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Summary of Company

Clearlake Shipping, a subsidiary of Gunvor Group, is one of the largest charterers of tanker vessels in the world and an operator of tankers, LPG and LNG carriers. With a highly motivated and experienced team of freight traders and operators throughout the world, Clearlake Shipping covers chartering needs for the Group and the market. Since 2003, Clearlake Shipping has operated a high-quality fleet of tankers, LPG and LNG carriers on both a spot and time-charter basis to accommodate Gunvor’s growing needs for safe ocean transportation across all major routes, in addition to third-party business. Clearlake Shipping’s activities include chartering an average of 1,500 vessels annually across crude oil, products, chemicals, LPG, LNG, freight hedging (FFA), operations, claims handling and ship/terminal safety consultations.

Overview of Role

The position reports directly to the Regional Head of Operations of Clearlake Shipping and is located in the Dubai office. The operator will work closely with the Chartering/Freight department, Cargo Operations, traders, legal, claims, controls and technical stakeholders to provide day-to-day operational support for Dirty Petroleum Products, Clean Petroleum Products, LPG/LNG shipping activities across time-chartered, spot-chartered and third-party employment voyages.

Main Responsibilities

• Manage pre-fixture and post-fixture commercial operations on MR, LR1, LR2, Aframax, VLCC, LPG/LNG carriers, including spot and time-charter voyages.

  
  

• Handle all pre-fixture related matters to clear nominated vessels for proposed voyages, including port/terminal restrictions, ship-shore compatibility, vessel screening and voyage-specific operational requirements.

  
  

• Prepare and issue voyage instructions, stowage requirements and operational guidance to masters, owners, agents, terminals and internal stakeholders.

  
  

• Support Chartering and Trading on Tankers, LPG/LNG operational feasibility, including cargo handling requirements, terminal compatibility, tank preparation, cool-down/gassing-up considerations, heel management, boil-off/fuel-gas mode considerations where applicable, and cargo contamination risk.

  
  

• Monitor vessel movements, weather routing, speed and consumption; review performance and prepare claims against owners where applicable.

  
  

• Optimize cargo stowage, bunkering, route planning and port turnaround to protect voyage economics and support safe operations.

  
  

• Appoint port agents and relevant service providers; manage port cost, disbursement accounts and timely funding.

  
  

• Manage LOIs in a timely manner, including coordination for authorized signature and onward transmission to relevant counterparties.

  
  

• Coordinate non-commercial operations including bunkering, deslopping, STS support where applicable, towage, mooring and other voyage-related services.

  
  

• Ensure all shipping activities comply with international and local regulations, including safety, security, environmental and terminal requirements.

  
  

• Timely appointment of armed guards for transiting High Risk Areas and confirmation that relevant insurance cover is in place for applicable voyages.

  
  

• Liaise with owners regarding oil major approvals, SIRE status and vessel acceptability for trading at all times.

  
  

• Liaise closely with traders, trading operators, legal, claims, controls, technical teams, ship owners, shipbrokers, port agents and terminals to ensure smooth voyage execution.

  
  

• Maintain accurate Operational System / IMOS data and update voyage P&L in a timely manner to provide reliable information to freight traders and management.

  
  

• Work closely with the Controls team for hire payments, off-hires, deliveries, redeliveries, freight invoicing and final hire reconciliation.

  
  

• Ensure that operational records are maintained in line with legal, fiscal and internal documentation requirements.

  
  

• Provide required documents for interim port calculations and claims, including speed-up, slow-steaming, waiting time, heating/purging costs, charterers’ expenses and other voyage-related recoveries.

  
  

• Act as a reliable point of contact for routine internal and external inquiries; escalate operational, financial, legal, compliance or reputational risks promptly.

  
  

• Handle disputes, shortages, incidents and operational disruptions independently, escalating matters requiring additional mitigation.

  
  

• Support the development of shipping strategies, process improvements and operational controls that improve efficiency, reduce cost and strengthen risk management.

  
  

• Any other ad-hoc tasks as assigned by supervisor.

  
  

Candidate’s Profile

The individual should have the following experience:

• Diploma in Maritime, Shipping, Logistics or a relevant qualification.

  
  

• Minimum 8 years of work experience in Shipping Operations, preferably within a commodity trading house; strong candidates from ship owners, ship managers or gas-carrier operators may also be considered.

  
  

• Demonstrable Tankers and/or LPG/LNG shipping operations experience, with exposure to gas carrier voyage management, gas carrier charter parties, terminal operations and cargo handling requirements.

  
  

• Experience supporting traders/charterers in a fast-paced trading environment, with strong commercial awareness and understanding of voyage economics.

  
  

• Knowledge of international, national and local shipping regulations, including safety, security, environmental and terminal compliance requirements.

  
  

• Strong understanding of pre-fixture and post-fixture operations, voyage instructions, port agency management, LOIs, hire/freight processes, off-hire, claims and dispute resolution.

  
  

• Familiarity with IMOS or comparable shipping systems, with disciplined data management and P&L awareness.

  
  

• Ability to work independently under pressure, manage multiple voyages across time zones and make sound operational decisions with minimum supervision.

  
  

• Strong communication, negotiation and stakeholder-management skills.

  
  

• Self-motivated, structured, results driven and a strong team player.

  
  

Preferred Experience / Advantageous Skills

• Prior experience with a leading energy or commodity trading house handling Tankers and/or LPG/LNG shipping operations.

  
  

• Exposure to gas-carrier technical interfaces, including ship-shore compatibility, terminal vetting, cargo custody transfer, heel/fuel-gas considerations and voyage-specific operational constraints.

  
  

• Experience with STS operations, Panama/Suez Canal transits, gas-carrier bunkering and claims under voyage/time-charter parties.

  
  

• Sailing experience on Tankers, or shore-based technical exposure to LPG/LNG carriers, would be advantageous but is not mandatory.

  
  

If you think the open position you see is right for you, we encourage you to apply!

Our people make all the difference in our success.