CHARTER PARTIES


GENCON - Clause 6

Laytime


INTRODUCTION


CLAUSE 6


  6. Laytime 89
* (a) Separate laytime for loading and discharging 90
  The cargo shall be loaded within the number of running days/hours as 91
  indicated in Box 16, weather permitting, Sundays and holidays excepted, 92
  unless used, in which event time used shall count 93
  The cargo shall be discharged within the number of running days/hours as 94
  indicated in Box 16, weather permitting, Sundays and holidays excepted, 95
  unless used, in which event time used shall count. 96
* (b) Total laytime for loading and discharging 97
  The cargo shall be loaded and discharged within the number of total running 98
  days/hours as indicated in Box 16, weather permitting, Sundays and holidays 99
  excepted, unless used, in which event time used shall count. 100
* Commencement of laytime (loading and discharging) 101
  Laytime for loading and discharging shall commence at 13.00 hours, if notice of 102
  readiness is given up to and including 12.00 hours, and at 06.00 hours next 103
  working day if notice given during office hours after 12.00 hours. Notice of 104
  readiness at loading port to be given to the Shippers named in Box 17 or if not 105
  named, to the Charterers or their agents named in Box 18. Notice of readiness 106
  at the discharging port to be given to the Receivers or, if not known, to the 107
  Charterers or their agents named in Box 19. 108
  If the loading/discharging berth is not available on the Vessel's arrival at or off 109
  the port of loading/discharging, the Vessel shall be entitled to give notice of 110
  readiness within ordinary office hours on arrival there, whether in free pratique 111
  or not, whether customs cleared or not. Laytime or time on demurrage shall 112
  then count as if she were in berth and in all respects ready for loading/ 113
  discharging provided that the Master warrants that she is in fact ready in all 114
  respects. Time used in moving from the place of waiting to the loading/ 115
  discharging berth shall not count as laytime. 116
  If, after inspection, the Vessel is found not to be ready in all respects to load/ 117
  discharge time lost after the discovery thereof until the Vessel is again ready to 118
  load/discharge shall not count as laytime. 119
  Time used before commencement of laytime shall count. 120
* Indicate alternative (a) or (b) as agreed, in Box 16. 121

The laytime is the time, which according to the charter party, is allowed for the loading and discharging of the cargo (the allowed time).

The laytime is one of the elements which involves most discussions during the negotiations of a voyage charter agreement and which causes most arguments between the Ship Owner and the Charterer. It is consequently necessary to formulate the wording of the Laytime Clause as clearly as possible by clarifying or completing the printed the text, which is not always very clear, in additional clauses.

Under a voyage charter, the financial risks, associated with a possible delay of the ship are solely for the owner. In the harbour the risks are spread and can be born partly by the owner and partly by the Charterer.

If the allowed time for loading and discharging (thus the laytime) has been exceeded, then the Charterer must pay compensation to the owner called demurrage for the time lost in port and this according to a set amount in the charter party. If the reverse happens, in other words if the ship is loaded and/or discharged sooner then foreseen, then the owner will have to pay the Charterer a compensation called despatch. 

In order to be able to calculate the laytime adequately, the owner and the Charterer must have a number of essential facts at their disposal such as:







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