About the Role
Marsoft is seeking a Market Analyst (US Flag / Jones Act) to build our coverage of US-flag and Jones Act shipping markets. Our analysts build the supply and demand models, scenario forecasts, and vessel valuations that banks, lessors, investors, and shipowners use to make lending and investment decisions. Each quarter we publish Base, High, and Low Case forecasts for every segment we cover, and between releases we track the market closely enough to issue interim updates when it moves.
Responsibilities
- Build supply, demand, and earnings models for the US-flag and Jones Act market, from fleet and orderbook through tonne-mile demand and fleet utilization.
- Produce quarterly Base, High, and Low Case forecasts for freight rates, time charter rates, newbuilding prices, and secondhand values by vessel age.
- Translate geopolitical and trade disruptions, such as chokepoint closures, rerouting, sanctions, and tariffs, into explicit, defensible scenario assumptions.
- Reconcile model estimates with actual fixtures and sale-and-purchase transactions, and explain revisions to clients.
- Write quarterly market reports and monthly eBriefs, and build internal chartpacks that compare each release with the last.
- Test each release in our valuation software before clients see it, checking that values are consistent across vessel ages and specifications.
- Answer client questions from banks, lessors, and owners on valuations, operating costs, and forecast accuracy.
- Maintain market datasets from broker reports, freight indices, and vessel-tracking sources, and help automate their collection.
- Present findings to clients and help shape a new US-flag market product as coverage grows.
Market Focus
- Jones Act tanker, ATB, container, and dry cargo fleets, and the domestic trades they serve.
- US shipbuilding capacity, fleet age, and replacement costs for US-built tonnage.
- Policy and regulation, including waivers, and how they change supply and rates.
Requirements
- 3+ years of experience in shipping, energy, or transportation market analysis.
- Strong quantitative skills and experience building forecasting or econometric models.
- Comfort working in large Excel model workbooks; Python, R, or SQL preferred.
- Clear writing for professional audiences.
- Willingness to defend assumptions, and to change views when the data says so.
Education
- Bachelor's degree in Economics, Finance, Maritime Studies, Engineering, or a related quantitative field; a Master's degree is a plus.
- Progress toward the CFA or a maritime qualification (e.g., Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers) is a plus.
Desired
- Familiarity with industry market data, broker weekly reports, freight indices, or AIS-derived trade data.
- Experience presenting to bank credit teams or senior clients.