Stowage Factor of general cargoes

   Stowage factor (SF) indicates how many cubic metres (or cubic feet) of space one metric tonne of a particular type of cargo occupies in a hold of a cargo ship. It is calculated as the ratio of the stowage space required under normal conditions, including the stowage losses caused by the means of transportation and packaging, to the weight of the cargo. (Wikipedia)

What is a Charter Party?

The most general determination of a Charter Party term is:

A contract by which an entire ship, or some principal part thereof, is let to a merchant for the conveyance of goods on a determined voyage to one or more places.

Charter parties could be divided in the following basic categories:

What is laytime?

The definition of LAYTIME is :

‘the period of time agreed between the parties during which the Owner will make and keep the vessel available for loading or discharging without payment additional to the freight’.

or

'the time allowed to the charterers to load/discharge cargo in return for payment of freight to the owners. If the charterers are unable to load/discharge cargo within this allowed period, they will be obliged to pay demurrage or detention to compensate the owners for their loss of use of the vessel'

Safe port and safe berth

Today I have faced with a question, which is simple on the one hand, but is rather difficult on the other hand. The question was "may the particular port and berth be considered as safe port and safe berth?"

THE New York Produce Exchange (NYPE) charter party (as revised in 1946) is a typical time charter. It imposes an obligation on the charterer to ensure that the vessel is employed "between safe port and/or ports". A similar duty is imposed in a voyage charter party. But, in many voyage charter parties, load and disports are identified by name, which gives rise to different considerations.

Stowage Factor of bulk cargoes

  Stowage factor (SF) indicates how many cubic metres (or cubic feet) of space one metric tonne of a particular type of cargo occupies in a hold of a cargo ship. It is calculated as the ratio of the stowage space required under normal conditions, including the stowage losses caused by the means of transportation and packaging, to the weight of the cargo. (Wikipedia)

Oil prices

First of all, let's find out why did the price of oil keep falling during the last seven months.

Back in June 2014, the price of Brent crude was up around $115 per barrel. As of January 23, 2015, it had fallen by more than half, down to $49 per barrel:

Shipping terminology and acronyms / Glossary

А

AA	Always Afloat
AAAA	Always Accessible Always Afloat
AAOSA	Always Afloat or Safe Aground. Condition for a vessel whilst in port
AARA	Amsterdam-Antwerp-Rotterdam Area
ABAFT	Toward the rear (stern) of the ship. Behind.
ABOARD	On or within the ship
ABOVE DECK	On the deck (not over it - see ALOFT)
ABT	About
ADA	All details about
ADCOM	Address Commission
ADDENDUM	Additional chartering terms at the end of a charter party
AFSPS	Arrival First Sea Pilot Station (Norway)
A/E	Accept/Except