TTM15130 - Background material: Shipping contracts
Voyage charterparties
A voyage charterparty is an agreement under which a ship is to load at one or more named ports (or identified berth within a port) a particular specified cargo to be carried to a named discharging port or ports.
The shipowner’s remuneration for performing his obligations under the charterparty is known as freight. It is charged at an amount per deadweight tonne, or as a lump sum for the voyage.
Because a ship operator who voyage charters in has no control over the crew, and thus a more limited control of the ship, a limit has been placed on charters-in ‘otherwise than on bareboat charter terms’ (time and voyage charters) to the extent of not exceeding 75% of the tonnage operated.
Standard voyage charters are produced by organisations such as BIMCO, which may be modified by the addition or subtraction of particular clauses. The Tonnage Tax Technical Adviser can provide further details.
References
| FA00/SCH22/PARA143 (meaning of ‘on bareboat charter terms’) | TTM17791 |
| Operating a ship: chartered to the company | TTM03100 |
| The 75% limit on charters in | TTM05100 |
| Contracts of affreightment | TTM15100 |
| Bareboat charterparties | TTM15110 |
| Time charterparties | TTM15120 |
| Contact points | TTM01120 |