Legal Definitions - affretement

Affretement refers to a contract for the carriage of goods by sea. It is an agreement where a shipowner or carrier agrees to transport goods for another party (the shipper or charterer) in exchange for payment, known as "freight." This contract can involve hiring the entire vessel, a specific part of it, or simply space for a certain amount of cargo. It governs the terms and conditions of the maritime transport, including responsibilities, routes, and delivery.

• Example 1: Chartering an Entire Vessel for a Specific Voyage

  A large agricultural company needs to transport 50,000 tons of wheat from Argentina to Egypt. Instead of booking space on multiple ships, they enter into an affretement contract to charter an entire bulk carrier for this specific voyage. The contract details the vessel to be used, the loading and unloading ports, the payment terms, and the estimated transit time. This is an example of affretement because it is a formal agreement for the use of an entire ship to carry a specific cargo by sea.

• Example 2: Booking Space for Containers on a Liner Service

  An apparel manufacturer in Vietnam wants to ship several containers filled with clothing to a distribution center in the United States. They book space for these containers on a large container ship operated by a major shipping line. The agreement, often documented by a bill of lading, specifies the quantity of containers, the ports of origin and destination, and the freight charges. This arrangement is an affretement because it represents a contract for the carriage of specific goods within a vessel's cargo space, even though the manufacturer does not charter the entire ship.

• Example 3: Leasing a Specialized Vessel for a Period

  An offshore construction company is building a new oil rig and requires a specialized heavy-lift vessel to transport and install large components over a three-month period. They enter into an affretement contract, specifically a "time charter," where they lease the vessel for the duration, paying a daily rate. While the shipowner provides the vessel and crew, the construction company directs the vessel's operations within the agreed terms for moving the components. This constitutes affretement as it's a contract for the use of a ship for a defined period to carry out a maritime operation involving the movement of goods (the rig components).