Charter Party

Charter Party

Charter Party 

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The major operation under this function is to find continued and suitable employment for the ships to maximise revenue earnings. These operations are therefore primarily concerned with finding suitable cargoes for ships irrespective of whether the ships are owned or are hired. These operations are concerned with evaluating intended voyages to maximise earning so as to pay for the cost of ship, cost of its operations and to make some profit.

Charter Party 

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There are many mutually agreed arrangements between the owners of cargo or shippers and the ship owners or ship operators for transportation of cargoes. The terms and conditions for carriage of cargo can either be on liner terms or under different charter party terms that primarily depend upon the types of ships and cargo.

Charter Party 

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Charter party is a contract between the ship-owner and the Charterer. Three important elements are; (a) Description of the ship (b) Description of the trade (c ) Description of time period

Charter Party  

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Description of the Ship The type of ship to be hired/chartered very much depends on the nature and whereabouts of the intended trade. Its normal for owners to provide all the details of the ship with a guarantee about its accuracy. An example such as Shell time and Inter tank having appropriate format which is required to contain several pages of information required ship details

Charter Party 

Description of the Ship

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Many Charterers require the following plans to be supplied by the Owners; (1) General Arrangement Plan ,including loading scale (2) Detailed Cargo manifold arrangement Drawing (3) Pumping Arrangement Plan (4) Plan of Cargo Tank Ventilating System (5) Manufacturers Characteristics Curves

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Charter Party    

Description of the Ship Cubic Capacity Speed and Consumption Constant Weights

Charter Party  

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Description of the Ship These, apart from the name of the ship, include – year of built, flag, dead weight, maximum dimensions, maximum draught, fresh water allowance, speed, fuel consumption, cargo space in bail and grain capacities, number of hatches and holds, type and safe working load of cargo gear, compliance with international regulations for carriage of specialised cargo and such other important details relevant for the intended cargo and trade. For example some bulk cargoes may require that the holds be equipped with carbon-di-oxide fire protection system, or special requirement of

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Description of the Ship Name of the Ship Year of Build Name and location of Owners Flag Class Call Letters GRT/NRT Summer Deadweight Fresh Water Allowance Fresh Water Allowance

Charter Party    

Description of the Ship Cubic Capacity Speed and Consumption Constant Weights

Charter Party  

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Description of the Trade As much as Charterer is interested to know the details of the ship in the same way the Owner is interested to know about the type of trade the ship will be engaged in. Owners will negotiate an entry to that effect the berths and ports to which the vessel will

Charter Party  

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Description of the Trade The Charter Party will guarantee that the vessel will trade within the Institute Warranty Limits(I.W.L)- a trading area defined by Underwriters to prevent the more serious risk of ship causality loss. The dangerous areas such as war zones and ice bound areas may be excluded from the charter party.

Charter Party  

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Description of the Trade The Charter Party shall also include certain exclusions for the cargo to be loaded such as asphalt in bulk ,pitch in bulk ,livestock explosives ,fish meal ,scrap , sulphur, and logs. In addition ,a modern phenomena often included in the cargo exclusion clause is nuclear products.

Charter Party  

Description of the Period The period of charter commences with vessel’s delivery to the Charterers and ,like all charters with vessel’s delivery to the Charterers and like all charters, this delivery is either spot

Types of Charter Parties 

There are two types of charters, Nondemise and Demise Charter. The charter by demise is not very frequent in normal day-to-day business but a number of ships are chartered on a so-called ‘bareboat’ basis.

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This kind of charter ordinarily means that the vessel is put at the disposal of a charterer with out any crew. The charterer thus takes over almost all of the owner’s functions except for the payment of the capital costs and the hull and machinery

Type of Charter parties 

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Reason for Demise Charters( Bare Boat Charters) Demise charters are created not so much with a view to the carriage of goods but more as part of a complicated financing arrangement ,often with the intention that the charterer should become the owner of the ship in due course. Thus a contract for the purchase of a ship by installments will often incorporate a demise charter into the contract.

Type of Charter Parties  

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Demise Charter A variant of this would be for a financing bank lend the funds required to buy the ship ,the bank then acquiring the ownership of the ship but demise chartering it to the borrower for the period of the loan. This would enable the bank to avoid not only the operating costs but also the liabilities which it would otherwise have to bear in relation to the operation of the ship under a mortgage. Demise charters are also concluded between two associated companies for tax

Type of Charter parties   

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Charter parties other than Demise; There are two types; (1) Time Charters i.e. contracts for the use of the ship and her crew for a specified period of time within agreed trading limits as directed by the time charterer in consideration for the payment of hire; (2) Voyage Charter contracts for the use of the ship and her crew to carry an agreed cargo on an agreed voyage regardless for the payment of freight ( and possibly other remuneration such as demurrage if the loading/discharging is delayed beyond the time agreed for such operations)

Type of Charter parties  

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Voyage Charter: Voyage charter is an engagement of a vessel for a single voyage between declared ports to transport full shipload of cargo or a certain quantity of cargo. The freight is paid on per tonne of cargo (DWT) bases or on lump sum basis. The ship owner provides for all the ship’s costs with its crew, expenses for fuel, water, canal dues, port dues, loading and discharging expenses etc. in return the charterer pays him the hire charges for carrying the cargo as per described or utilised cargo capacity of the ship.

Type of Charter parties  

Voyage Charter: To compensate for the delays that may be encountered in cargo loading/discharging operations, the ‘demurrage and despatch’ clauses for compensation to the affected parties are inserted in charter party.

Type of Charter parties   

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Voyage Charterparty List of Charterparty Clauses 1.Preamble;This can be extensive in some charterparties .In the Multiform much of what may be found in preambles of certain forms is contained in clause 1. There are two important of the brief Multiform preamble however –the place and the date

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Voyage Charterparty List of Charterparty Clauses Place This can be important as ,in the absence of a clause to the contrary,the place where a contract is deemed to have may govern the law which is to be applied to that contract in the event of dispute. Thus if the place is London ,English Law may be very likely

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Voyage Charterparty Date equally important the date to be shown is that which by fixture negotiations are concluded with all subjects lifted-in other words ,when all negotiating formalities are complete.

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Voyage Charterparty Clause 1 ;Name and brief description of vessel The Multiform allows for a more complete vessel description in the main ,printed part of the form than many (e.g compare with AMWELSH). The position of the vessel when the contract is negotiated is also important

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Voyage Charterparty Clause 2; Condition of vessel It is usual for a shipowner to confirm that a vessel is in a suitable condition safely and properly to undertake the contractual voyage.

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Voyage Charterparty Clause 2; Cargo description-Commodity and nature of the goods to be carried eg bulk or bagged stowage factor( eg about 55 cubic feet per tonne) and either minimum/max quantity or cargo size margins and in whose option ( eg 12,000 tonnes,5% or less in owners option)

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Voyage Charterparty Clause 2; Loading Places- Names of loading place(s) and or range (eg Bordeaux/Hamburg range); mention of number of safe berths/anchorages charterers entitled to use at each place; whether vessel to remain always afloat or safely aground maximum/minimum available

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Voyage Charterparty Clause 3; Discharging places and port orders/rotation Clause 4- Laydays and Cancelling The spread of dates which a vessel is to present herself at the first (or sole) loading port .This spread should be entered in a contract as well as conditions under which the contract can be cancelled in the event that the vessel is unable to meet those dates.

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Voyage Charterparty Clause 5; Freight the amount and currency of freight to whom ,where and when payable .The risk of vessel and /or cargo loss on passage in relation to freight should be specified-ie whether freight is deemed earned as cargo is loaded or upon delivery.

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Voyage Charterparty Clause 6; Cost of Loading/Discharging which of the parties to the contract is to appoint and pay for cargo handling at each port. Clause 7; Notice of Readiness/Time CountingAn important clause in the

Type of Charterparties   

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Voyage Charterparty Clause 8; Loading/Discharging Rates- the speed at which cargo-handling activities are to be performed. Clause 9; Demurrage/Despatch- daily amount of liquidated damages (demurrage) payable by a charterer in the event a vessel is detained in port beyond the maximum permitted laytime as well as any stipulations to despatch

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Voyage Charterparty Clause 10; Notices- A shipowner/Master may be required to give comprehensive notices of a vessel’s expected arrival at the first (or sole) loading port ,failing which the shipowner may face a penalty in the form of extra laytime allowed a

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Voyage Charterparty Clause 12; Ship’s Gear- A normal clause in dry cargo shipping specifying that a vessel’s gear will be maintained to a high standard and specifying what happens in the event of gear breakdown resulting in extra expense.

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Voyage Charterparty Clause 14 & 15 Grab discharge/Stevedore damageOwners normally confirm that a vessel is suitable for grab discharge and formalities need to be set out in the event that a vessel suffers damage during the cargo handling processes.

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Voyage Charterparty Clause 17; Overtime who is to pay for overtime. Clause 18 & 19; Shifting/Seaworthy trim -Who is to pay shifting costs(if any) between berths also whether time so used is to count as laytime The vessel is to be left in safe seaworthy condition

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Voyage Charterparty Clause 13 & 16; Cargo Separation and Tallying Where a vessel is to carry various parcels of cargo,it may not be possible for al separations between individual parcels to be natural. The tallying (checking) of cargo as it is loaded or discharged is frequently an expensive operation and cargo claims can arise for alleged short delivery ,bad condition etc.

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Voyage Charterparty Clause 20; Dues and Taxes –This clause specifies which party to the contract is responsible for taxes which may be levied against the vessel and/or her cargo and /or the freight. Clause 21; Port Agents- In any charter party it is advisable that reference be made as to which of the parties is responsible for the selection of an agent.

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Voyage Charterparty Clause 22 & 34 Bills of Lading-The of lading to be presented to the Master or his/her agent upon completion of the loading .Master or his/her agent to sign the bill of lading indicating the apparent condition of the cargo.

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Voyage Charterparty Clause 23; Lightening- where cargo lightening is necessary a comprehensive clause covering all facets of this sometimes complex operation should be negotiated .The MULTIFORM and AWELSH clauses between them cover several of these facets but nearly all of them.

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Voyage Charterparty Clause 26; General Average; A clause specifying is to be adjusted and or paid irrespective of the ports of call involved and the laws relating to GA. Clause 27; Strikes; Both parties to a charterparty have risks and

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Voyage Charterparty Clause 28; Exception- The rights of contracting parties to cancel the charter parties in case of events making its performance virtually impossible –eg Force Majeure or Acts of God. Clause 31; Commission- Specifies the amount and to whom commissions and brokerages are payable ,usually adding that commissions/brokerages are payable on freight ,deadfreight and demurrage.

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Voyage Charterparty Clauses 32 & 33 Protecting Clauses-A set of clauses commonly included in the printed form of a charterparty or as additional clauses .This also includes P&I bunkering clause sets out owners rights to deviate for bunkers during the contractual

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Voyage Charterparty Clause 24; Lien and Cesser- Most charterparties contain a cesser and lien clause and the MULTIFORM and AWELSH (clause 26) are no exceptions. Clause 33; Ice- Depending on the trade involved it may not be necessary for an ice clause to be included in a charter party ,but where one is required ,great care should be taken over its

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Voyage Charterparty Clause 33; War Risks- War risks clauses should be examined in detail as some are unfair to shipowners ,others to charterers and/or patently unsuitable for the purpose intended. A war risk clause should provide a shipowner with the right to refuse to allow his vessel and her crew to enter or to remain in an area which has become dangerous due to warlike activity.

Type of Charterparties  

Voyage Charterparty Signature-No Charterparty is complete without the signatures of or on behalf of the parties concerned.

Type of Charterparties  

Time Charterparty Preamble ;The first page of the charterparty and covering a wide range of subjects within its text ,not least the place where the contract is made ,the date of the charterparty and the names and domiciles of the contracting parties.

Type of Charterparties  

Time Charterparty Vessel Description ;Depending upon the complexity of the intended trade ,the description of the vessel may be more or less as for voyage charterparties ,with the important addition of speeds and bunker consumptions.

Type of Charterparties  

Time Charterparty Duration of period ;The duration of a period time charter .The parties can agree an exact redelivery date ,but in practice this is difficult to comply with and ,in the event of legal disputes.

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Time Charterparty Clause 6; Trading Intentions/limits -The areas of the world in which the vessel is to be employed should be entered-eg worldwide but always within Institute Warranty Limits and parts of the world specifically excluded from the permissible trading area.

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Time Charterparty Clause 12; Cargo Intention/exclusions- This includes details of cargoes which can and those which cannot be carried. Vessel condition-Just as for voyage charterparties an undertaking by the vessel’s owners that the vessel is in good

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Time Charterparty Clause 1; Owner’s Responsibilities-Lists what an owner is to provide. Clause 2; Charter’s responsibilities-Lists what a charterer is to provide.

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Time Charterparty Clause 3; Bunkers-It is common practice for time charterers to take over and pay the owner for the bunkers remaining on board a vessel upon delivery on to time charter ,and for owners to act similarly upon redelivery ,the quantities of fuel ,diesel and/or gas oil ,and the prices per tonne of each being negotiated when fixing.

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Time Charterparty Clause 4,5 and 29; Hire-Amount when ,where and to whom hire is payable and arrangements for other payments ,less deductions for items such as port expenses and cash for master Agreement for procedure incase of late payment of hire.

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Time Charterparty Clause 15; Off-Hire- Provisions leading to off-hire situations –eg poor performance ,strike of crew ,drydocking etc- and appropriate deductions form hire payments. Vessel performance-This includes range of speed and consumptions say from 8 knots to 15 knots in both laden and

Type of Charterparties  

Time Charterparty Cargo Claims ;For their mutual benefit it is important that the timecharterers and owners of the time chartered vessels reach an undertaking on how cargo claims will be handled.

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Time Charterparty Clause 8 &9; Master/Officers-The duties of a ship’s master are defined and it is spelt out that although a Master is the owner’s legal servant he must act under the orders of the charterers as far as the employment is concerned.

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Time Charterparty Clause 11; Logbooks-The charterers normally add this clause that they have the right to check a vessel’s performance by reference to a specialised weather routing company eg Ocean routes and in the event that the log books and the independent reports disagree the independent reports take precedence over the log books .This is important in respect of off-hre claims and vessel’s performance.

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Time Charterparty Clause 10; Supercargo/Victualling-Spells out charterer’s right to appoint a supercargo and the costs of exercising this right with regard to meals and accommodation. Clause 38; Pollution-Many states are becoming extremely conscious of pollution of their waterways and coastlines and merchant ship owners must ensure that their vessels comply with a host of international and national legislation in connection with this subject.

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Time Charterparty Clause 19; Salvage-It seems fair that expenses and rewards in cases of salvage should be shared and this is normal practice. Clause 37; Laying up-Unlike tanker time charterparties it is only rarely that dry-cargo owner and time charterers consider the risks of a vessel laying up through lack of employment .What most dry-cargo time charterparties do include ,however is reference to what happens if a vessel is detained in port for periods in excess of 30 days

Type of Charterparties   

Time Charterparty Clause 17; Arbitration –an essential part of any contract For example incase ASBATIME specifies New York since the charterparty is drafted and published by a body of resident in New York.

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Time Charterparty Clause 18; Lien-Just as an element of voyage charters each party’s right of lien must be considered and stipulated. Clause 16; Exceptions-Similar to the voyage charter clause.

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Time Charterparty Clause 8; Bill of Lading-Specifies the manner in which bills of lading are to be drawn up ,the signing of same and protection for an owner in case of paper inconsistencies. Clause 35; Stevedore damage-Provision for notification of stevedore damage and repairs. Signature ;Not to be forgotten.

Type of Charter parties  

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Time Charter: Time charter terms are for longer duration, for a few months to over a year and in certain cases for a number of years. In case of time charter the charterer takes a ship on daily hire basis for a specific time period and utilises it for number of voyages in declared geographical range of ports but is not bound to operate the vessel on fixed routes. The charterer has to ensure that the vessel is not required to sail beyond the International Warranty Limits or in war

Type of Charter parties  

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Time Charter Decision for such operations is entirely the owner’s prerogative. The time charter hires are payable in advance, generally on fortnightly basis. Performance clauses are incorporated in time charter parties. Underperformance on account of speed, excessive fuel consumption and deficiency in cargo handling rates make the owner liable for compensation to the charterer. In some charter parties a certain time period may be allowed for the regular routine maintenance, beyond which the vessel becomes ‘off hire’, and pro rata deductions are made from the time charter hire.

Type of Charter parties

Type of Charter parties  

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Hybrid Charter parties It is becoming increasingly common to see charters which combine some of the aspects of both time and voyage charters ,e.g. (1) Trip Charters i.e. Contracts obliging the charterer to pay hire for the time taken by the ship to complete a specified voyage e.g. round Atlantic voyage.

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Hybrid Charter parties (2) Consecutive voyage charter parties e.g. four consecutive voyages between A and B (3) Slot Charters space sharing agreements i.e. agreements which enable liner operators to utilize empty space on their ships by allowing other operators to use some of the empty capacity in their vessels in exchange for the right to use an equivalent amount of space on the ships of such other operators.

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Hybrid Charter parties Slot Charters This form of arrangement is common in the container trade and remuneration is a complicated equation often calculated with regard to the net profit over a period by all the operators who are part of the arrangement.

Ship Owner’s standpoint 

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From the ship-owners point of view a charter provides income. However the owner has to decide his chartering strategy in order to maximize his income .If the ship is time chartered ,the income of the ship is guaranteed at a fixed period without the need to repeatedly find new employment. However during that period the market rate of hire may go up or down .If the market rate goes down then the Owner will have benefited from the time charter. However if the market rate has increased

Ship Owner’s standpoint 

The Owner may therefore prefer-if he feels that the market rate will improve in the future –to avoid committing his ship to a time charter and fix his ship instead for a voyage charter on the spot market and when lucrative fixtures become available.

The Charterers Requirement 

The charterer is usually either a speculator on the chartering market who hopes to make a profit by a wise strategy of chartering and subchartering or is a trader who needs transportation for his cargo.

The Charterers Requirement 

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Example If the charterer is a trader who wishes to sell goods on CIF terms then ,if he does not own a ship he will need to charter one in order to satisfy his obligation under the cargo sale contract to transport the goods to the buyer’s chosen port of delivery. He may either decided to secure transportation for a period ( i.e. time charter) thereby knowing in advance what the transportation cost element of his cargo sale will be for that period when negotiating the price of the goods or alternatively ,he may speculate on the market and secure transportation for a

The Charterers Requirement  

He will negotiating the sale of that cargo ( i.e. voyage charter) Whether the charter is a time charter or a voyage charter the charter will be looking for terms which provide him with the maximum flexibility to control the employment of the ship since his transportation requirements may well change depending on the requirements of the cargo sale contract.

Terms of the Charter 

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Conditions ,Warranties and In nominate Terms Warranty is a term of less importance ,the breach of which will normally allow the innocent party to claim damages but not to terminate the contract.

Terms of the Charter  

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Conditions ,Warranties and In nominate Terms Condition is a term of such importance that any breach of it will entitle the innocent party to terminate the contract forthwith. Example; (a) A statement that the ship is fully classed (b) The duty to proceed on a voyage without deviation. (c ) A statement that the vessel is

Terms of the Charter 

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Conditions ,Warranties and In nominate Terms Conditions; Example; (d) A statement relating to the ship’s flag in wartime. (e) A statement that no dangerous on unlawful goods will be shipped

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Conditions ,Warranties and In nominate Terms In nominate ( or Intermediate terms) In general it appears that terms relating to the vessel’s description will be treated as intermediate terms in which case the question of whether or not the charter can be terminated will depend upon the

Terms which are implied by law 

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Even when the charter is silent on a particular issue ,the law may imply a term if it is necessary to do so it give business efficacy to the contract. The court will not be over ready to do so and will certainly not do so merely to save one of the parties from a bad deal or to make the contract fairer Prima facie that which in any contract is left to be implied and need not be expressed is something so obvious that it goes without saying so that if while the parties were making their bargain ,an officious bystander were to suggest some

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Examples (1) That the ship is seaworthy (2) That the owner will proceed with the voyage with reasonable dispatch (3) That the charterer will not ship dangerous cargo. (4) That the port nominated by the charter will be safe for the vessel

Chartering Operations  

Liner Tramping

Chartering Operations  

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Liner Operations Liner shipping is associated with fixed sailing schedules of vessels, providing predetermined sailing frequencies, range of the sailing dates, fixed routes and range of ports that are covered on the voyages. The system comprises sharing of cargo capacities of member shipping lines on agreed tariff rates to organise reliable and regular sailing patterns.

Chartering Operations  

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Liner Operations The ships operating on liner terms may be general cargo ships carrying break bulk cargo, container vessels, Ro-Ro vessels etc. Liner vessels carry a mix of smaller parcels of different types of cargoes during the same voyage. When vessels are operated under liner terms the applicable freight rates are normally those that are negotiated and decided by the Liner Conferences. The conferences publish the schedule of freight rates and conditions for carriage. These freight rates remain in force for long periods and have provisions of adjustments e.g. surcharge for fuel prices, undue delays in some ports etc.

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Liner Operations Marketing; In context of shipping it refers to marketing of the ship’s services (space for cargo). Securing cargo for ships involves continuous market survey, advertising ship’s voyage schedules and direct contact with the clients. Shipping company may have a marketing department with professionals dedicated to canvassing for cargo and related documentation.

Chartering Operations  

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Operations on Tramping Terms Vessels operating on tramping terms are mostly those carrying bulk cargoes which may be dry bulk cargoes like ore, coal, grain etc. or liquid bulk cargoes like crude oil, petroleum products, chemicals etc. Tramping terms normally mean carriage of one commodity of cargo involving one shipper, one consignee and one bill of lading. Although at times there may be more number of consignees and cargo parcels carried under different bills of lading.

Chartering Operations  

Operation on Tramping Terms The freight rate or hire rate of a vessel is agreed upon, between the ship owner or operating owner and the cargo owner or shipper. Negotiations are made through intermediaries known as the owner’s brokers and charterers’ agents who match requirements of cargoes with the ships and vice a versa.

Chartering Operations  

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Operations on Tramping Terms They get paid for their services by way of brokerage and address commission respectively. The agreements for carriage of cargo between the owners and the charterers are known as charter parties. There are different types of charter parties for different types of cargoes, geographical locations, terms for carriage, handling of cargoes etc. The standard formats of charter parties facilitate faster agreements as most terms and conditions are known to both

Chartering Operations  

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Operations on Tramping Terms There are different types of charter parties for different types of cargoes, geographical locations, terms for carriage, handling of cargoes etc. The standard formats of charter parties facilitate faster agreements as most terms and conditions are known to both the parties.

Chartering Operations 

Operations on Tramping Terms

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Standard formats have been developed or approved by internationally reputed institutions like Baltic and International Maritime Council (BIMCO); International Association of Independent Tanker Owners (INTERTANKO); General Council of British Shipping (GCBS); Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers; Association of Shipbrokers and Agents USA etc. Amendments in a charter party is made as necessary for a specific voyage by inclusions/replacements/removal of clauses on the basis of agreements between the two parties for

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Operations on Tramping Terms:  

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Voyage estimating: Voyage estimating is an important function under chartering and operations. It is a process of estimating viability of a voyage. It involves estimation of expected revenue and expenses that will have to be incurred for making a prospective voyage and is an essential exercise to find the best option out of different alternatives that may be available for a ship’s employment. Offers for prospective employment are compared on a common datum of earnings, which may be either daily Gross Operating Profit (GOP) also called Gross Daily Surplus, Nett Daily Surplus, the TC Rate or Daily Yield

Operations on Tramping Terms: 

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When whole ship is fixed on a voyage charter and the freight rates are applied on the basis of per tonne of cargo it becomes desirable to load maximum amount of cargo. Then it becomes necessary to calculate the maximum quantity of cargo that can be carried for the purpose of voyage estimation. This calculation involves taking into consideration the DWT, hold capacities, stowage factor, available depths of water in the loading and discharging ports, geographical areas the ship is required to trade, seasonal draught restrictions, variation of draught that may be encountered due to the change in water density, quantity of fuel and water needed for the voyage and ship’s

Operations on Tramping Terms: 

.On the expense side the costs and time for cargo handling, costs for river or canal transit as applicable, cost of fuel, vessel’s standing charges etc. are calculated to assess the voyage viability.

Operations on Tramping Terms:  

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Operating Expenses: The expenses involved in ship operations are generally classified in two types. First are those that are incurred when the ship actually makes a voyage, whether it is loaded with cargo or is on ballast. The expenses are termed as direct operating expenses (DOE). The second types are those that need to be incurred irrespective of whether the vessel is sailing or not. These are indirect operating expenses (IOE) also called standing charges or the running cost.

Operations on Tramping Terms: 

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Number of estimations are made, with slightly varied freight rates e.g. in steps of 10 cents per tonne within the expected range. This done for each of the prospective voyage to assess viability of voyages as well as to facilitate negotiations. For the purpose of voyage estimations standard forms are used by the estimators. Apart from providing a standard, the use of forms provides and assurance to the estimator that no details are left out. The forms are also helpful in assessing the actual value of the estimations after the voyage has been completed as well as serve as a reference for future estimations

Operations on Tramping Terms:  

Computer Programmes: Custom built computer software programmes are now available for the purpose of voyage estimation. The computer database holds the ships’ particulars including fuel consumption at different speeds that in the normal range of operations. Based on the essential parameters programmed into it, the system provides available deadweight capacity once information such as draught; density of water and bunker remaining on board are entered while it

Operations on Tramping Terms:  

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Computer Programmes: The programme provides shortest distances between link ports like Singapore, Suez, Panama etc, requiring only additional distances to be entered in. The programme also calculates the ship’s draughts applicable to the load line zones deduced from the dates of the prospective voyage. It is integrated with updated information on the daily bunker prices at major bunker ports to provide suitable bunkering options on the ports en-route. In case programmed for tankers it can provide tank wise capacities taking into consideration the volume variations due to temperatures as well as

Operations on Tramping Terms:  

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Computer Programs The programme provides a number of figures for TC rates based on small step variations (10 cents per tonne) of freight rates.

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" BIMCO NEWS RELEASE MONDAY 29TH JULY 2002“ BIMCO, the world's largest shipping organisation, has just added NORGRAIN '89 to its innovative Internet Document Editing Application (idea), officially launched a year ago in Beijing. The number of companies using idea now exceeds 200 and includes not only ship-owners and shipbrokers, but also ship management companies, port agents and law firms

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In addition to numerous conventional voyage and time charter parties, idea offers electronic versions of ship and crew management agreements, towage contracts, bills of lading and statements of fact.

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BIMCO's idea comes with free access to a comprehensive library of popular standard shipping forms, to which BIMCO will add new forms on a regular basis. Among the documents currently available on the system are:

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Various BIMCO Contracts;

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AMWELSH 93 BALTIME 1939 BARECON 89 BIMCO STANDARD BUNKER CONTRACT 2001 BOXTIME BPTIME 3 CONGENBILL 1994

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Various BIMCO Contracts; CONLINEBILL 2000 CONLINEBOOKING 2000 CREWMAN A CREWMAN B FUELCON GENCON 94 GENTIME HEAVYCON

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Various BIMCO Contracts; HYDROCHARTER NORGRAIN 89 SALEFORM 87 SALEFORM 93 SHIPMAN 98 SLOTHIRE Statement of Facts (short form) SUPPLYTIME 89 SYNACOMEX 2000 TOWCON TOWHIRE VOLCOA WORLDFOOD 99.

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More information about BIMCO's idea can be obtained from BIMCO's web site at www.bimco.dk/idea.

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Relationship between the Charter party and Bills of Lading

In the vast majority of cases a charterer is either a trader who is selling or buying goods or is someone acting for such a party vis-à-vis the ship-owner and the main purpose of a chartered ship is to carry goods to the satisfaction of a contract for the International sale of goods. The ability of the charterer to obtain a bill of lading from the ship is a fundamental requirement since without a bill of lading ,the trader will have great difficulty in

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Relationship between the Charter party and Bills of Lading

Important points to remember The seller often knows nothing of the fundamental standing of the buyer and is taking the risk in considering his good unless he can reasonably certain of being paid for them. The obvious solution that of demanding payment in advance is unlikely to appeal to the buyer ,who may have no reason to trust the seller to ship goods of the promised quantity and description.

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Relationship between the Charter party and Bills of Lading

Important points to remember The buyer is not usually present or represented at the load port and is not therefore in a position to inspect the goods. Furthermore even after the shipment so long as the cargo remains at sea its quantity and condition cannot be inspected by any further potential buyer.

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Relationship between the Charter party and Bills of Lading

Important points to remember The cargo whilst at sea cannot be physically transferred to a new buyer. The only way in which the seller can effect a transfer of any part of such cargo is by transferring instead a document of title which is accepted as being the documentary equivalent of that

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Relationship between the Charter party and Bills of Lading

The Bills of lading was invented to cure these difficulties and has the following functions; (1) It is a receipt given by the carrier for the goods which describes the apparent order and condition and quantity or weight of the goods on shipment ;and (2) It is a contract of carriage which sets out the terms under which the goods are to be carried by the ship. It is a transferable document of title

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Relationship between the Charter party and Bills of Lading

Payment for the goods can therefore be made against the bill of lading and bill can be negotiated ( provided it has been made out to order) from one holder to another ,thereby transferring from one holder to another the right to obtain delivery of the goods from the ship.

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Relationship between the Charter party and Bills of Lading

A sea waybill-otherwise known as a waybill is also a receipt and a contract of carriage. However it is not treated as a document of title since unlike Bill of Lading it not negotiable and remains at all times a contract with the shipper. Since the sea waybill is neither negotiable nor a document of title it is not well suited to transactions involving documentary credits because banks tend to place great importance on security.

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Relationship between the Charter party and Bills of Lading

Sea waybill should therefore be used only when there is no intention of onselling the goods during the course of the voyage. For this reason they are used most often in the container trade

Relationship between the Charter party and Bills of Lading  

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Which is the governing contract of carriage-The Charter Party or the Bill of Lading? Since the bill of lading is a receipt for the shipment of goods ,it will come into operation once those goods have been shipped. However if the vessel has been chartered it will probably come into operation as a result of orders which have already been given by the

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Relationship between the Charter party and Bills of Lading Which is the governing contract of carriage-The

Charter Party or the Bill of Lading? However since the Bill of Lading is also a contract of carriage of goods a potential conflict arises between the two contracts. It would be commercial nonsense for there to be two contracts between the same two parties for the carriage of the same goods on the same voyage. Accordingly the law has adopted a common sense approach and has held that when a bill of lading is held by a party who already has a charterparty contract with the person who is the carrier under the bill of lading ,the bill is to be treated as a receipt and a document of title-but not as a

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Relationship between the Charter party and Bills of Lading

Which is the governing contract of carriage-The Charter Party or the Bill of Lading? However once that Bill of Lading is endorsed to a party who is not a party to the charter party then in his hands ,the bill of lading operates not only as a receipt and a document of title but also as a contract of carriage between him and the carrier.

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Relationship between the Charter party and Bills of Lading Which is the governing contract of

carriage-The Charter Party or the Bill of Lading? This is explained by Evans LJ in the case of Island Archon Legal relations between shipowner and charterer are governed by their contract contained in the charterparty. When a bill of lading is issued or is transferred to the owner or person entitled to possession of the cargo who is not the charterer ,then it contains or evidences a separate contract between the shipowner and that other person.

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Relationship between the Charter party and Bills of Lading Which is the governing contract of

carriage-The Charter Party or the Bill of Lading? Example 1 A is a seller of goods on CIF terms to B .Under that contract it is the duty of A to arrange the transportation of the goods to B and in order to perform his duties under the sale of contract. A charters a ship from her owner C Once the cargo has been shipped a bill of lading is signed by the ship’s master on behalf of his owner as carriers and released to A as shipper.

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Relationship between the Charter party and Bills of Lading Which is the governing contract of

carriage-The Charter Party or the Bill of Lading? Example 1 Whilst the bill of lading is held by A it does not operate as a contract of carriage between A and C since there is already a Charterparty contract between those two parties. When the bill of lading is endorsed by A to B pursuant to the contract of sale then ,in the hands of B it operates as a contract of carriage between B and C since there is no charter party contract between B and C.

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Relationship between the Charter party and Bills of Lading Which is the governing contract of

carriage-The Charter Party or the Bill of Lading? Example 2 A sells B on FOB terms .In this case the duty to provide the transportation falls on B and he charters the ship C .Once the cargo has been shipped the master releases the bill of lading to A as shipper. Whilst the bill of lading is held by A it operates as a contract of carriage between A and C since there is no charter party contract between A and C.

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Relationship between the Charter party and Bills of Lading

Which is the governing contract of carriage-The Charter Party or the Bill of Lading? Example 2 Once the bill of lading is endorsed by A to B the bill of lading will not operate as a contract of carriage between B and C since there is already a charter party contract between B and C. Once the bill is further endorsed by B to D it operates as a contract of carriage between D and C since there is no charter party contract between D and C.

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Relationship between the Charter party and Bills of Lading

Conflicting duties under the Charter Party and the Bill of Lading Once the cargo has been shipped under a Chartered vessel it is clear that the ship owner can be a party to different contracts( the charter party and the bill of lading) with two different contracting parties (the charterer under the charter party and the consignee under the bill of lading). Therefore unless the two contracts are on back to back terms there is a potential for confusion and conflict.

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Relationship between the Charter party and Bills of Lading Conflicting duties under the Charter Party

and the Bill of Lading Example 1 Employment orders given by the charterer under the charter party may put the owner in breach of his obligations to the cargo owner under the bill of lading. An order given by a charterer to change the port of discharge from Port A to B after the Bills of lading have been released for Port A would if the shipowner complied with them make him guilty of deviation under the bill of lading contract. This could seriously prejudice his P&I cover ( Insurance)

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Relationship between the Charter party and Bills of Lading

Conflicting duties under the Charter Party and the Bill of Lading Example The issue of a bill of lading may seriously diminish the effectiveness of rights which the owner may have under the charter. For example an owner has the right under Clause 5 of the NYPE form of charter to withdraw the vessel from the charterer’s employment if hire has not punctually been paid.

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Relationship between the Charter party and Bills of Lading Conflicting duties under the Charter

Party and the Bill of Lading Example However if a bill of lading has been issued in the meantime a withdrawal may be not much use to the ship owner since he completely separate obligations to the cargo owner under the bills of lading will continue These obligations include the duty to proceed to and deliver the cargo at the port specified in the bill of lading even though the bill of lading freight may already have been pre-paid to the

Relationship between the Charter party and Bills of Lading   

Conflicting duties under the Charter Party and the Bill of Lading Example Indeed the owner may even have to pay out of his own pocket port expenses ,stevedoring charges and other costs which should have been for the time charterer’s account under the time charter if the charter had not been terminated by the

Oil Tanker Freights  

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AVERAGE FREIGHT RATE ASSESSMENT (AFRA) Introduction

AFRA and its Terms of Reference was originally laid down and sponsored by Shell and subsequently BP for their internal use. In 1982, shell and BP stopped sponsoring it. It is now compiled by the London Tanker Brokers Panel and is based on information relating to transport agreements supplied by various oil companies and also from all known fixtures concluded on the open

Oil Tanker Freights 

AVERAGE FREIGHT RATE ASSESSMENT (AFRA)

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Principle To establish an average transportation cost per ton in a given month for vessel in different size categories. To represents the cost of all chartered tonnage actually operating in the month being assessed, irrespective of when the vessel was fixed. Fixtures concluded during the period of assessment will not affect the result unless such vessel is actually performing a

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Oil Tanker Freights  

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Who uses AFRA and why? It removes the variable factors in shipping costs so that the rate paid by the affiliate reflects the cost of chartered tonnage operating in the month being calculated. It takes into account transport costs on a worldwide basis including spot market factor for that month. It is also used for transactions between oil traders and also by government bodies

Oil Tanker Freights       

AFRA rate DWT categories General purpose – 16,500/24,000 Medium range – 25,000/44,999 Large range 1 – 45,000/79,999 Large range 2 – 80,000/159,999 VLCC – 160,000/319,999 ULCC – 320,000/549,999

Oil Tanker Freights   

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Vessels not included in the assessment Government-owned vessels except when on commercial charter Vessels employed in specialized trades such as the carriage of clean oils, petrochemicals, lube oils, bitumen, etc. Vessels employed in protected trades such as the U.S. Jones Act trade. Components in each size category Company vessels Vessels on long term charter (>18 months) Vessels on short term charter (