Difference between a Charterer and a Shipper?

A question has come up with my latest group of brilliant students partaking in the popular VS DRY CARGO CHARTERING AND SHIPBROKING CERTIFICATE.

There was some confusion between the terms ‘charterer’ and ‘shipper’ – specifically when talking about the idea of ‘deadfreight’.

To make things simple – the first distinction I need to state is that as a shipbroker and dry dry cargo shipping specialists contracts are alwaysbetween ‘charterers’ and ‘shipowners’. In other words for the purpose of a contract the word ‘shipper’ is irrelevant. Many think they can use the word ‘shipper’ and ‘charterer’ in substitution but you cannot. Shipper is not a word we use when discussing the commercial aspects a charter agreement.