Time Charters - Beyond the Basics for Maritime Professionals with Michael Howard KC

Introduction

A fundamental distinction between time charters and voyage charterparties is that in the former the remuneration is hire rather than freight. The charters must contain the parties’ agreement as to the period for which that hire is payable.

That agreement may give rise to disputes as to its interpretation or effect.

Irrespective of the nationality of the owners and charterers of the ship, such disputes are commonly governed by English law and are frequently referred to decisions of English courts or arbitrators.

What You Will Learn

This live and interactive session will cover the following:

• Ascertainment of the period
• Period charters
• Trip charters
• Neither of the above
• Commencement of period: delivery
• Termination of the period: redelivery
• Time of termination
• Contractual termination time - express and implied margins
• Flexibility drafted into the charter period
• ‘About’
• ‘Fifteen days [e.g.] more or less at charterers' option’
• Combination of ‘about’ with a Dione-type range?
• ‘Without guarantee’
• Options to extend
• The last voyage
• Can the ship be ordered on the voyage proposed by the charterers as the last voyage?
• If the ship is sent on a legitimate last voyage but is redelivered after the voyage should have ended, do the owners have a claim for damages or only for hire?
• The legitimate last voyage
• Notice of redelivery
• Remedies
• Repudiatory breach
• Damages
• Offhire: its effect on the duration of the charter period

Recording of live sessions: Soon after the Learn Live session has taken place you will be able to go back and access the recording - should you wish to revisit the material discussed.