How to Sell a Vessel on TradeVessels: Step-by-Step Guide
From creating your listing to closing the deal — everything you need to know about selling a vessel on our platform.
Getting Started
Selling a vessel on TradeVessels is designed to be straightforward. Our 5-step listing form guides you through the process, and your listing can be live in under 15 minutes. Here's how to make the most of it.
Step 1: Create Your Account
Sign up for free and set up your company profile. Include your company name, location, and a brief description of your fleet or business. Completing verification (basic, standard, or premium tier) adds a trust badge to your listings and increases buyer confidence.
Step 2: List Your Vessel
Our guided form covers everything buyers want to see:
- Basic info: Vessel name, type, sub-type, asking price, year built, flag state, classification society, and location.
- Dimensions: LOA, beam, draft, gross tonnage, deadweight.
- Type-specific specs: The form adapts to your vessel type — hopper capacity for TSHDs, bollard pull for tugs, crane capacity for crane barges, etc.
- Photos: Upload up to 20 photos. Good photos dramatically increase inquiry rates.
- Condition & survey: Class status, last special survey, drydock dates.
- Description: Free-text description and reason for sale.
Step 3: Review and Publish
Preview how your listing will appear to buyers before publishing. You can save as a draft and come back later — no pressure to complete everything in one session.
Step 4: Respond to Inquiries
When buyers are interested, they'll send inquiries through the platform. You'll see these in your Unified Inbox with full context about the buyer's project, timeline, and requirements. Respond promptly — our data shows that sellers who respond within 24 hours are 3x more likely to close a deal.
Step 5: Close the Deal
Negotiate terms directly with the buyer through the platform. Once both parties agree, you only pay a flat 1% commission on the completed sale. If the deal doesn't close, you pay nothing.
Tips for a Faster Sale
- Price competitively — use our market insights to benchmark your asking price.
- Upload quality photos — listings with 10+ photos get 2x more views.
- Complete all spec fields — buyers filter by specifications, so missing data means missed opportunities.
- Keep your listing updated — refresh photos, update availability, and adjust pricing as the market moves.