Short answer: Cargo-vessel matching software for shipbrokers should not rank opportunities on exact port equality alone. It should compare route zones, load and discharge direction, laycan overlap, DWT, cargo quantity, cargo type, source-email reliability and recency so the desk sees a defensible shortlist instead of another inbox search.
LaycanMatch uses email-derived offers and saved positions to do that ranking while keeping the source email visible for verification.
Matching signals LaycanMatch uses
| Signal | What it checks | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Route fit | Load and discharge zones, ports and direction | Filters out commercially unlikely voyages |
| Laycan overlap | Date window intersection | Shows whether the timing is realistic |
| DWT / quantity fit | Capacity against cargo size | Eliminates bad vessel-size candidates |
| Cargo type | Commodity suitability or preference | Improves relevance beyond route alone |
| Confidence score | How reliable the extraction was | Warns when the broker should double-check |
| Recency | How fresh the offer is | Old circulars lose commercial value fast |
| Source email reliability | Original email still linked and reviewable | Keeps the shortlist auditable |
Examples of a good, medium and weak match
Good match: 47k DWT vessel open Constanta 20–31 July versus wheat 42k Constanta to Alexandria 22–28 July. Strong route fit, good date overlap, size works, source is fresh.
Medium match: 58k supramax open Canakkale 24–27 July versus coal 30k Novorossiysk to Egypt 28 July / 2 August. Zone fit is good, but laycan overlap is narrow and size is looser.
Weak match: 63k ultramax open Antwerp prompt versus fertilizer 28k Santos to Morocco mid-August. Cargo size might work, but route direction and timing make it commercially weak.
What the broker still decides manually
A high score does not mean the fixture will happen. The broker still decides whether the voyage economics, cargo restrictions, counterparty quality, vessel history and commercial timing are worth acting on.
What LaycanMatch does not do: it does not replace negotiations, freight judgment or chartering instinct. It gives the desk a faster first-pass shortlist.