Read on for syllabus content of the Foundation Diploma in Voyage Charterparties...

Charterparties are one of the key contracts in shipping.  This course focuses on voyage charters and their application and delivers a comprehensive in-depth knowledge of the voyage charter process from beginning to end.

It starts by examining the key principles of voyage charters, and then develops your understanding to a high level of detail, in a practical context.

Extensive course materials written by legal and maritime experts helps demystify the terms and application of voyage charterparties. 

For full syllabus details and course fee information, download the full Foundation Diploma in Voyage Charterparties course prospectus here.

Through studying the ten modules, you will understand how to put together a charter by working through the terms and key points; explore the clauses and damages relating to delivery and cancellation; learn how to choose appropriate ports, berths and destinations; and gain insight into the calculation of freight and deadfreight, laytime and demurrage.

The Foundation Diploma in Voyage Charterparties course content includes:

Formation and Terms of Charter
   • Formation
   • The terms of a voyage charter
   • The legal status of what is said when negotiating a voyage charter
   • The classification and interpretation of terms in a voyage charter
   • Construction and interpretation of a voyage charterparty

Delivery, Cancellation and Frustration
   • Laycan provisions
   • Delivery obligations and notice of readiness (NOR)
   • Operation of a cancelling clause
   • Damages for late arrival
   • Frustration and cancellation of a charter

Cargo Provisions
   • What is “cargo”?
   • What is the owner obliged to do?
   • What is the charterer obliged to do?
   • Who is obliged to load the cargo?
   • Where does the cargo have to be stowed?
   • Discharge of the cargo

Choice of Ports, Berths and Destinations
   • Nomination of loading and discharging places
   • The charterer’s promise of safety
   • The nature of the charterer’s obligation
   • The legal test of safety
   • The difference between safe port and safe berth promises
   • Aspects of the test of safety explained
   • Causation
   • Defences available to the charterer to claims for breach of the promise
   • The rights available to the owner in the event of a breach

Freight and Deadfreight
   • When freight is earned and when it falls due
   • Deductions from freight
   • How freight is calculated
   • By whom freight is payable
   • Deadfreight
   • Remedies for non-payment of freight and deadfreight

Laytime and Demurrage
   • Commencement of laytime
   • Calculating laytime
   • Exceptions to laytime
   • Completion of laytime
   • Demurrage
   • Detention
   • Calculating demurrage

Bills of Lading
   • The history and functions of a bill of lading
   • Formation of the bill of lading contract
   • The incorporation of the terms of the voyage charterparty into the bill of lading
   • Conflict between charterers’ rights under the charter and shipowners’ obligations under the bill of lading
   • Bills imposing on owners greater liabilities than those imposed by the voyage charter

The Hague and Hague Visby Rules in Application
   • Overview: what are the Hague and Hague Visby Rules?
   • Main features of the Hague and Hague Visby Rules
   • Bills of lading issued under a voyage charterparty
   • Application of the Rules to charterparties
   • How wide is the effect of the incorporation of the Rules in voyage charters?

Remedies for Breach and the Approach to Exclusion Clauses
   • Breach
   • Damages
   • Causation and remoteness
   • Mitigation
   • Exemplary damages
   • Liquidated damages
   • Interest
   • Specific voyage charter breaches
   • Other remedies
   • Exclusion clauses

A Guide to Dispute Resolution
   • Litigation
   • Alternative Dispute Resolution
     - Arbitration
     - Mediation
     - Other dispute resolution methods

For full syllabus details and course fee information, download the full Foundation Diploma in Voyage Charterparties course prospectus here.