About Bulkargo
Who we are
Bulkargo is an independent ship brokerage. We sit between cargo owners and vessel owners, negotiate the charter that moves the cargo, and stay with the fixture from inquiry through post-fixture demurrage settlement. We do not own vessels. Our commercial interests sit on the same side of the table as the cargo owner.
Founded in 2022, led by a trading team with more than 30 years in dry-bulk commodities. Bulkargo LLC is registered in Saint Kitts & Nevis, with offices in Panama City and Bogotá. Since 2022 the desk has fixed cement, quicklime, bitumen, project cargo, machinery, and mining ores and earths.
What we do
We charter across the major cargo categories of the bulk and tanker markets:
- Dry cargo: coal, iron ore, grain, cement, fertilizer, bauxite, steel, scrap, and the rest of the dry bulk basket. Capesize down to mini-bulker.
- Tankers: crude, clean and dirty petroleum products, vegetable oils. VLCC, Suezmax, Aframax, LR1/LR2, MR, and coated Handysize tonnage.
- Project cargo and break bulk: heavy-lift, oversized, and general cargo on multi-purpose, heavy-lift, and tweendecker vessels.
- Specialised products: chemicals, parcel cargoes, base oils, biofuels, and coated/stainless steel tank cargoes.
We negotiate across all standard charter modalities: voyage charter, time charter, contract of affreightment (COA), spot, consecutive voyages, and bareboat. Modality choice is part of the work we do at the inquiry stage.
We also accept formal retainer and project-based advisory engagements: market analysis and rate forecasting, charter strategy work, fleet and route optimisation, market-entry guidance, and charter party or demurrage reviews. These run on scoped retainer terms separate from execution work.
Our team
Manuel Alvarez — Head of Trading & Chartering
Civil engineer (Universidad EIA) with over 8 years sourcing and trading bitumen, oil products, and construction materials for infrastructure projects, with cargoes across the Caribbean, Middle East, and Southeast Asia.
Luis Carlos Alvarez — Head of Commodities
More than 30 years trading dry-bulk commodities, including wheat, fishmeal, salt, urea, and livestock feeds, with extensive experience in heavy machinery and RoRo shipments.
Luis Felipe Alvarez — Head of Technology
Leads Bulkargo’s technology and digital operations. Background in IT and digital operations management, M&A transactions, and SEO and content strategy across Latin America.
How we work
Bulkargo is a current-generation brokerage. We use the standard industry tools (sale-and-purchase platforms, fixture databases, AIS tracking) and we expect our clients to want digital communication, fast turnaround, and clear reporting. The desk typically responds within one business day.
Our standard process runs from initial inquiry through six steps to fixture and post-fixture support. For the detailed walkthrough see How It Works.
What we are not
We do not own vessels. We are not the in-house brokerage of a fleet. We do not broker container freight or scheduled RoRo. We do not handle sale-and-purchase brokerage as a primary service.
Our service is ship chartering, voyage by voyage or under programme contracts, for cargo owners. That is the focus, and that is what the firm is built around.
Values
Client alignment. We are an independent broker. The vessel we recommend is the one that fits your cargo, not the one we need to keep employed.
Technical work upfront. Cargo assessment, vessel matching, and contract review are done properly on every fixture. Headline rate is one input, not the only one.
Stay with the fixture. Post-fixture demurrage settlement, owner correspondence, and dispute support are part of the standard service, not extras.
Plain communication. We tell you what we see in the market: including when the answer is “wait” or “this is a poor structure for your cargo.” We do not push fixtures.
Get in touch
For a charter inquiry or quote, use the quote form: tell us cargo, volume, ports, and timeline. The desk typically responds within one business day.
For a retainer advisory engagement or a general inquiry, the same form works; flag the inquiry type in the message field.