ABSTRACT
This chapter considers the role of shipbrokers. Shipbrokers will often specialise in different types of ships such as oil tankers or general cargo ships. The chapter focuses on charterparties between commercial parties. Standard form charterparties, both time and voyage, almost invariably contain express terms imposing obligations on the owner to make the ship seaworthy, to perform its contractual obligations with reasonable despatch and not to deviate from the contractual voyage. If the ship is redelivered prior to the earliest terminal date, the charterer is in breach and is liable for damages. A charterparty either time or voyage will usually provide that the ship may only be ordered to safe ports or places. Some time and voyage charterparties provide that the Hague, Hague-Visby or Hamburg Rules apply to the charterparty. Assuming that the Hague or Hague-Visby Rules are incorporated into a charterparty they may have a significant effect on the seaworthiness obligation.
