — Bonga, Agbami, Egina
AHTS Vessels
Various sizes
Anchor handling, towing, offshore support
Common Questions
Vessel Charter FAQ
Can't find your answer? Call our Lagos desk or submit a charter enquiry.
How do I request a vessel charter?
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Submit your cargo details, ports, laycan, and quantity via our charter request form or WhatsApp. We first confirm your role as principal, licensed trader, or authorised operator. Once principal status is established and a signed LOI on your company letterhead is received, we canvass suitable tonnage and respond with vessel options and indicative rates — typically within the hour.
I'm a broker representing a cargo owner — can I submit an enquiry?
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Yes, we welcome introducing brokers. To proceed, we require a direct introduction to the named principal and a signed LOI on the principal's company letterhead confirming their cargo ownership and authority to fix. This protects you as the introducing broker and ensures owners are approached with verified cargo interest only. Once we have direct principal contact, the enquiry is handled with the same urgency as any other.
What financial proof do you require before fixing a vessel?
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We do not require a bank comfort letter at the initial enquiry stage. What we do require is principal confirmation and a signed LOI before presenting vessel options. Payment security — LC at sight, pre-payment, or escrow — is agreed as part of the fixture commercial terms before the charter party is signed. First-time counterparties are assessed more carefully; charterers with a verifiable fixture history are handled on that basis.
Why do you require an LOI before sharing vessel positions?
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Vessel owners allow us to approach them on the basis that the cargo is real and the principal is verified. Presenting unconfirmed cargo interest to owners — particularly from a chain of intermediaries — damages our relationship with them and wastes time for everyone involved. The LOI step protects owners, protects you as charterer, and means that when we present your requirement to a vessel, it will be taken seriously.
Do you operate in ports beyond Lagos?
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Yes — we cover all major Nigerian terminals (Apapa, Port Harcourt, Warri, Bonny, Escravos, Forcados) and ports across the Gulf of Guinea including Cotonou, Lomé, Tema, and Dakar.
Can you arrange ship-to-ship transfers?
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Yes. We facilitate STS operations at designated anchorage areas off the Nigerian coast, coordinating between vessel owners, cargo interests, and port authorities.
What documentation is required to complete a fixture?
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The first document required is a signed LOI on company letterhead from the principal, confirming cargo details, ports, laycan, and authority to fix. Once vessel options are agreed, the full fixture documentation includes: cargo specification, charter party (on BIMCO-standard form), NIMASA pre-arrival notifications, NPA port clearance, and payment instrument (LC, wire transfer, or escrow confirmation). Our team coordinates all compliance steps.
Ready to Charter
Submit Your Charter Enquiry
We respond within the hour — covering Nigeria and all major West African ports.