The cost for the transport of a cargo by sea is different depending on type of charter party chosen: talking about “time” charter party , the cost is the daily expense paid for the vessel (“hire”).
Hire is subject to the market conditions, to the type of vessel and to the geographical area where the ship is trading.
On the other side, the cost for chartering a vessel on “voyage” basis is a rate of expense (US dollars) for each ton of cargo involved and it is called “freight”. Apart from the general market conditions, the freight is subject to the quantity which needs to be moved, to the loading and discharging ports and time the needed in the ports for cargo operations.