COURSE OVERVIEW:

Charter Party, Laytime, and Demurrage Management for Operators is a specialized commercial program focused on the financial and legal mechanics of ship employment. This course provides an in-depth analysis of the various forms of charter parties, including Voyage and Time Charters, and the specific clauses that govern the rights and obligations of shipowners and charterers. Participants will explore the transition from the negotiation of the "fixture" to the practical execution of the voyage, focusing on the operator's role in protecting the company’s commercial interests.

The scope of this training involves a rigorous examination of laytime definitions and calculations. Attendees will learn to interpret the "Notice of Readiness" (NOR) and determine exactly when the laytime clock starts and stops according to the "Charter Party" terms. The course details the complexities of "Statement of Facts" (SOF) documentation, focusing on how to account for weather delays, equipment breakdowns, and port congestion to ensure that demurrage or despatch is calculated with mathematical and legal precision.

Coverage also includes the management of disputes arising from cargo operations and vessel performance. Participants will examine the legal precedents surrounding "Arrived Ship" status and the "reachable on arrival" concept. By integrating contractual knowledge with practical calculation skills, this course equips vessel operators, post-fixture managers, and port agents with the expertise to minimize idle time and maximize the profitability of maritime assets.

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

After completion of this course, the participants will be able to:

1. Distinguish between different types of Charter Parties and their operational impacts.
2. Interpret key clauses in standard forms such as GENCON, ASBATANKVOY, and NYPE.
3. Validate the legitimacy of a Notice of Readiness (NOR) under various conditions.
4. Define the concepts of "Arrived Ship" and "Reachable on Arrival."
5. Execute precise laytime calculations for dry and liquid bulk cargoes.
6. Identify "Exceptions to Laytime", including weather, strikes, and holidays.
7. Calculate Demurrage and Despatch payments accurately based on the SOF.
8. Analyze the "Statement of Facts" (SOF) to identify discrepancies and errors.
9. Manage "Deadfreight" claims and calculations for short-shipped cargo.
10. Navigate the legal principles of "Once on Demurrage, Always on Demurrage."
11. Coordinate effectively between the ship, shore, and charterer during port stays.
12. Mitigate the risk of commercial disputes through proactive documentation.
13. Utilize digital tools and software for automated laytime management.

TARGET AUDIENCE:  

Vessel Operators, Post-Fixture Managers, Shipbrokers, Port Agents, and Claims Executives.

TRAINING COURSE METHODOLOGY:

A highly interactive combination of lectures, discussion sessions, and case studies will be employed to maximise the transfer of information, knowledge, and experience. The course will be intensive, practical, and highly interactive. The sessions will start by raising the most relevant questions and motivating everybody to find the right answers. The attendants will also be encouraged to raise more of their questions and to share in developing the right answers using their analysis and experience. There will also be some indoor experiential activities to enhance the learning experience. Course material will be provided in PowerPoint, with necessary animations, learning videos, and general discussions.

The course participants shall be evaluated before, during, and at the end of the course.

COURSE CERTIFICATE:

National Consultant Centre for Training LLC (NCC) will issue an Attendance Certificate to all participants completing a minimum of 80% of the total attendance time requirement.