SOME ASPECTS OF LAYTIME CALCULATIONS: COMMENCEMENT OF LAYTIME

Laytime is a fundamental concept in voyage charterparties, defining the contractual allocation of time for loading and discharging operations during a vessel’s stay in port. Its commencement is of particular significance, as it determines when the laytime clock starts to run and directly affects the calculation of demurrage and dispatch. Since the cost of laytime is already included in the freight, disputes usually arise only in relation to delays or savings beyond the agreed period. This article examines the commencement of laytime as one of the most intricate aspects of charterparty law. The discussion follows the chronological order of prerequisites: the layday canceling clause, the vessel’s arrival at the port, the ship’s readiness to load or discharge, and the tendering of a valid Notice of Readiness. Attention is given to the distinctions between port, berth, and dock charterparties, as well as to the legal and practical challenges that complicate the precise determination of laytime commencement. The aim is to provide both a structured overview and a critical analysis of how this process is resolved in practice