Always Accessible or Always Afloat

Always accessible or always afloat is a maritime term which is generally used in charter party contracts. 

This term in charter party contracts which stipulates that the charterer must not order the ship to a port or berth where she would touch the bottom or perhaps be unavailable at any time due to tidal variations.

Example Usage:

Cementvoy 2006 : Voyage charter party for the transportation of bulk cement

It is agreed between the party mentioned in Box 3 as Owners of the Vessel named in Box 5 (hereinafter referred to as “the Owners”) and the party mentioned in Box 4 as Charterers (hereinafter referred to as “the Charterers”) that: The Vessel shall, as soon as her prior commitments have been completed, proceed to the loading port or place stated in Box 8 or so near thereto as she may safely get and there load alongside the berth as nominated or allocated by the Charterers, where she can lie always safely afloat, a full and complete cargo as described in Box 7 which the Charterers bind themselves to ship, and being so loaded the Vessel shall with all reasonable despatch proceed to the discharging port or place stated in Box 9 as ordered on signing Bills of Lading or so near thereto as she may safely get, and there deliver the cargo alongside the berth as nominated or allocated by the Charterers, where she can lie always safely afloat.

What are the differences between voyage and time charter parties?

Chartering of a vessel is maritime term which is used to describe hiring or renting a vessel especially for bulk cargo transportation.

On the previous articles I have explained voyage charter party contracts and time charter party contracts one by one in detail.

Both time and voyage charters are types of charter party contracts that can used when chartering of vessels for bulk cargo carriage.

There are different standard format time and voyage charter party contracts available that can be used with different type of commodity transportation. For example;

• BIMCHEMTIME 2005 is a standard format time charter party contract, which is created by BIMCO, is used when chartering vessels carrying chemicals in bulk.
• Gencon 94 is a standard format voyage charter party contract, which is created by BIMCO, is used when chartering vessels carrying commodity cargoes in bulk.

Today I would like to explain the main differences between voyage charter party contracts and time charter party contracts.

Voyage Charter Party

I have written couple of articles regarding charter party contracts and charter party bills of lading so far on my website such as what is a charter party bill of lading?, is it possible to submit a charter party bill of lading instead of a marine bill of lading under a letter of credit payment? and who can sign a charter party bill of lading as per UCP 600? and time charter parties.

Today I would like to explain voyage charter party contracts.

Voyage charter party is a type of charter party contract, which is used in maritime industry when chartering bulk cargo vessels for carriage of specific cargo within a pre-determined route.

Other charter party contract types are known as bareboat charter and time charter.

Time Charter Party

I have written couple of articles regarding charter party bills of lading so far on my website such as What is a charter party bill of lading?, Is it possible to submit a charter party bill of lading instead of a marine bill of lading under a letter of credit payment? and Who can sign a charter party bill of lading as per UCP 600?.

Today I would like to explain time charter party contracts. 

Time charter party is a type of charter party contract, which is used in maritime industry when chartering bulk cargo vessels for a specific period of time.  

Other charter party contract types are known as bareboat charter and voyage charter.

What is an Inspection Certificate or Certificate of Inspection?

Required usually for import of consumer goods such as softlines, hardlines, electronic goods, luxury goods; commodities such as bulk oil shipments and bulk scraps shipments, inspection certificate is one of the most important trade documents.

Inspection certificate, sometimes called as certificate of inspection or pre-shipment inspection certificate, is a trade document used in international trade transactions, issued generally by an independent inspection company after conducting a related inspection, certifying whether or not the goods are in question are in conformity with the specifications stated on the sales contract.

On this page I would like to explain inspection certificate in detail.

Some of the subject that will be covered on this article are as follows:

• What is the function of an inspection certificate in export and import businesses?
• What are the types of inspection certificates?
• Are all inspection certificates are the same?
• Who should issue and sign the inspection certificate?
• When should the inspection certificate be issued?
• What are the benefits of an inspection certificate?