COA Rates

COA (Contract of Affreightment) rates are used to model long-term, contracted pricing agreements between a carrier and a customer. COA rates allow you to define:

• Fixed origin → destination pricing

• Pricing along a defined route

• Product volume ranges

• Base and supplemental charges

• Demurrage and free time

• Validity windows and routing logic

Once configured, COA rates are automatically evaluated and applied when a voyage matches the contract terms.

Viewing COA Rates

COA rates live under Rates → COA Rates.

From the COA Rates table, you can:

• View all active COA pricing

• Filter by rate parameters (e.g. origin, destination, product, billing unit, etc.)

• See which rates are valid as of a specific date

• Save commonly used filters

Creating a COA Tariff

To create a new COA tariff, click New Tariff from the COA Rates tab.

Basic Details

The Basic Details tab defines the scope and metadata of the contract.

Key fields:

• Carrier
  The carrier this COA applies to.

• Tariff Type

  • Fixed Ports - only applied with the exact Origin and Destination pair.

  • Along Route - applied to any voyage between the Origin and Destination pair.

• Origin Port / Destination Port
  Defines the contractual route.

• Rate Per Lock Hour (optional)
  Used when lock delays are contractually billable.

• Free Lock Hours (optional)
  Number of lock hours included before charges apply.

• Charge Day Rate
  Controls whether daily charges apply in addition to unit pricing.

• Visibility
  Public or private, depending on who should see and use the tariff.

Adding Rates to a COA Tariff

The Rates tab defines the actual pricing logic.

Each tariff can contain one or more rate rows, allowing for conditional pricing.

Rate Fields Explained

• Minimum Size / Maximum Size

  Defines the size range this rate applies to.

• Unit

  The unit used to evaluate size (e.g., BBL, TONS).

• Price & Billing Unit

  Defines how the charge is calculated (e.g., Per Unit, Per Mile, Fixed, Milage Per Ton).

• Applies To

  Controls whether the rate applies to Loaded or Empty barges

• Base Rate

  Controls whether this rate is considered the primary contractual charge.

• Demurrage

  Optional demurrage configuration including:

  • Demurrage unit (daily, hourly)

  • Demurrage rate

  • Free or reversible free time

Interchanges (Routing Logic)

The Interchanges tab allows you to define intermediate ports that are part of the contractual routing.

How interchanges work

• Interchanges are evaluated in order toward the destination

• Each interchange can include an expected duration

Example:

• Origin → Cairo, IL → Destination

How COA Rates Are Applied

When a voyage is planned, OpenTug evaluates:

1. Carrier match

2. Origin & destination

3. Barge volume vs min/max thresholds

4. Product (if specified)

5. Applies-to conditions

6. Date validity