H.C. Shipping & Chartering Ltd

22/04/2026

Looking resplendent in emerald green in the Emerald Isle, m/v "Arklow Arrow" making her way into and loading at the port of Foynes.

A regular commodity in H.C.'s books, the vessel loaded her cargo of green delayed petroleum coke for The Netherlands this past week for clients we've been happy to serve as brokers for over 25 years.

Our thanks to Sinead Ryan MICS at Mullock & Sons who acted as ship's agents for her port call in Foynes.



KB//HC

22/04/2026

An imposing sight as she towers above the quayside in Dakar, m/v "Solina" berthed early this morning to commence load operations of her bulk ilmenite cargo, bound for Norway. She'll load around 26,000 tonnes before sailing prior the coming weekend under our C/P for our close Charterers.

Our thanks to Amangone N'Doye at Sea-Invest Shipping Agency in Senegal, port agents for her call in Dakar.



KB//HC

17/02/2026

Further augmenting our close Charterers' Irish exports, m/v "Eemsborg" is seen here arriving and under cargo operations in the port of Foynes.

The latest in what's becoming a regular trade out of the Emerald Isle, this 11,000 DWT vessel loaded petcoke, bound for The Netherlands. Cargoes have been flowing steadily out of Foynes into the UK and near-Continent already in 2026, and more's anticipated for the coming months.

Big thanks to Sinead Ryan MICS at Mullock & Sons for the photos, and of course the exemplary agency attendance during her call in Foynes.

KB//HC

17/02/2026

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/h%2Ec%2E-shipping-%26-chartering-limited_drybulk-animalfeed-drycargo-activity-7429474909757546496-za53?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAA7Jb5sB-7pcI3tz13JHJXW0q-lwUZ3c1pY

Those animals aren't going to feed themselves, you know... Shuffling out of Amsterdam on an overcast February morning, m/v "Anholt" departs The Netherlands, bound for the UK with her cargo of wheatbran and rapemeal pellets. Courtesy of our long-standing client in the UK, animal feed imports into the...

22/01/2026

Despite them already feeling a long-distant memory, the Christmas and New Year holiday periods always present quite a challenge for shipowners in terms of scheduling, voyages, the selecting of cargoes, and ultimately making sure their vessels aren't stuck - idle - in port for prolonged periods of time. The sweet elixir would be for an Owner to find a cargo that loads prior to Christmas, sail across the holidays, and discharge in the New Year.

m/v "Iana" succeeded in doing just that. Loading our long-standing Charterers' cargo in Italy ahead of Christmas, arriving in the UK port of Sharpness last week. Okay, she's been hampered during discharge operations owing to the the rain, but...we're in the midst of winter, and winter affects the handling of such feed and cereal cargoes. 'Seasonal risk', if you will.

Provided Mother Nature doesn't have a hissy fit, she'll be away from Sharpness before the weekend. We thank Peter Tarski at Sanders Stevens, diligent port agents in the port of Sharpness.

KB//HC

29/09/2025

Something of a red letter weekend for us at H.C. this weekend...

For a great many years, we were actively fixing ships for our long-standing Charterers into the south-west UK port of Plymouth, animal feed and cereals being brought into the Cattedown Wharf bulk facility. Anyhow, with time comes change, and cargo flow into Plymouth slowed.

However, given this business is all about the strengths of inter-personal relationships, communication with those involved in such trades has been maintained over the years, and once more feed cargoes are starting to flow through Plymouth. This weekend celebrated the arrival of m/v "Scot Explorer", bringing in animal feed loaded in The Netherlands, the first cargo to be brought into the port by our Charterers under our C/P.

Big thanks to Sean Kerslake at Casper Shipping, our man on the ground on a chilly Cattedown quayside.

KB//HC

27/06/2025

As brokers, it can on occasion be lost on us as to the magnitude of what a pivotal role we play in Global commercial shipping. From the comfort of our respective offices, we broker deals that lead to cargoes being shipped from any given corner of the World to the other. But ours' is the easy part.

It's those that make sure commodities arrive safely across often hostile seas that have the 'real' job. Those hardy souls that face stomach-churning conditions to ensure the wheels of trade keep turning. Those that load and discharge cargoes, regardless of what the elements throw at them. The pilots that guide huge hunks of steel in and out of port. The agents that tend to vessels during port calls, working all hours to ensure both ship and cargo interests are upheld. Ours' is but the easy part.

m/v "Emma Oldendorff" was our latest call into the Norwegian port of Tyssedal. Loaded with mineral sand from the African west coast, close alliance with Owners - with whom we're honoured to enjoy a well-established association - and Charterers who we're honoured to serve in the open market, this fixture was executed with utmost professionalism, on time, and within budget.

A huge shout goes out to both load and discharge port agents for their attendance during both the vessel's port calls. Frode at Vilhelm-Ravn was the photographer on duty in Norway this week, and we're most thankful for the wonderful photos. It's not all grimy, industrial backdrops. Sometime the ships we fix serenely glide in and out of the most picturesque of places...

KB//HC

24/06/2025

So. m/v "RDJ Waalstroom" rocks up at her load port, well ahead of her load window. Kudos to her Master and Owners for making it so.

Unexpected breakdown at the load port meant loading was delayed. All well and good. It happens. Only...the vessel was already facing poor tides at her discharge port, had she loaded as per schedule. Days lost waiting, water dwindling at discharge.

Time is money in shipping, yet tide and time wait for no man. Tides weren't waiting for us, time becoming desperately scant. Frustration increasing. Guess who copped for it? The Broker. This is what we're here for, this is what we do, and we do our best to appease things. And so we did.

Mother Nature, her whims and wills, and mechanical misfortune we can neither predict nor perfect. A vessel's Owners suffer when a fixture struggles despite sufficient 'wriggle room'. A vessel's Charterers suffer when their customer fails to receive their goods on time. Sometimes, despite all efforts expent with the best of faith, things go wrong. Enter the Broker.

Quite easy to let each contracting party fight fire with with fire, quote/unquote messages to each, and not add influence. Nah, not us. Get stuck in, make a difference. If you can't affect change, then at least try to. Don't try, don't get and all.

m/v "RDJ Waalstroom" eventually made Appledore this weekend. Okay, on later tides than anticipated, but a quick expedition from our group's agency down in Bristol helped get her in and out with the utmost precision and professionalism. She's now en route to Continent, next employment beckons. Owner, Charterer and Broker will meet in London next week. And any 'total disaster' has been avoided by common sense, rationale and trust. Guess the Broker's copping for the first bottle of Cava, right (not paying for Champagne...it's just posh Cava).

Trust each other, even when the chips are down. Be nice. Makes all the difference.

See you in London next week.

KB//HC

30/05/2025

Under our C/P, m/v "Jutland" arrived in Appledore today, furthermore cementing the port's reputation as a viable dry bulk option in the Bristol Channel vicinity.

15/05/2025

HC Shipping & Chartering were honoured to represent ourselves at this year's Breakbulk Europe shindig here in Rotterdam this week. Jon Berry F.I.C.S. looked svelte as ever. I'm looking like I'm having a coronary. But them's the breaks.

Thanks to all that had us, and thanks for visiting the Casper Shipping Limited stand. An absolute pleasure throughout.

Until next year!

JB + KB//HC.