Revolutionizing dry bulk shipping with technology

Crab is a digital marketplace connecting charterers, brokers, and vessel owners to enable all stakeholders to fix better. By leveraging Rappit Composer no-code apps & workflows platform, it discovers the best available vessels and multiple offers for shipping cargo. Catering to different types of users – charterers/ cargo owners, ship brokers (and ship owners). Catering to different types of users – charterers/ cargo owners, ship brokers (and ship owners), Crab can offer thousands of listings/ offers/ fixtures per month for thousands of users, saving approximately 50% of time and effort compared to the conventional, manual process.

50%
time saved compared to the conventional, manual process
<1000
listings/ offers/ fixtures per month processed
<5
minutes time it takes to list cargo

Their challenges

  • Complexity: Dry bulk refers to the shipment of non-liquid or non-containerized cargo (coal, grain, iron ore etc.), typically transported in large quantities. It is a crucial component of the maritime supply chain and involves a complex network of participants (commodity companies, ship owners, operators, and brokers).

 

  • Transparency: Finding the best vessel and freight parties is difficult and requires more transparency on vessel availabilities. Which will Increase opportunities, optimize vessel loads, and reduce costs.
  • Differentiation: A digital platform that revolutionizes the industry is required. A marketplace that connects supply & demand and truly provides value to all supply chain stakeholders, including brokers (which most digital freight platforms want to cut out).

 

Standard vs custom TMS

Our solutions

  • Reduce complexity: Rappit used its Rappit Composer platform to set up the workflows powering the marketplace. Key elements include cargo listing, providing offers, vessel availability, and finalizing fixtures.
  • Add transparency: Facilitates collaboration and information sharing (for e.g. offers and fixtures) between the subscribed platform accounts.
  • Add differentiation: Comprehensive features including chat functionality between parties , adding contract documents as attachments, adding users and roles, adding ratings, comparing offers, and confidential (charterer) profile mode.

 

  • Rappit Composer configurations can easily be adapted or enhanced to accommodate future changes or additions to the Crab marketplace.
  • As a Google Cloud-based solution, the Rappit Composer platform provides enterprise-grade performance, reliability, availability & service levels.

“Rappit has been a very reliable and proactive technology partner for us, right from concept to development to going live. They have built a very robust platform, and the team is highly committed to customer success.”

Rishit Dalal Founder, Crab

“Our mission at Crab is to help all stakeholders in the dry bulk shipping industry fix better, by enabling charterers discover better freights and vessel owners/operators (through brokers) reduce ballast time. The net impact is reduced freight cost per ton of cargo, as well as lower carbon intensity - which is a key concern for the industry.”

Rishit Dalal Founder, Crab

Results

  • Differentiated and independent marketplace focused on charterers/ cargo owners and ship brokers.
  • Process thousands of listings/offers per month for thousands of users.
  • Saves approximately 50% time and effort compared to the conventional, manual
    process.
  • Easy cargo listing for all types of dry bulk cargoes within 5 minutes.

 

  • Confidentiality option for charterers to keep profiles private.
  • Comparative offers to save time and maintain an audit trail.
  • Chat between parties.
  • Attachments – share and track fixture-related documents easily.
  • Highly scalable and optimized performance via automated Google Cloud capacity and services provisioning.

Crab

Crab is an independent, global dry bulk shipping marketplace which enables all stakeholders to fix better. Charterers ship more efficiently, brokers get more business, and vessel owners/operators get more cargo, reduce ballast time and cost.

Curious how we can enhance your digital journey?