Time Charters
25
Off-hire Clause
Off-hire Clause
| “97. | 15. That in the event of the loss of time from deficiency of men or stores, fire, breakdown or damages to hull, machinery or equipment, |
| 98. | grounding, detention by average accidents to ship or cargo, drydocking for the purpose of examination or painting bottom, or by any other cause |
| 99. | preventing the full working of the vessel, the payment of hire shall cease for the time thereby lost; and if upon the voyage the speed be reduced by |
| 100. | defect in or breakdown of any part of her hull, machinery or equipment, the time so lost, and the cost of any extra fuel consumed in consequence |
| 101. | thereof, and all extra expenses shall be deducted from the hire.” |
25.1
Clause 15 of the New York Produce form contains two provisions qualifying the charterers’ obligation to pay hire throughout the charter period. The first of these, in Lines 97 to 99, is an off-hire provision dealing with interruptions to the charter service. The second, in Lines 99 to 101, is a provision allowing deduction from hire in the event that the ship’s speed at sea is reduced by mechanical problems. This chapter deals with each of these in turn.