Bulkargo arranges Caribbean bulk shipping for cargo owners across the Caribbean, Central America and northern South America. We charter bulk carriers for cargo by the shipload. We do not ship barrels or boxes.
We work best on repeat volume: a monthly programme, repeat lots, or several ships a month. We also quote single cargoes.
A ship broker for the Caribbean
Bulkargo is an independent ship broker for the Caribbean and Latin America. Bulkargo charters bulk carriers from offices in Panama City, Panama, and Bogotá, Colombia.
We started in 2022. Our trading team has more than 30 years in dry-bulk commodities.
Our desk has fixed:
- Cement and quicklime
- Bitumen
- Mining ores and earths
- Project cargo and machinery
We do not own ships. We pick the ship that fits your cargo and your ports. You can send us one shipment or a regular programme.
Five sailings to Linden, Guyana
Bulkargo gathered road-building materials from three places in Colombia for Linden, Guyana. We designed the lifting gear.
We chartered a ship that could pass the old Demerara bridge and cope with the river’s tidal draught.
The trip ran five times and delivered about 17,000 tonnes. Read the Linden case study.
Several ships a month
Bulkargo arranges several ships a month on one Caribbean route. Two options cover repeat shipments.
| Option | How it works | Fits when |
|---|---|---|
| Contract of affreightment (COA) | An agreed tonnage moves over a set period at an agreed rate per tonne. | You ship a steady volume, such as 6,000 tonnes a month. |
| Consecutive voyages | The same ship runs the same route again and again. | You ship repeat lots on one route, such as 20,000 tonnes at a time. |
Both mean you do not search for a new ship for every load. We check the route, the ports and your schedule, then line up ships for the whole programme.
Small ships for shallow ports
Bulkargo finds small geared bulk carriers for shallow ports in the Eastern Caribbean and across the region. A geared ship has its own cranes, so it can work a berth with no shore cranes.
Many island berths have draught limits around 9 to 11 metres. Some have short quays or no shore cranes.
A mini-bulker is the smallest bulk carrier. It suits the shallowest ports. A ship that fits the port and comes back on schedule is the hard part.
We check these at both ends before we show you a ship:
- Draught
- Quay length
- Air draught, or bridge height
- Crane needs
Caribbean markets we charter into
Bulkargo charters ships across the Caribbean, Central America and northern South America. Our desk has fixed cement, quicklime, bitumen, ores and project cargo. We quote the other cargoes on this page on the same basis.
Clinker is the half-made form of cement. A grinding plant at the receiving end turns it into cement.
| Market | Cargoes that move | Typical ships |
|---|---|---|
| Colombia, Venezuela | Exports: construction materials (Colombia), pet coke (Venezuela) | Geared Handysize; Supramax or Panamax for larger pet coke lots |
| DR and Haiti | Imports: cement, clinker, aggregates, grain, fertilizer | Geared Handysize and smaller |
| Puerto Rico | Imports: cement, clinker, aggregates, grain, fertilizer | Geared Handysize and smaller |
| Jamaica | Imports: fertilizer, grain. Exports: bauxite, alumina | Geared Handysize and Supramax |
| Trinidad and Tobago | Imports: cement, clinker | Geared Handysize and smaller |
| Guyana and Suriname | Imports: bitumen, construction materials | Small geared ships that fit river ports |
| The Antilles islands | Imports: cement, aggregates, grain, fertilizer | Mini-bulkers and geared Handysize |
| Central America | Exports: sugar. Imports: fertilizer, grain | Geared Handysize |
Colombia and Venezuela
Bulkargo charters ships out of Colombia and Venezuela. Colombia loads construction materials, and Venezuela ships pet coke. Our Linden job started at three Colombian loading points.
Dominican Republic and Haiti
Bulkargo arranges ships for cement, clinker, aggregates, fertilizer and grain into the Dominican Republic and Haiti. We check port limits and crane needs at both ends.
Puerto Rico
Bulkargo arranges ships for cement, clinker, aggregates, fertilizer and grain into Puerto Rico. Berth limits decide the ship, so we check them first.
Jamaica
Bulkargo arranges ships for fertilizer and grain imports to Jamaica. We match the ship to your cargo, your dates and the Jamaican berth.
Trinidad and Tobago
Bulkargo arranges ships for cement and clinker imports to Trinidad and Tobago. Cement is one of the cargoes our desk has fixed.
Guyana and Suriname
Bulkargo arranges ships for bitumen and construction materials into Guyana and Suriname. River depth and bridges decide the ship, as they did on our Linden job.
The Antilles islands
Bulkargo is a bulk shipping broker for the Antilles islands: the Leeward and Windward Islands and Barbados. One voyage can call at several small ports on a mini-bulker or a geared Handysize.
Central America
Bulkargo arranges ships for bulk sugar out of Central America. We arrange a single voyage or regular capacity.
How to get a quote
Send us:
- Cargo and tonnage per shipment
- Number of shipments
- Load and discharge ports
- Dates
- Any draught, quay-length or bridge-height limit at either berth
How the Caribbean trade works
The Caribbean is a web of short regional trades. Most legs from the US Gulf run about 1,500 to 3,000 nautical miles.
- Out of the US Gulf and Venezuela: pet coke moves, often on Panamax or Supramax.
- Out of Jamaica: bauxite and alumina move on Handysize and Supramax.
- Into the islands: cement, grain, fertilizer and aggregates move on Handysize and smaller.
- Between the islands: sugar, cement and aggregates move.
The Panama Canal is the gateway to the Pacific. In dry years the canal lowers the allowed draught, so a ship carries less.
This page does not publish live freight rates. Use the rate calculator for a rough number.