Simple Guide to Charter Party Forms For Dry Bulk Cargo & Oil/Gas Shipments Ametheus – Clear. Professional. Client-First.
What is a Charter Party?
A Charter Party is simply the official contract between you (the cargo owner) and the shipowner. It clearly spells out:
- The freight rate you pay
- Loading and discharging ports and conditions
- Who is responsible for what
- How much time is allowed for loading/unloading (laytime)
- What happens (and who pays) if there are delays (demurrage)
- Safety, cargo care, insurance, and what to do if something goes wrong
Instead of creating a fresh contract from scratch every time, the shipping industry uses standard, ready-made forms. These forms are trusted worldwide, understood by everyone (brokers, lawyers, captains, and agents), and make the whole process faster, fairer, and safer.
Why Do We Use Standard Forms?
- Easy for everyone to understand the same way
- Saves a lot of time during negotiations
- Reduces confusion, misunderstandings, and expensive disputes
- Well-tested over many years by the entire industry
- We only add or change specific clauses (Rider Clauses) to perfectly match your cargo, route, and requirements
Most Commonly Used Dry Bulk Charter Party Forms
| Form | Best For | What Makes It Special | When We Recommend It |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gencon 1994 | Any dry bulk cargo | The most flexible and widely used “all-purpose” form in the world | General cargoes when no special form is needed |
| NORGRAIN 89 | Grains & Agri Products | Specially designed for wheat, corn, rice, soybeans, and other grains | Grain shipments from USA, Canada, Black Sea, etc. |
| OREVOY | Coal, Iron Ore & Heavy Minerals | Built for large-volume, heavy cargoes | Capesize & Panamax shipments of ores and coal |
| COAL-OREVOY | Coal & Iron Ore trades | Updated version with improved terms for mineral trades | Long-haul mineral shipments |
Most Commonly Used Oil & Gas Charter Party Forms
For petroleum products (diesel, furnace oil, EN590, crude, etc.) and LPG/gas cargoes, we use these trusted tanker and gas-specific forms:
| Form | Best For | What Makes It Special | When We Recommend It |
|---|---|---|---|
| ASBATANKVOY | Petroleum products, diesel, furnace oil, crude, clean & dirty products | The most widely used independent tanker voyage form in the world. Clear, balanced, and recently modernized. | Most general oil and petroleum product shipments |
| SHELLVOY 6 | Oil products (clean & dirty) | Modern, detailed form with strong focus on safety, operations, and clear time/claim rules | When safety, compliance, and modern terms are priorities |
| BPVOY 5 | Oil products | Comprehensive modern form with good protection for both owners and charterers | Trades requiring detailed, up-to-date commercial terms |
| ASBAGASVOY | LPG, liquefied gases, ammonia, petrochemical gases | Specifically created for gas carriers. Includes important gas-specific clauses for pressure, temperature, and handling | LPG shipments and other liquefied gas cargoes |
How It Works in Practice (Step by Step)
- We select the right standard form based on your cargo type (dry bulk or oil/gas).
- We negotiate the best possible terms for you — freight rate, laytime, demurrage, loading/discharging conditions, etc.
- We add protective Rider Clauses tailored to your specific needs and to safeguard your interests.
- Both parties review and sign the final Charter Party before the vessel is fixed and the voyage begins.
Our Promise to You
At Ametheus, we always work to protect your interests while maintaining fair and professional relationships with shipowners. Our experienced team explains every important clause in simple, clear language so you fully understand what you are signing — with no surprises.
Whether this is your first shipment or you are a regular client, we make the chartering process transparent, straightforward, and stress-free.
Would you like us to explain any specific Charter Party form in more detail? Or do you have an upcoming shipment (dry cargo, diesel, LPG, or any other product) where you would like our recommendation on the best form and protective clauses?
Just reply or call us — we are happy to walk you through the contract step by step and answer any questions you have.
Ametheus Your trusted partner in global commodities & chartering.
