Thursday, January 7, 2010

Affreightment- Chartering

Affreightment -about Affreightment

Affreightment also known as ocean freight contracts, the contract of carriage by sea. Is sometimes used to describe the bulk series of voyage charter party. In the Roman lines, Affreightment refers to the charter or lease contract as part of the ship. In the UK, the term used to refer to a bill of lading or lease cargo ship under contract to the charter in accordance with an agreement leasing the ship owner for goods transport, in accordance with the agreed tariff, to the ship owner to pay the freight or rental payments modes of transport. Generally lease the entire boat for more. Boat transport on a regular basis in terms of another mode of operation of ocean-going vessels. It different liner, there is no pre-established timetable, there is no fixed routes, ports of call are not fixed, no fixed rate this. The operation of the ship is based on the ship owners and shipping needs.

Affreightment (Chartering) - characteristics of the transport1.

To transport bulk goods with lower value-based;2. No fixed routes, fixed loading and unloading ports and fixed schedules;3. No fixed tariffs.

Affreightment (Chartering) - Business Categories Charter one. Ting-ching charter (VOYAGECHARTER): short-range rent, it is the owner of the ship by the parties pre-agreed tariffs and conditions of the ship to the charterer to provide all or part of positions, between ports in the specified one or more of voyage designated cargo charter business. Can be divided into:

(1) single-voyage voyage charter (SINGLEVOYAGECHARTER), just rent a voyage charter. The owner is responsible for the specified goods from one port to another port, the goods shipped to the port of destination after discharge, the contract is terminated.

(2) round-trip voyage charter (ROUNDVOYAGECHARTER), contact the rent from the charter voyage, a ship, after the completion of a single voyage, followed by a voyage in the port of discharge (or near the port) loading, driving back to original Cargo Harbor (near the port) discharge, cargo unloaded complete the contract is terminated.

(3) consecutive voyage charter (CONSECUTIVEVOYAGECHARTER), which contact the rent to complete a row of several single-voyage charter or a few round-trip voyage. In this way, the same ship, in the same direction, the same route, a continuous completed the required two or more single-voyage, the contract was ended.

(4) affreightment (CONTRACT OFAFFREIGHTMENT: COA) also known as the big contract.


Chartering - Chartering process Charter charter charter market through (Chartering Market) carried out. In the charter market. The ship owner is the supply side of the ship, while the lessee is the demand side of the ship. In today's highly developed communications technology era, the parties engaged in chartering operations, mostly by telephone, telex, telegram or fax, and other modern means of communication for discussions.

1, chartering broker. In the international charter market, chartering transactions are often not seen by the ship owners and charterers in person to the scene to negotiate directly, but through a charter broker, and signed on behalf of processing. Chartering brokers are very familiar with the charter market conditions, proficiency in charter business. And there is a wealth of knowledge and experience chartering throughout the lease transaction process plays the role of a bridge and intermediary, to play an important role in the smooth transaction.

2, charter inquiry. Inquiry called Inquiry. Usually refers to the carriage of goods by the lessee based on their needs or special requirements of the ship through the charter broker in the charter market, seeking to rent the ship. Inquiry mainly telegram or telex, etc. in writing. Expected conditions of the contents of the lessee should generally include: the need for carriage of cargo type, quantity, port of loading and unloading port, shipment period, or period charter approach, the expected tariff (rents) levels, as well as the details required for the ship description and so on. Inquiry can also be by the cargo owner for the contract while the first through the charter to the charter market with a broker. Inquiry issued by the ship owner should include letting the ship's name, nationality, ship type, ship in bulk and package volume, the time available for hiring, I hope other types of goods contract.

3, charter quote. Price also known as an offer. When the owner of the ship from the ship brokers get tenant inquiry, after a cost estimate or compare the other inquiry, the adoption of a charter broker can provide to the lessee make their own ships and freight rates or rental rates . Quote of the main contents, in addition to the content of inquiry responses and requests, the most important thing is about rent (tariff) levels and selected model contracts and the charter revision to the terms of the model, additional provisions. Offer a "hard bid" and "conditions quotation" of the points, "hard bid" is the immutable condition of offer made to accept the bid on booking the answer, more than the validity of this offer will lapse. In contrast, the "conditional offer" that can change the offer conditions offer.

4, charter counter-offer. Counter-offer is also called counter-offer, in terms of pricing circumstances, the tenant and the owner of the ship between the condition of the offer conditions which are unacceptable to propose amendments, or add or delete content. Or make their own terms is called counter-offer. Inquiry person bargaining meant that bidders were rejected and a new offer starting bid. Therefore, the owner of the charterer of the counter-offer may be fully or may accept the part of the counter-offer, do not agree with some of the proposals put forward counter-offer or a new quotation. This kind of reply to counter-offer conditions or re-make a new offer called the counter-counter-offer (Recount Offer) also known as anti-counter-offer.

5, chartering a firm offer. In a charter deal, after several counter-offer and counter-counter-offer, if both sides agree charterparty terms, a party can be a firm offer, demanding that the other party to make a decision whether the deal. A firm offer, you should list the necessary provisions in the charter party, will the two sides have agreed to the terms and conditions yet to be finalized in the real disk to be determined. At the same time also a limit on validity in the real disk, ask for answer whether to accept the firm offer, and respond within a specified period of validity. If no response was received within the time limit, the firm offer will lapse. Similarly, within the validity period, a firm offer at a party out of the newspaper firm offer can not be revoked or modified, nor can not ask a third party to the other firm offer (Firm Offer).

6, to accept the booking (Acceptance). Accept the booking, also known by the disk drive means the party to the real conditions set out in clear commitment within the validity period. At this point, the contract shall set up a charter. In principle, to accept the booking process is the final stage of a charter. Accept the booking, after a charter negotiations come to an end. 7, booking confirmation. Booking confirmation is the final stage of a charter program, a charter business shall deal. The usual practice is still between the parties to sign a "booking confirmation (FixtureNote)". "Booking Confirmation" absence of a unified format, but its content should be listed in detail the ship owners and charterers in the consistent commitment to rent the course of the main provisions of the parties. Booking confirmation letter signed by both parties, each keeps a reference.

Chartering - Time Charter Contracts Chartering a main provisions:

1. Charter parties to the contract;

2. Ship specifications (including the vessel name, call sign, flag, date of construction, ship-class, registered tons, deadweight, draft, cargo volume, the speed, fuel consumption, Crane Equipment, deck hatches, etc.)

3. Lease;

4. Navigation range;

5. DELIVERY Hong Kong and delivery schedules;

6. Owners supply projects, (such as insurance and maintenance fees, crew wages of the ship);

7. Charterer supply items (such as fuel port charges);

8. Rental rates and method of calculation. Rent is based on the ship every 30 days calculated per dwt, or by calculating the amount of the whole number of ships per day. Example: Ship load of 25,000 tons every 30 days, the rental rate of eight U.S. dollars, a daily rent of 25000 × 8 / 30 = 6666 U.S. Dollar.

9. Procedures and also ship the boat to inform;

10. Off-hire condition of the bill of lading issued;

11. Sublease;

12. The responsibility of the owner and master terms.

Second, special provisions: A. The first clause; B. Terms of war; C. Takings clause; D. Ice provision; E. Terms of General Average; F. Arbitration clause; Chinese charter companies charter contract and the Baltic and International Maritime Association of the "standard time charter contracts" the use of more general use.