Course price

Discounts

10% group discount is available for registering 3 or more participants from the same company.

Overview

Voyage chartering stands as a fundamental aspect of commercial shipping operations. With its contractual arrangements and complex logistical considerations, voyage chartering plays a pivotal role in facilitating the movement of goods worldwide. This is reflected in the wide range of voyage charter parties and stand-alone clauses produced by BIMCO for all aspects of shipping.

The BIMCO Voyage Chartering Masterclass is designed to provide participants with a comprehensive understanding of the principles, practices, and challenges inherent in voyage chartering. Over the course of just two days, we will cover a wide range of aspects, both for the dry and wet side of the business.

What we also aim to provide is a valuable networking platform for participants to connect and exchange ideas. To facilitate this, we will use group case studies to help participants gain a deeper understanding of how disputes and claims can be argued and resolved.

What will you learn?

Day 1

We will cover the fundamental elements of voyage chartering, focusing on recent developments and the roles and responsibilities of key stakeholders.

Overview and developments in Voyage Chartering. We begin by examining the latest updates in voyage chartering, particularly GENCON 2022 and the ETS emission scheme clauses.

Setting the scene: The application of US and Canadian law in voyage chartering. Next, we examine the application of US and Canadian law in voyage chartering, highlighting differences in legal frameworks and their implications for contract interpretation and dispute resolution. This session provides crucial insights into navigating contractual nuances across different jurisdictions, especially using BIMCO contracts, where English law is at the core.

Disputes and Obligations: The shipowner’s and charterers’ duties: We cover the core duties of both the carrier and charterers, emphasising the critical role each plays in ensuring smooth vessel operations and cargo delivery. We examine the obligations, potential disputes, and strategies for effective collaboration. We will conduct a case study to drive home how this can be done effectively.

The nature of B/L’s. The day concludes with an exploration of a wide range of issues related to Bills of Lading (B/L), covering their various forms, functions, and legal implications.

Day 2

Covers a wide range of topics related to the operational and financial particulars of voyage chartering.

Laytime and Demurrage: The session commences with an examination of laytime and demurrage, exploring the financial significance, calculation methods, and contractual obligations. We will explore various scenarios impacting laytime calculations, from commencement to conclusion, and legal provisions governing time-bar clauses.

Decarbonisation Impact: Participants will learn more about the practical application of the BIMCO EU ETS clauses. Understanding how these clauses work and their suitability to specific circumstances is paramount, given their potential to reshape contractual dynamics.

Problem Solving and Dispute Resolution: This segment addresses common challenges in voyage charter performance, from delays and breaches to third-party liability. Using case studies, we will navigate legal doctrines like frustration and force majeure, providing a deeper understanding of dispute resolution strategies.

Letters of Indemnity (LOI): The session concludes with an exploration of LOIs, covering scenarios involving cargo delivery, clean bills, and switch bills of lading.

Why choose to participate?

While each party has basic obligations under voyage charters, the charters are not regulated by compulsory international conventions, and the principle of freedom of contract is absolute. However, there are fundamental obligations that each party must fulfil, such as delivering the cargo safely and paying the freight. In the absence of a single international convention that regulates voyage charters comprehensively, contracts are largely governed by the principles of contract law and the terms negotiated between the parties. The principle of freedom of contract allows parties to negotiate terms that suit their specific needs and circumstances, with relatively few mandatory requirements imposed by law.

This flexibility is a defining characteristic of voyage chartering agreements, allowing parties to tailor their arrangements to meet their commercial objectives.
BIMCO selects hand-picked industry experts who have built careers out of solving complicated voyage chartering issues. The combination of theory, discussion, and casework makes the complexity of voyage chartering disputes clearer and more manageable.

The masterclass is aimed at all practitioners involved in maritime transportation who wish to boost their expert knowledge and become proficient in voyage chartering, both for dry and wet cargoes.

Course certification

Participants will be given the option of taking a final assessment (one-hour open-book test) at the end of the course, and a Certificate of Achievement will be issued with a grade (distinction, merit, or pass). Those not taking the assessment will receive a Certificate of Attendance.

Course materials

BIMCO issues electronic course files as an Adobe PDF file enabling you to make personal notes. All documentation and presentations will be in English. Course access details will be provided once the registration is completed. 

You will also receive access to BIMCO's eLearning module on "Voyage Chartering".

Speakers

Organiser