New Gentime charter form

New Gentime charter form

BIMCO has introduced the Gentime time charter party, which is designed to replace the Baltime 1939 and the Linertime forms of charter, and to offer an alternative to the NYPE form.

Traditionally, the Baltime form of charter has been used in the short-sea trades. The new Gentime 99 has been introduced with an eye on the deep-sea trades and adoption into printed form of many of the rider clauses which have crept onto the back of fixtures in recent years.

The Gentime, designed for use both in the conventional dry cargo and container trades, was drafted by a committee of shipowners, time charterers, brokers and P&I clubs.
( Shipping Law Update, Ince & Co).

Streamlining cargo traffic in Dubai

THE Dubai Ports Authority (DPA) is spearheading a move to implement a law regulating road transportation of cargo in Arab countries. Overloading, high transit tariffs and insurance problems are just some of the issues the DPA hopes the new law will address.

The UAE handles large amounts of cargo which arrive at its ports from other countries for despatch by road to other Middle East countries. It is anticipated that a regulatory law would result in the effective streamlining of cargo traffic flow throughout the region's borders.
(Al Tamimi).

New Venezuelan constitution

IN December last year, Venezuelans voted overwhelmingly for a new constitution. And among the changes anticipated within that new constitution is a focus on international trade, and on the ports and shipping sector in particular.

Over the last two decades, Venezuela has witnessed the decline of its merchant fleet, with many of its vessels belonging to the oil industry flagging out in Panama. The absence of well-defined policies to promote a national fleet have been blamed for this trend.

However, since 1991, following the port decentralisation process, the sector has improved significantly in terms of productivity, although a lack of co-ordination between the central and regional governments, long-term strategies or a proper legal framework have prevented this from developing further.

Hopes are high, however, that the new constitution will pave the way to a review of the current port administration system and greater understanding among government officials of the importance of the port and shipping sector.
(Sabatino Pizzolante).

Greater transparency in insurance

THE Norwegian maritime industry is hoping to set a precedent by introducing a standard agreement to create greater transparency and regularity regarding the payment of insurance brokers' commission.

Traditionally, owners have been unable to see what the actual premium from the insurer is and exactly how much the insurance broker is adding on in commission. In November last year, the Norwegian Shipowners' Association held a meeting of brokers, insurers and owners to come to an agreement about how the transparency in the calculation of the brokers' commission could be addressed. "There is no intention to exclude the broker. There just needs to be greater transparency and regularity," says Haakon Stang Lund, partner at Norwegian law firm Wikborg, Rein & Co, who attended the meeting.

A standard agreement has been proposed for use when a broker accepts an insurance request from a client. It is expected to be finalised later this year. In the meantime, brokers can be expected to focus their attention on establishing additional value-added services to help generate revenue in an increasingly competitive environment.

Increased legislation after Erika

LONDON law firm Lawrence Graham has warned that the shipping industry faces increasing environmental legislation in the wake of the Erika incident. In the latest edition of Lawrence Graham's shipping newsletter, Shipping Lawgram, Imogen Rumbold, shipping partner, says, "Unfortunately for shipowners, charterers and everyone else involved in shipping, the French tourist industry may have the power to move the EU. Following the Erika incident, we could be looking at a fundamental change to the way environmental law is applied to shipping as the EU gears up to develop unilateral regional legislation on marine pollution prevention and liability.

"At the very least, we could be looking at a broadening of the existing conventions so that the ship and cargo owner may not be the only parties in the firing line when pollution claims arise.

"Until recently, pollution incidents ashore and at sea had little connection under law. The Erika is set to change that. Shipping beware, and start looking at what happens in other industries. There are lessons there for both sides of the argument."