Capt. VARUN SHARMA
New Delhi
Summary
Seasoned commercial shipping and operations leader with over 17 years of experience at sea across bulk, oil, and container trades, and over 5 years ashore. Demonstrated success in voyage execution, charter party claims, contract administration, and stakeholder coordination. Adept at operating time and voyage-chartered vessels, validating shipping transactions, managing laytime settlements, and ensuring compliance with ISM, ISPS, and IMO standards. Proven ability to work across functions—chartering, operations, finance, legal—and drive accuracy, compliance, and commercial value in complex shipping environments.
Overview
24
24
years of professional experience
Work History
Head of Operations
Avenir Maritime Pte Ltd.
10.2023 - Current
- Lead the voyage and post-fixture operations for bulk vessels, ensuring C/P compliance and safe, efficient port calls.
- Handle all C/P claims, demurrage, laytime calculations, and dispute resolution with owners, traders, and legal teams.
- Administer vessel nominations, captain's instructions, and bunker procurement, while validating documents and approvals against SOPs.
- Coordinate closely with chartering teams for contract alignment.
- Oversee voyage closures, freight differential reviews, and hire statement preparations to ensure accurate invoicing and cash flow.
- Manage system data accuracy and documentation control.
Head, India Business & Shipping Operations
Netbulk Pte Ltd.
Singapore
08.2021 - 10.2023
- Managed the post-fixture execution and full voyage lifecycle for bulk carrier operations, including bunker planning and marine accounting.
- Reviewed and validated all contracts, port instructions, LOIs, and C/P compliance issues prior to final fixture execution.
- Led a team executing demurrage claims and negotiated laytime with internal and third-party stakeholders.
- Maintained governance and audit trail of all voyage-related financials, invoices, and approvals.
- Built internal SOPs for voyage closure KPIs, laytime tracking, and document workflows aligned to industry best practices.
- Liaised with legal and P&I clubs on claims and disputes, ensuring minimum commercial impact.
- Played a key advisory role across deal structuring, risk assessment, and operational due diligence.
Deputy Head, Operations
Bainbridge Navigation Pvt Ltd
12.2019 - 08.2021
- Oversaw daily voyage operations, planning, and performance optimization across dry bulk routes.
- Managed charter party execution, voyage accounting, and customer communications for freight trading and relets.
- Monitored port practices, weather systems, and route planning to ensure optimal vessel utilization.
- Delivered regular operational and commercial insights to internal stakeholders for better decision-making.
- Mentored junior team members on C/P clauses, laytime interpretation, and documentation best practices.
Master Mariner & Officer
Anglo-Eastern Ship Management
01.2002 - 12.2019
- Commanded dry bulk vessels on global routes; responsible for crew safety, stowage planning, and navigation.
- Enforced strict compliance with ISM/ISPS codes, vessel certifications, and flag-state regulations.
- Acted as liaison between ship and office for voyage performance, claims, and port management.
- Delivered crew training programs and maintained onboard documentation in line with international shipping laws.
Education
Master Mariner (FG CoC) -
Directorate General of Shipping, Govt. of India
CII-Certified Professional - Carbon Footprint
CII
Skills
- Voyage and post-fixture operations
- Charter party administration
- Statutory compliance (ISM/ISPS/IMO)
- Laytime calculation and negotiation
- Marine accounting and freight management
- Vetting and sanction checks
- Port operations
- Stakeholder management
- Voyage closure and invoicing
- Leadership and team management
- Reporting and risk identification
Timeline
Head of Operations
Avenir Maritime Pte Ltd.
10.2023 - Current
Head, India Business & Shipping Operations
Netbulk Pte Ltd.
08.2021 - 10.2023
Deputy Head, Operations
Bainbridge Navigation Pvt Ltd
12.2019 - 08.2021
Master Mariner & Officer
Anglo-Eastern Ship Management
01.2002 - 12.2019
Master Mariner (FG CoC) -
Directorate General of Shipping, Govt. of India
CII-Certified Professional - Carbon Footprint
CII
Similar Profiles
Ninad PanditNinad Pandit
Senior Chartering Manager (hybrid) at AVENIR MARITIME INDIA PVT LTDSenior Chartering Manager (hybrid) at AVENIR MARITIME INDIA PVT LTD
MAO PUMAO PU
Service Engineer at Kongsberg Maritime Pte LtdService Engineer at Kongsberg Maritime Pte Ltd
Nikolaos TarnarisNikolaos Tarnaris
Intern at HELLENIC OVERSEAS MARITIME ENTERPRISE PTE LTDIntern at HELLENIC OVERSEAS MARITIME ENTERPRISE PTE LTD
Sam KuperSam Kuper
Data Scientist at Acme Packet Inc.Data Scientist at Acme Packet Inc.
Navdha SharmaNavdha Sharma
Sr. Manager- Social Media & Communication at CIN UniverseSr. Manager- Social Media & Communication at CIN Universe