Standard Booking Notes and Charter Parties
This document provides an overview of the key standard forms used in the shipping industry as developed and maintained by BIMCO and other maritime associations. These forms define the contractual relationship between shipowners, charterers, and merchants.
1. Booking Notes and Fixture Notes
These documents are used at the early stages of a contract or for specific cargo arrangements.
- CONLINEBOOKING 2016: The standard liner booking note. It is designed to be used in conjunction with the CONLINEBILL 2016. It outlines the terms of carriage, cargo descriptions, and the responsibilities of the carrier and the merchant.
- Fixture Note: A summary of the main terms agreed upon during negotiations (the “fixture”). It serves as a binding interim agreement until the full charter party is drawn up and signed. It typically includes the vessel name, cargo, freight rate, and laytime terms.
- CONGENBILL: While often associated with booking, this is technically a Bill of Lading designed to be used with voyage charter parties (like GENCON). It incorporates the terms of the charter party by reference.
2. Voyage Charter Parties
Under a voyage charter, the charterer hires the vessel for a specific voyage from one or more load ports to one or more discharge ports.
- GENCON 2022: The latest version of the most widely used general-purpose voyage charter party for dry cargo. It includes updated clauses for modern shipping requirements, such as electronic signatures and emission regulations.
- ASBATANKVOY: The industry standard voyage charter party for the tanker trade. It is used for the carriage of liquid bulk cargoes, such as crude oil and petroleum products.
3. Specialized and Project Cargo Forms
Specific forms exist for heavy lift, project cargo, and specialized transport requirements, providing detailed clauses for loading, discharging, and engineering responsibilities.
- HEAVYCON 2007: A standard voyage charter party for the carriage of heavy and voluminous cargoes on specialized vessels (e.g., semi-submersible ships). It operates on a “knock-for-knock” liability basis.
- HEAVYLIFTVOY: A voyage charter party designed for the heavy-lift sector, used when general cargo vessels with heavy-lift capability are employed rather than semi-submersible vessels.
- PROJECTCON 2006: A specialized voyage charter party for the transportation of components for large-scale projects, such as offshore wind farms or industrial plants.
4. Time Charter Parties
In a time charter, the charterer hires the vessel for a specific period. The charterer pays “hire” (daily rate) and manages the commercial operations, while the owner remains responsible for the technical management and crew.
- NYPE (New York Produce Exchange): The most popular time charter form for dry cargo. The current version is NYPE 2015, developed jointly by ASBA, BIMCO, and the Singapore Maritime Foundation (SMF).
- SHELLTIME 4: One of the most common time charter forms used in the tanker industry. It provides a detailed framework for the period hire of tankers, including performance warranties and technical specifications.
5. Bareboat Charter Parties
In a bareboat (or demise) charter, the owner gives possession of the ship to the charterer without crew or provisions. The charterer takes full operational and legal control of the vessel.
- BARECON 2017: The industry standard bareboat charter party. It is used extensively for ship financing, long-term leasing, and by operators who wish to manage vessels without owning the hull.
Key Usage Note: The choice of form depends on the nature of the cargo (dry bulk vs. liquid), the type of trade (liner vs. tramp), and the duration of the engagement (single voyage vs. period hire).
| Document Code | Type | Primary Sector |
|---|---|---|
| CONLINEBOOKING | Booking Note | Liner / General Cargo |
| Fixture Note | Interim Agreement | All Sectors |
| GENCON 2022 | Voyage Charter | Dry Bulk / General Cargo |
| HEAVYCON 2007 | Specialized Voyage | Heavy Lift |
| HEAVYLIFTVoy | Specialized Voyage | Heavy Lift |
| PROJECTCON 2006 | Project Voyage | Project Cargo |
| ASBATANKVOY | Voyage Charter | Tanker / Liquid Bulk |
| NYPE | Time Charter | Dry Bulk |
| SHELLTIME | Time Charter | Tanker |
| BARECON 2017 | Bareboat Charter | Financing / Long-term Lease |
