Laytime, Demurrage & Despatch — Dry Cargo

The shipping adventure, namely the voyage performed for the carriage of cargo, involves four separate parts: the loading voyage (ie the passage in ballast to the port of loading); the loading operation; the carrying voyage; and the discharging operation. The two voyage stages require acts of performance by the shipowner alone and do not concern the charterer — it is the shipowner that bears the primary risk. The other two stages in the loading and discharging ports require acts of performance by both the shipowner and the charterer, and it is the interplay of these which has given rise to so many disputes under the general headings of laytime, demurrage and despatch..

Aim of this course: To give a full understanding of the laytime provisions in dry-cargo charter parties and the steps each party to the contract must take in order to preserve their rights. Participants will further appreciate the reasons for the inclusion of many extra clauses concerning laytime generally and how to interpret the detail that is bound up in each clause relevant to their responsibilities.

Benefits of the Course

By the conclusion of the course, participants should be able to identify the laytime and demurrage clauses in charter parties, establish which clauses are advantageous, amend charters where possible to alter the effect of printed clauses, interpret statements of fact and supporting documents, and work out any demurrage due and, in the case of the dry-cargo, despatch.

"Collecting money due under a contract is never an easy task - don't let a lack of understanding the intricacies of laytime cause an unnecessary loss."

Who Should Attend?

Those who would benefit from participation include demurrage analysts, chartering and claims managers, executives working for dry-cargo vessel owners or operators, cargo shippers and receivers, port agents, risk managers and others involved in the post-fixture aspect of the charter party contract.

Course Highlights

  • How is laytime calculated?
  • When does the (lay)time start to run?
  • What suspends the laytime from running?
  • When does laytime stop running?
  • Commencement of laytime clauses
  • What can invalidate a notice of readiness
  • "Arrived Ship" principles
  • Duration of laytime and its variations
  • The difference between demurrage and detention
  • Charter party demurrage versus sales contract demurrage
  • Reversible / non-reversible laytime
  • All time saved versus working timed saved
  • Time bar provisions
  • Interpreting statements of fact

Online Course information

28 June – 1 July 2021
Each day will consist of three lectures of 45 minutes with two fifteen minute breaks

Course fee

The cost of the course is £1,500 per person, which includes course tutorials and the accompanying text containing the course material. Participants will receive a Course Certificate upon satisfactory completion of the programme.

Programme and Booking Form

To download a Programme and Timetable, Click Here

For a Booking Form,  click here.