Warning on ignoring crew change rules

Intercargo, the body representing the interests of dry bulk sector operators, has learned that in a number of instances, charterers in the dry bulk sector have been preventing much-needed crew changes from taking place during the period of the charter, despite the shipowner agreeing to accept the associated costs. In these instances, the charterers have been seen to simply ignore relevant provisions and charterparty clauses that could be employed. Indeed, it has been reported that bulk carriers changing crews in certain countries in south-east Asia are being treated as “toxic” by charterers for the 14 days following the crew change.