London Arbitration 7/04

Laytime - Notice of readiness tendered while holds unclean - Charterparty providing that time lost due to holds not being ready to receive cargo not to count as laytime - Whether notice of readiness valid - Non weather working periods - Loading stopped by port authority for environmental reasons even though cargo could be safely loaded - Whether laytime interrupted

By a fixture recap telex containing logical amendments to a charterparty which had previously been concluded on the Gencon form in relation to another vessel, the claimant owners chartered the subject vessel ("the vessel") to the respondent charterers for the carriage of a cargo of dense soda ash in bulk from Kerch to Puerto Cabello. A dispute arose relating to demurrage. The owners claimed that US$61,635.42 was due, while the charterers denied that any demurrage had been earned, or alternatively only US$5,090.40 was due.