Accurate Laytime / Demurrage / Despatch Calculation
“Every minute recorded accurately today can prevent thousands of dollars claims tomorrow.”
Laytime is one of the most critical commercial provisions in a Voyage Charter Party. Every minute lost during loading or discharging directly impacts a vessel’s financial performance, leading to significant demurrage exposure or disputed despatch claims. We monitor every stage of cargo operations, maintaining precise records that support accurate laytime calculations and protect our clients’ commercial interests during negotiations and disputes.
Unlike a conventional cargo surveyor, we do not simply observe cargo operations. We independently monitor every operational event affecting laytime, maintaining a detailed chronological record of vessel, cargo and port activities. This proactive approach provides vessel owners, operators & charterers with indisputable documentary evidence, mitigating commercial risks, minimizing disputes and ensuring faster, transparent vessel turnaround.
1. Notice of Readiness (NOR) Verification
We verify that the Notice of Readiness is tendered strictly in accordance with the Charter Party, confirming that the vessel is genuinely ready in all respects before laytime commences.
2. Precise Time Log of Every Operational Event
We maintain a minute-by-minute operational log covering vessel arrival, anchoring, pilot boarding, berthing, first line ashore, commencement of loading or discharge, stoppages, resumptions and completion of operations.
3. Cargo Operation Monitoring
We continuously record the actual commencement and completion time of each hatch, each gang and every cargo handling activity, ensuring the accuracy of laytime calculations.
4. SHEX / SHINC & Laytime Exception Monitoring
We carefully record Sundays, public holidays, meal breaks, shift changes and non-working periods to determine whether time counts under SHEX (Sundays & Holidays Excluded) or SHINC (Sundays & Holidays Included) clauses. We also monitor Weather Working Days (WWD), Working Time Saved (WTS), reversible laytime and contractual exceptions to ensure accurate laytime calculations.
5. Weather & Operational Exceptions
Rain interruptions, high winds, poor visibility, unsafe working conditions, power failures and other Charter Party exceptions are documented with precise timings to ensure only legitimate laytime deductions are claimed.
6. Equipment Performance Monitoring
We monitor vessel cranes, hatch covers, grabs, conveyors and shore equipment, recording all mechanical failures and downtime to establish responsibility for operational delays.
7. Berth & Port Movement Records
Every anchorage movement, berth shift, waiting period, pilot delay, tug delay and Port Authority instruction is documented to determine whether the time counts as laytime under the Charter Party.
8. Independent Laytime Evidence
We analyse & review comprehensive Statements of Facts, supported by photographs, videos, weather records, survey reports and contemporaneous operational logs, creating independent evidence for laytime calculations and dispute resolution.
9. Demurrage & Dispatch Protection
Throughout cargo operations, we continuously monitor laytime consumption, providing early warnings of potential demurrage exposure and identifying opportunities to maximise dispatch earnings through improved operational efficiency.
10. Final Laytime Review & Commercial Support
Upon completion of cargo operations, we review the complete operational record against the Charter Party, verify the Statement of Facts, identify incorrect time calculations and support Vessel Owners, Operators & Charterers in preparing accurate laytime statements, demurrage or despatch claims and commercial settlements.