(a) If, in the reasonable judgement of the Master and/or the Owners, any port, place, area or zone, or any waterway or canal (hereinafter "Area") on any part of the route which is normally and customarily used on a voyage of the nature contracted for is dangerous to the Vessel, her cargo, crew or other persons on board the Vessel due to any actual, threatened or reported acts of piracy and/or violent robbery and/or capture/seizure (hereinafter "Piracy"), whether such risk existed at the time of entering into this charter party or occurred thereafter, the Owners shall be entitled to take a reasonable alternative route to the discharging port and, if they so decide, immediately give notice to the Charterers that such route will be taken. In respect of consecutive voyages the Owners shall be entitled to take a reasonable alternative route to the loading port in accordance with the provisions of this Clause. Should the Vessel be within any such place as aforesaid which only becomes dangerous, or is likely to be or to become dangerous, after her entry into it, she shall be liberty to leave it.
(b) In any event, if the Vessel proceeds to or through an Area exposed to the risk of Piracy the Owners shall have the liberty:
(i) to take reasonable preventative measures to protect the Vessel, her crew and cargo including but not limited to re-routeing within the Area proceeding in convoy, using escorts, avoiding day or night navigation, adjusting speed or course, or engaging security personnel or equipment on or about the Vessel;
(ii) to comply with the orders, directions or recommendations of any underwriters who have the authority to give the same under the terms of the insurance;
(iii) to comply with all orders, directions, recommendations or advice given by the Government of the Nation under whose flag the Vessel sails, or other Government to whose laws the Owners are subject, or any other Government, body or group, including military authorities, whatsoever acting with the power to compel compliance with their orders or directions; and
(iv) to comply with the terms of any resolution of the Security Council of the United Nations, the effective orders of any other Supranational body which has the right to issue and give the same, and with national laws aimed at enforcing the same to which the Owners are subject, and to obey the orders and directions of those who are charged with their enforcement.
(c) Costs
(i) If in accordance with Sub-clause (a) the Owners take an alternative route, they shall be entitled, if the total extra distance exceeds one hundred (100) miles, to additional freight which shall be the same percentage of the freight contracted for as the percentage which the extra distance represents to the distance of the normal and customary route taking into consideration any savings or adjustments made by using this alternative route;
(ii) If the Vessel proceeds to or through an Area where due to risk of Piracy additional costs are incurred by Owners, including but not limited to additional personnel and preventative measures to avoid piracy attacks, then half such costs shall be reimbursed by the Charterers to the Owners;
(iii) If the underwriters of the Owners' insurances require additional premiums or additional insurance cover is necessary because the Vessel proceeds to or through an Area exposed to risk of Piracy, then half such additional insurance costs shall be reimbursed by the Charterers to the Owners;
(iv) All payments arising under Sub-clause (c) shall be settled within fifteen (15) days of receipt of Owners' supported invoices or on completion of discharge, whichever occurs first.
(d) If the Vessel is attacked or seized as a result of Piracy any time so lost shall be shared equally between the Owners and the Charterers. The Charterers shall pay the Owners an amount equivalent to half the demurrage rate for any time lost as a result of such attack or seizure. Such payments shall fall due day by day and be payable latest fifteen (15) days after receipt of the Owners' invoice or on completion of discharge, whichever occurs first. If the Vessel is seized the Owners shall keep the Charterers closely informed of the efforts made to have the Vessel released.
(e) This Clause shall be incorporated into any bill of lading issued pursuant to this Charter Party. The Charterers shall indemnify the Owners against all consequences or liabilities that may arise from the Master signing bills of lading as presented to the extent that the terms of such bills of lading impose or result in the imposition of more onerous liabilities upon the Owners than those assumed by the Owners under this Clause.
(f) If in compliance with this Clause anything is done or not done, such shall not be deemed a deviation, but shall be considered as due fulfilment of this Charter Party. In the event of a conflict between the provisions of this Clause and any implied or express provision of the Charter Party, this Clause shall prevail to the extent of such conflict, but no further.
Source: BIMCO
Published: November 2009