Oil tanker at a marine terminal

How we trade

Physical transaction execution from origination to settlement.

Physical transactions are managed across commercial, contractual, logistical, financial and control functions.

Execution model

Commercial, operational and documentary workflow.

Each trade begins with identifiable supply or demand and proceeds through counterparty approval, contract structuring, cargo operations, documentary control and settlement.

Phase I

Originate and qualify

Identify executable supply or demand and establish counterparties, authority, product and route.

Phase II

Structure and approve

Agree commercial terms, complete compliance and credit review, and confirm banking viability.

Phase III

Contract and prepare

Execute contracts, arrange payment security, and nominate vessels, terminals and inspectors.

Phase IV

Perform and settle

Load, document, deliver, reconcile, settle and close out the transaction record.

Transaction workflow

Fifteen controlled stages.

The exact sequence varies by delivery basis and bank structure, but each transaction must address the following commercial and control gates.

  1. 01

    Opportunity origination

    Identify direct supply or qualified demand, product, quantity, timing, destination and delivery basis.

  2. 02

    Preliminary commercial review

    Test indicative economics, route, freight, working-capital needs and execution feasibility.

  3. 03

    Counterparty identification

    Confirm the legal entities, commercial authority and intended role of each participant.

  4. 04

    KYC/KYB and sanctions

    Review ownership, control, reputation, jurisdictions, vessel exposure and applicable trade restrictions.

  5. 05

    Product and title verification

    Establish source, specification, allocation, title path and chain-of-custody evidence.

  6. 06

    Indicative commercial terms

    Align price basis, differential, quantity, tolerance, delivery window and conditions precedent.

  7. 07

    Credit and banking review

    Confirm limits, acceptable banks, instrument structure, tenor, liquidity and settlement path.

  8. 08

    Contract negotiation

    Agree quality, quantity, title, risk transfer, inspection, documents, remedies and governing law.

  9. 09

    Payment security

    Approve and authenticate the applicable LC, SBLC, guarantee, collection or other agreed structure.

  10. 10

    Vessel and terminal nomination

    Coordinate vessel acceptance, terminal compatibility, laycan, agents and voyage instructions.

  11. 11

    Inspection and loading

    Manage sampling, measurement, quality, quantity, pumping and operational records.

  12. 12

    Shipping documentation

    Produce and reconcile bills of lading, certificates, invoices and contractual documents.

  13. 13

    Discharge and outturn

    Coordinate receiving-terminal performance, independent inspection and quantity reconciliation.

  14. 14

    Settlement

    Present compliant documents, complete bank-to-bank payment and reconcile receipts.

  15. 15

    Close-out and retention

    Resolve claims, calculate laytime, close exposure and retain the complete transaction record.

Commercial structure

Contract structure and exposure management.

Contract terms are built around the specific cargo and route. Product quality, quantity tolerances, delivery basis, laytime, title transfer, inspection, documentary requirements and payment mechanics are agreed before execution.

The trading model is led by physical flows. Transactions may be structured back-to-back, matched or hedged where applicable, with open exposure managed within approved parameters.

01

Counterparty approval

Commercial capability, ownership, reputation, credit and onboarding evidence.

02

Cargo and title

Origin, specification, title, chain of custody, inspection and documentary consistency.

03

Logistics readiness

Vessel, terminal, timing, sanctions exposure, freight and operational alternatives.

Oil tanker cargo deck and pipelines at night

Trade finance

Documentary trade finance and bank instruments.

Documentary credits, guarantees, collections or other agreed structures are transaction-specific and subject to bank approval. Instrument wording and authentication are agreed through appropriate banking channels before reliance.

Trade-finance framework

Execution ownership

Commercial decisions and operational controls remain distinct.

Operations monitors nominations, vessel and terminal readiness, inspection appointments, document production, presentation and reconciliation. Exceptions are escalated through defined authority rather than resolved informally.

Commercially sensitive bank details, contracts, inspection reports, vessel documents and counterparty information are exchanged only through controlled channels with qualified parties.