Optimisation and GHG reduction are key in new BIMCO Just in Time Arrival Clause
Overview
Successfully implementing a Just In Time (JIT) arrival scheme is dependent not only on an efficient operational framework but also on important contractual considerations. Therefore, BIMCO has formed a small group of experts to help draft a new Just In Time Clause which will focus on these contractual issues.
Voyage charter parties oblige the ship to proceed with utmost or due despatch, but the principle of JIT runs contrary to this by introducing an option to reduce passage speed. This means that a clause is required to allow the parties to depart from the normal contractual provisions.
An adjustment of the ship’s speed may result in the ship running close to or beyond its cancelling date at the loading port. This must also be addressed to prevent that owners have their ship cancelled, even if the delayed arrival is in response to a request by charterers. In addition, the thorny question of benefit sharing must be addressed. A charterer may save on potential demurrage bills by adjusting the arrival of the ship, but owners will benefit from reduced fuel consumption. If fuel prices are very high, owners may gain considerably more than charterers, and the incentive for charterers to use JIT may be lost.
JIT – reducing fuel consumption, emissions and saving costs
The JIT concept in the maritime industry is not new. In fact, BP Shipping was looking closely at the concept back in 2009, although it never really took off. Today it is very much back on the agenda driven by an imperative to improve port efficiency and port call optimisation and to reduce Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions.
The basic concept is that the speed of a ship will be adjusted to arrive at a designated place at a specified time where it can proceed immediately to a berth or terminal. To achieve this, all key stakeholders in the process need to be involved such as pilots, tugs, agents and other nautical services providers. JIT has the potential to significantly reduce waiting time at anchorages which in turn will reduce the port’s “carbon footprint”. Instead of ships’ following the common practice of “hurry up and wait” when proceeding to ports, their adjusted speed will reduce fuel consumption, reduce emissions and save costs. The overall length of a voyage remains unchanged as the JIT regime simply absorbs into the sea passage what would otherwise be waiting time and possibly time on demurrage.
The group of experts which will help draft the new JIT clause consist of Raoul Baart from Anthony Veder and Paul Brown from Ineos. They both have first-hand experience with the successful commercial application of JIT in their tanker trade. The group also includes North P&I’s Steve Cockburn, who can provide Freight, Demurrage & Defence (FD&D) expertise and bring previous experience from assisting in the development of BIMCO’s Sea Traffic Management Clause. The drafting team will also produce a clause promoting the use of IMO data elements for communicating ship arrival and departure information in a standard “global” format between ships and ports. A first draft of the new clauses will be reviewed by BIMCO’s Documentary Committee at their next meeting in January 2021.
Feedback or a question about this information?
Posted:
20 October 2020
VPS Bunker Alerts
Veritas Petroleum Services (VPS) publish regular Bunker Alerts based entirely on fuel samples and have kindly permitted BIMCO’s Members to access this information.
The Bunker Alerts are not intended to be an evaluation of overall bunker quality in the port or area concerned, but usually highlight a specific parameter within the fuel which has raised a quality issue.
Latest ice reports for members
Latest piracy reports
Latest industry releasable threats
Related publication
Check Before Fixing
This publication builds upon decades of BIMCO’s experience as the world leader in developing standard shipping contracts and clauses and its daily practic...
Related training
Summer Shipping School
- Vaerloese, Denmark
- 24 June, 2024
The Summer Shipping School is designed to provide a thorough overview of skills used in chartering and operations through case studies and first-class teaching....
ELSEWHERE ON BIMCO
Contracts & Clauses
All of BIMCO's most widely used contracts and clauses as well as advice on managing charters and business partners.
Learn about your cargo
For general guidance and information on cargo-related queries.
BIMCO Publications
Want to buy or download a BIMCO publication? Use the link to get access to the ballast water management guide, the ship master’s security manual and many other publications.
About a new business partner
We can help members check new business partners. We also help to recover millions of USD (undisputed) funds every year.
