Demurrage & Claims Manager

About the role

The Demurrage & Claims Manager oversees the full demurrage and claims lifecycle for physical commodity shipments, ensuring accurate laytime calculations, timely claim submissions and settlements, and effective dispute resolution with counterparties, shipowners, and charterers.

Key responsibilities

• Review vessel documentation and calculate laytime, demurrage and despatch in line with charter party terms.
• Prepare, submit and negotiate demurrage and other claims, tracking status to meet turnaround targets.
• Manage disputed claims, escalating to legal or arbitration and liaising with P&I clubs and external counsel.
• Maintain audit‑ready records of laytime statements, claim correspondence and settlements.
• Reconcile demurrage provisions with Finance, monitor exposure and report to management.
• Coordinate with chartering, operations, trading and legal teams, as well as agents, surveyors and brokers.
• Identify recurring demurrage causes and recommend operational improvements.
• Support and, where applicable, supervise claims analysts and junior team members.

Required profile

• 6‑10 years of experience in demurrage, claims handling, chartering or shipping operations within commodity trading, shipowning or shipbroking.
• Bachelor’s degree in Maritime Studies, Law, Business or related field; demurrage/laytime or shipbroking qualification desirable.

Required skills

• Strong technical knowledge of charter party terms, laytime calculation and demurrage/despatch principles.
• Experience in claims negotiation and dispute handling with counterparties and P&I clubs.
• Proficiency with ERP/ETRM systems, preferably SAP functional skills.