The paper analyses empirically the time-varying properties of the spread between voyage and time-charter rates and presents evidence that these properties are directly related to the business cycle (market demand) of the maritime industry, to the expectations for the future market demand and to...

In this study, we propose that companies strategically choose to pursue projects of certain duration according to the fluctuations in market demand conditions. During a market upturn, when more business opportunities are available, companies choose short projects, committing thus their resources...