Wednesday 6 October 2010

Conclusion

To the Charterers' satisfaction, the Owners have to accept the Charterers' point and acknowledge the despatch due to Charterers, as the shipowners have no chance to prove that any hold (at least one) was prepared for inspection and therefore ready for loading.

Tuesday 21 September 2010

Laytime calculation for load : Charterers' point of view

The Charterers have a different point of view from the Shipowner, and present their calculation and supporting comments as follows:

Date From Till Comments Coefficient Time used
06 July, Tue 08:00 24:00 0.0 00:00
07 July, Wed 00:00 24:00 0.0 00:00
08 July, Thu 00:00 24:00 0.0 00:00
09 July, Fri 00:00 24:00 0.0 00:00
10 July, Sat 00:00 24:00 0.0 00:00
11 July, Sun 00:00 10:25 0.0 00:00

Total time used: 00:00:00 [days:hours:minutes]
Total saved: 5.0262 days
Despatch due to Charterers 17591.76 USD

The Charterers appeal to the layday/cancelling clause of the Charter party where it is stated that notice of readiness to be always accompanied by original pass(es) of the surveyor. Therefore the vessel was not loadready when tendering Notice of Readiness, which is accepted only on Saturday 17:15 after approval of holds by the Ministry of agriculture surveyor. Therefore laytime not to count neither before Saturday 17:15 nor after (due to SSHEX clause of the charter party).

Therefore the despatch due to Charterers should amount to 17591.76USD, which the Charterers ask the Owners to comment and/or confirm.

Friday 17 September 2010

Laytime calculation for load : Owners' vision

We will firstly present the version of laytime calculation proposed by the Shipowner and then provide supporting comments to Shipowner's point of view.

Cargo quantity: 30157.296 metric tons
Load rate 6000 metric tons per day
Time allowed 05:00:37 [days:hours:minutes]
Rate of Demurrage 7000 USD per day pro rata
Rate of Despatch 3500 USD per day pro rata
NOR tendered: 05 July,2010; 08:15 Monday
Laytime started: 06 July,2010; 08:00 Tuesday

SHEX 1200 SAT - 0800 MON

Date From Till Comments Coefficient Time used
July 06, Tue 08:00 24:00 1.0 16:00
July 07, Wed 00:00 10:55 1.0 10:55
12:15 13:15 1.0 01:00
08 July, Thu 00:00 24:00 0.0 00:00
09 July, Fri 00:00 24:00 0.0 00:00
10 July, Sat 00:00 24:00 0.0 00:00
11 July, Sun 00:00 10:25 0.0 00:00

Total time used: 01:03:55 [days:hours:minutes]
Total saved: 3.8630 days
Despatch due to Charterers 13520.58 USD


The shipowner argues that the vessel tendered Notice of Readiness on the 5th of July during office hours, therefore, according to the Charter party (see extracts from the Charter party previously discussed), laytime to start counting next day, on the 6th of July, at 08:00 and continues till 10:55 next day, the 7th of July, as the berth was occupied (see the Statement of Facts, previously presented).

Laytime stops counting at 10:55 as the anchor was up for proceeding to anchorage #2 for inspection. The laytime resumes counting from 12:15 till 13:15 as the vessel is idle waiting for preloading inspection. Unfortunately, the holds are reproved and the vessel fails to pass inspection and therefore has to proceed to anchorage #4 for additional cleaning. The time not to count till the next inspection. The vessel is cleaning holds till the end of the day on Thursday, and also on Friday and Saturday, till 14:00, when she is finally ready to proceed for new inspection. However, the laytime stops counting at 12:00 on Saturday (SSHEX 12:00 clause of the Charter party) and not to resume till 08:00 Monday. However, loading is completed at 10:55 on Sunday. Time not to count. Time for fumigation not to count as well.

Therefore the Shipowners consider despatch of 13520.58USD due to Charterers, and request the Charterers to provide comments and/or confirmation onto the Owners' calculation.

Extracts from the Charter Party

In order to calculate laytime, we have to look through the relevant clauses of the charter party, which may read as follows.

Time for loading

Vessel to be loaded and spout trimmed at the average rate of 6.000 metric tons per weather working day of 24 consecutive hours, Sundays and holidays excepted - time from 1200 hours on Saturdays to 0800 hours Monday not to count even if used. At the loading port vessel is to tender Notice of Readiness during local office hours and time to count 0800 am next working day. Notice of Readiness is not to be tendered prior to laydays nor within excepted periods.

Laydays/Cancelling

Time for loading not to commence before 0001 hours on the 5th day of July,2010.
Should the vessel not be passed by any national and/or other regulatory bodies, as may be required, and/or independent surveyors, as selected by Charterers, as ready for cargo in every respect and in all compartments and valid written (or by cable/telex/e-mail provided local regulations permit) notice of readiness always accompanied by original pass(es) of said bodies and/or surveyor(s) not have been received at the office of Charterers or their Agents at her loading port before 2400 hors on the 10th day of July 2010, the Charterers or their Agents shall within 6(six) hours after the time of presentation of said bodies and/or surveyor's original pass(es) have the option of cancelling this Charter Party.


Demurrage/Despatch

Demurrage at loading and/or discharging ports, if incurred, to be paid at the rate of US$7000.- (seven thousand dollars) per day pro rata for part of a day.
Any delays caused by ice, floods, quarantine, export or import prohibitions/restrictions, or any other acts of governments, or any other events of "fource majeure" will not count as laytime unless the vessel is already on demurrage. Despatch money earned at loading port(s) to be paid by Owners at half the Demurrage rate for all working time saved at loading port(s) and shall be deducted in acordance with the Charterers' estimate from freight and shall be adjusted on basis of statement of facts. Despatch money earned at discharging port(s) to be paid by Owners at half the Demurrage rate for all working time saved at discharging port(s). Laytime is non-reversile.

Shifting

At load and discharge ports, shifting time from anchorage to first load/discharge berth not to count as laytime, but shifting in between berths is to count as laytime and all shifting expenses are to be for Owner's account.

Fumigation

If required, Charterers privilege to fumigate cargo at their risk, expense and actual time used to count as laytime or time on demurrage, excepted periods always excepted. Master/Owners are not to clause/delay release of Bills of lading by reason of fumigation. Master to be officially advised for the precautions required to be followed during the voyage due to such fumigation(s).

Wednesday 15 September 2010

Notice of Readiness (NOR)

The Notice of Readiness is tendered by the Master to notify concerned parties (the Charterer, the Shipowner and the Agent) that the vessel has reached agreed point (e.g. commercial limits of the port) in loadready condition, and that the vessel is in all respect ready to commence loading (or discharging) the cargo.

For example, NOR may look like as follows: MV LIN QIN/OGHU at 0815 LT (1115 UTC) on 5th of June anchored at Santos anchorage No. 5 because the berth is occupied. Position 2403S/04613N. On arrival at this position vessel is considered as arived vessel at the port of Santos and she is in every respect ready to commence loading cargo of corn in bulk ttl abt 30120 mts into holds Nos. 1,2,3,4 and 5 according to the terms and conditions of the Charter party dated 20/05/2010. Valid as Notice of Readiness.

Statement of Facts (SOF)

We herebelow present an example of Statement Of Facts


Date From Till Fact
July 05th, 2010 (Mon) 08:15 Vesel arrived/ NOR tendered by Master / Vessel anchored
08:15 24:00 Vessel anchored at anchorage#5 waiting berth vacancy
July 06th, 2010 (Tue) 00:00 24:00 Vessel anchored at anchorage#5 waiting berth vacancy
July 07th, 2010 (Wed) 00:00 10:55 Vessel anchored at anchorage#5 waiting berth vacancy
10:55 Anchor up for proceeding to anchorage #2 for pre holds inspection
10:55 12:15 Vessel approaching/anchored at anchorage #2
12:15 13:15 Vessel at anchorage #2 waiting surveyor for preloading inspection
13:15 14:30 Holds inspection performed by Control Union / All holds reproved
14:30 14:45 Anchor up for proceeding to anchorage #4 for additional holds cleaning
14:45 15:40 Vessel approaching/anchored at anchorage #4
15:40 24:00 Vessel anchored at anchorage #4 waiting berth vacancy and cleaning holds
July 08th, 2010 (Thu) 00:00 24:00 Vessel anchored at anchorage #4 waiting berth vacancy and cleaning holds
July 09th, 2010 (Fri) 00:00 12:30 Vessel anchored at anchorage #4 waiting berth vacancy and cleaning holds
12:30 24:00 Berth vacant/ Vessel anchored at anchorage #4 cleaning cargo holds
July 10th, 2010 (Sat) 00:00 13:00 Berth vacant/ Vessel anchored at anchorage #4 cleaning cargo holds
13:00 14:00 Anchor up for berthing at ABT Terminal / POB for berthing
14:00 15:10 Berthing maneuvers / All fast alongside at ABT
15:10 15:25 Gangway preparation by ship's crew
15:25 16:00 Commenced initial draft survey / waiting surveyor from Ministry of agriculture
16:00 17:15 All cargo holds inspected and approved by Ministry of agriculture surveyor
17:15 17:25 Preparation ashore by port operators / completed initial draft survey
17:25 17:40 Preparation onboard by ship's crew
17:40 Commenced loading operations at hold #2 and # 4
17:40 20:50 Loading in progress hold #2 and # 4
20:50 20:55 Loading in progress hold # 4/ Shifting shore loader from #2 to #1
20:55 21:10 Loading stopped / i Shifting shore loader from #2 to #1 and from #4 to #5
21:10 24:00 Loading in progress #1 and #5
July 11th, 2010 (Sun) 00:00 01:30 Loading in progress #1 and #5
01:30 01:50 Loading in progress #5 / Shifting shore loader from #1 to #2
01:50 02:20 Loading in progress #2 and #5
02:20 02:35 Loading in progress #2 /Shifting shore loader from #5 to #4
02:35 04:00 Loading in progress #2 and #4
04:00 04:15 Loading in progress #2 / Defect at shore loader working at #4
04:15 04:45 Loading in progress #2 and #4
04:45 04:55 Loading in progress #4 only
04:55 05:10 Loading stopped / shifting shore loader from #2 to #3
05:10 08:25 Loading in progress #3 only
08:25 09:10 Loading stopped by intermediary draft survey by chief officer
09:10 09:30 Loading in progress #3 only
09:30 09:50 Loading stopped / Shifting shore loader from #3 to #4
09:50 10:25 Loading in progress #4
10:25 Completed loading operations at hold #4
10:25 12:40 Preparing/Signing cargo documents
10:40 12:20 Final draft survey performed as requested by terminal
10:30 11:10 Cargo fumigation performed
12:50 Pilot on board for sailing
12:50 13:08 Unberthing maneuvers
13:08 13:28 Vessel sailed.

Rain periods occured in port during vessel's staying : nihil.

Holidays occured while vessel's stay : nihil.


Given this Statement of Facts and Notice of Readiness, we can now proceed to laytime calculations.

Tuesday 14 September 2010

Preamble

Laytime calculation is a very important part of the freight balance settlement. The Shipowner and the Charterer do their laytime calculations and compare their final figures to come to the final despatch/demurrage settlement: despatch - if the vessel sailed sooner than expected or demurrage - if the vessel was too late to sail as preplanned. Moneywise, despatch is a premium paid by the Shipowner to the Charterer for saving ship's valuable time. While demurrage is a penalty paid by the Charterer to the Shipowner for delaying the vessel beyond the planning horizon. Usually, demurrage equals to the ship's daily revenue, while despatch is half of the demurrage. The Charterers are interested to complete handling the vessel as soon as practically possible to obtain despatch, while the Shipowners are not always keen on being on demurrage as they risk to lose the next valuable deal. The demurrage may be beneficial for the Shipowner when the freight market is becoming weak. Shipagent provides both the Shipowner and the Charterer with the Statement of Facts (SOF) containing the records of operations, timings of events, stoppages, shifts, weather observations (important for weather sensitive cargos) ... etc.

Example of fact may look like as follows:



Date From Till Description
14/09/2010 08:30 15:10 Waiting for berth availability


Both parties decide on which events to count as laytime (and which not) by taking into account the clauses of the governing Charter Party.