How to become a ship broker
Official title: Ship broker
Also called: Chartering broker (maritime services), Sea transport chartering broker, Ship broker (charter), Ship broker (sales and purchases), Assistant Chartering Broker/Trainee Chartering Broker, Assistant Sales and Purchase Broker/Trainee Sales and Purchase Broker, Chartering Broker, Desk Head (Chartering), Desk Head (Sales and Purchase), Sales and Purchase Broker, Chartering broker (maritime services), Sea transport chartering broker
Ship broker acts as an intermediary between buyers and sellers of ships, cargo space on ships and chartering of ships. He/she informs clients on the shipping market mechanisms and movements, reports on vessel and cargo space prices and sales and negotiates the cost of the vessels, cargo space and chartering on behalf of the buyers and sellers. He/she also advises on the logistical requirements for the transfer of the vessel or commodity cargo from sellers to buyers.
Main tasks
- Discussing buying or selling requirements of clients and giving advice accordingly
- Buying and selling cargo space on ships
- Finding cargo and/or storage space for commodities and negotiating freight, shipping and storage charges
- Monitoring and analysing market trends and other factors affecting the supply and demand for commodities and shipping services
Pay · Outlook · AI and this job
- Median pay: $108,000 a year. The middle half earn $50,160 to $212,400 a year.
- Generative AI could change some tasks in this job, by the ILO's global estimate.
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Questions people ask
How much does a ship broker earn in Singapore?
Median full-time pay is $108,000 a year (Ministry of Manpower (via data.gov.sg)). The middle half earn $50,160 to $212,400.
Will AI change the work of a ship broker?
Generative AI could change some tasks in this job, by the ILO's global estimate.
Sources
- Ministry of Manpower (via data.gov.sg): Resident Occupational Wages (Occupational Wage Survey) (June 2024 (data.gov.sg update 2026-04-01)), Singapore Open Data Licence v1.0, retrieved 4 October 2026
- International Labour Organization, Generative AI and Jobs: A Refined Global Index of Occupational Exposure (ILO Working Paper 140, Gmyrek et al.) (ILO Working Paper 140, May 2025, Annex Table A1), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 4 October 2026
Updated 4 October 2026