ABSTRACT
Rules had ‘‘settled’’ and, this was particularly the case since the changes pressed for and reflected in the 2004 Rules were largely unnecessary (see Lowndes & Rudolf, op. cit. for a convenient account and also the 2007 Special Circular, obtainable on the BIMCO website). BIMCO has specifically recommended striking any reference to subsequent modifications in its unamended forms and providing expressly that only the 1994 Rules shall apply (Special Circular, passim). For these reasons, it is likely that the 1994 Rules will be the operative Rules under most if not all offshore contracts (as contracting parties opt to stay within them guided by the standard terms) and, indeed, more widely and generally in most other charterparties and other contracts of affreightment.
