After months of online drafting sessions, BIMCO’s LAYUPMAN revision subcommittee met in person at the London offices of the International Transport Intermediaries Club (ITIC) for two days of intensive discussions, bringing the revised agreement closer to completion.
LAYUPMAN, BIMCO’s standard agreement for the laying up of ships, was published in 2011. The revision aims to provide a modern and flexible contractual framework capable of responding to different vessel types and layup arrangements.
The London meeting tackled some of the most important issues in the revision, including the respective responsibilities of owners and layup managers, layup planning, deactivation and reactivation, insurance, liability, reporting and the scope of services during the layup period. The subcommittee also focused on ensuring that the agreement remains practical and adaptable rather than prescribing a single technical approach to laying up a vessel.
The meeting also marked another chapter for majority of the subcommittee members who have worked together through a series of BIMCO ship management agreements, starting with SHIPMAN 2024, followed by CREWMAN A and B 2025, SUPERMAN 2025 and now the LAYUPMAN revision. This continuity has brought valuable practical experience and consistency to the development of BIMCO’s suite of ship management agreements.
Bringing together a wealth of operational, technical and contractual expertise, the LAYUPMAN revision subcommittee is chaired by Ajay Hazari (formerly of Anglo Eastern) and comprises Juan J. Fernández-Ricoy (Naviera Elcano), Steve Davies (Anglo International Shipping Operations), Graham Prayel (V Ships), Manolis Nicolaou (Columbia Shipmanagement), Tim Howse (Gard P&I Club), Robert Hodge (ITIC) and Stephen Mackin (Hill Dickinson).
“There is no one-size-fits-all approach to laying up a ship. Our aim with the revised LAYUPMAN has been to provide a clear contractual framework which has the flexibility necessary to accommodate different vessel types, locations and layup arrangements, taking into account the evolving requirements and practical realities of today’s maritime industry.” - Ajay Hazari, Chairperson of the LAYUPMAN Subcommittee
With the London drafting meeting completed, the revised LAYUPMAN will soon be presented to the industry for consultation, giving stakeholders an opportunity to review and comment on the updated form before it moves through the final stages of BIMCO’s approval process.
