Charter Terms
CLAUSE 1: AGREEMENT TO LET AND HIRE
The OWNER agrees to let the Yacht to the CHARTERER and not to enter into any other Agreement for the Charter of the Yacht for the same period. The CHARTERER agrees to hire the Yacht and shall pay the Charter Fee, the Advance Provisioning Allowance, in the case he has agreed that the OWNER arranges the provisioning on his behalf, and any other charges, in cleared funds, on or before the dates and to the Account specified in this Agreement.
CLAUSE 2: DELIVERY
The OWNER shall at the beginning of the Charter deliver the Yacht to the Port of Delivery, and the CHARTERER shall take delivery in full commission and working order, seaworthy, clean, in good condition throughout, and ready for service, with full equipment, including up-to-date safety and life-saving equipment (including life jackets for children if any are part of the Charterer’s Party), as required by the Yacht’s registration authority and enabling the CHARTERER to use the Yacht as set out in Clause 13. The OWNER does not warrant her comfort in bad weather conditions for all cruises or passages within the Charter Area.
CLAUSE 3: RE-DELIVERY
The CHARTERER shall re-deliver the Yacht to the OWNER at the Port of Re-Delivery free of any debts incurred for the CHARTERER’s account during the Charter Period and in as good condition as when delivery was taken, except for fair wear and tear arising from ordinary use. The CHARTERER may, if he wishes, re-deliver the Yacht to the Port of Re-Delivery and disembark prior to the end of the Charter Period, but such early re-delivery shall not entitle the CHARTERER to any refund of the Charter Fee.
CLAUSE 4: CRUISING AREA AND TIME
The CHARTERER shall restrict the cruising of the Yacht to within the Cruising Area and to within regions in the Cruising Area. The CHARTERER shall also restrict time underway to an average of six (6) hours per day, unless the Captain, in his sole discretion, agrees to exceed this time or unless otherwise agreed among the Undersigned Parties.
CLAUSE 5: MAXIMUM NUMBER OF PERSONS RESPONSIBILITY FOR CHILDREN HEALTH OF THE CHARTERER’S PARTY
The CHARTERER shall not at any time during the Charter Period permit more than the Maximum Number of Guests Sleeping or Cruising on Board here in stated. As an exception, a reasonable number of visitors could be on Board whilst the YACHT is securely moored in port and at the sole discretion of the Captain.
If children are taken on board, the CHARTERER shall be fully responsible for their safety, conduct, and entertainment.
The nature of a yacht charter may render it unsuitable for anybody with physical disability or undergoing medical treatment. By the signature of this Agreement, the CHARTERER warrants the medical fitness of all members of the CHARTERER’s party for the voyage contemplated by this Agreement. The CHARTERER and his party undertake to have all necessary visas and vaccinations for the countries to be visited.
CLAUSE 6: CREW
The OWNER shall provide the Crew of the yacht, according to the laws of Greece and properly uniformed, fed, and insured. The OWNER shall ensure that the Captain and Crew comply with the laws and regulations of any country into whose waters the Yacht shall enter during the course of this Agreement.
CLAUSE 7: CAPTAIN’S AUTHORITY
The OWNER shall ensure that the Captain shows the CHARTERER the same attention as if the CHARTERER were the OWNER. The Captain shall comply with all reasonable orders given to him by the CHARTERER regarding the management, operation, and movement of the Yacht, wind, weather, and other circumstances permitting. The Captain shall not, however, be bound to comply with any order which, in the reasonable opinion of the Captain, might result in the Yacht moving to any port or place that is not safe and proper for her to be in, or might result in the CHARTERER failing to re-deliver the Yacht upon the expiration of the Charter Period, or would cause a breach of Clause 13.
Further, without prejudice to any other remedy of the OWNER, if, in the reasonable opinion of the Captain, the CHARTERER or any of his Guests fail to observe any of the provisions in Clause 13 and if such failure continues after the Captain has given due and specific warning to the CHARTERER in writing in respect of the same, the Captain shall inform the OWNER and the BROKER(s), and the OWNER may terminate the Charter forthwith or instruct the Captain to return the Yacht to the Port of Re-Delivery, and upon such return, the Charter Period shall be terminated. The CHARTERER and his guests shall disembark, the CHARTERER having settled all outstanding expenses with the Captain beforehand, and the CHARTERER shall not be entitled to be refunded any part of the Charter Fee.
With particular regard to the use of watersports equipment, as defined in Clause 16, the Captain shall have the authority to prohibit the use by the CHARTERER or any or all of his Guests from use of any particular watersports equipment if, in his reasonable opinion, they are not competent to operate such equipment, are behaving in an irresponsible manner, or are failing to show due concern for other persons when operating this equipment.
CLAUSE 8: OPERATING COSTS
The CHARTERER shall be responsible for the operating costs, as specifically defined under “CONDITIONS” on Page One of this Agreement, for the entire Charter Period for himself and his Guests. Having paid the Advance Provisioning Allowance (A.P.A.) via the BROKER’s Account, as required by this Agreement, the CHARTERER shall be advised by the Captain, at intervals, as to the disbursement of the A.P.A. and shall, if the balance remaining becomes insufficient, in the light of current expenditure, pay to the Captain, in cash, a sufficient sum to maintain an adequate credit balance. Prior to disembarkation at the end of the Charter Period, the Captain shall present to the CHARTERER a detailed account of expenditure with as many supporting receipts as possible, and the CHARTERER shall pay to the Captain, in cash, the balance of the expenses, or the Captain shall repay to the CHARTERER, in cash, any balance overpaid, as the case may be.
Payment for special requirements or equipment, shore transport or excursions, or any other expenses not customarily considered part of the Yacht’s operating costs may be required to be paid via the BROKER’s account in advance or to the Captain on boarding in addition to the A.P.A. Unless specific alternative arrangements have been made in writing, in advance, all payments for operating costs etc. shall be payable in cash in the same currency as the Charter Fee. Payment by cheque, credit card, or other negotiable instrument is not acceptable due to the itinerant nature of the Yacht’s seasonal schedule, and the CHARTERER should, therefore, ensure that he carries sufficient cash to cover all reasonably foreseeable expenses or arrange to deposit additional funds with the BROKER.
CLAUSE 9: DELAY IN DELIVERY
If the OWNER fails to deliver the yacht at the Port of Delivery at the commencement of the Charter Period, the OWNER will allow the CHARTERER demurrage pro rate for every day or part of the day lost or if it is mutually agreed the OWNER shall allow a pro rata extension of the Charter Period.
If by reason of force majeure the OWNER fails to deliver the yacht within forty-eight (48) hours or a period equivalent to one-seventh (1/7th) of the Charter Period, whichever period is shorter, from the due time of delivery, the CHARTERER shall be entitled to treat this Agreement as terminated. The CHARTERER’s exclusive remedy will be to receive repayment without interest of the full amount of payments made by him to the OWNER or BROKER(s). Alternatively, if the parties mutually agree and subject to the bookings of the yacht, the Charter Period shall be extended for a period equal to that which shall have elapsed between the date of delivery and the date of the actual delivery of the Yacht.
If the OWNER fails to deliver the yacht at the Port of Delivery at the commencement of the Charter Period in accordance with article b of this clause, other than by reason of force majeure, the CHARTERER shall be entitled to treat this Agreement as repudiated by the OWNER. The CHARTERER will be entitled to repayment without interest of the full amount of all payments made by him to the OWNER or BROKER(s), and shall in addition be paid by the OWNER liquidated damages, calculated and paid forthwith on the following scale (measure of the scale to be the date of acknowledgment regarding the failure of on-time delivery):
If the CHARTERER is informed three (3) months or more before commencement of the Charter Period, an amount equivalent to 7.5% of the Charter Fee.
If the CHARTERER is informed more than fourteen (14) days but less than three (3) months before commencement of the Charter Period, an amount equivalent to fifteen percent (15%) of the Charter Fee.
If the CHARTERER is informed less than fourteen (14) days before the commencement of the Charter Period, an amount equivalent to twenty-five percent (25%) of the Charter Fee.
Alternatively to the repayment of the full amount and the liquidated damages set forth in article c of clause 9, the OWNER may offer to the CHARTERER for the same Charter Period and Charter Fees another yacht upgraded to the yacht initially agreed to regarding size, comfort, and services. In the case of replacement of the yacht, this is agreed by the Undersigned parties if the CHARTERER gives consent on this.
CLAUSE 10: DELAY IN RE-DELIVERY
If re-delivery of the Yacht is delayed by reason of force majeure, re-delivery shall be effected as soon as possible thereafter and in the meantime the conditions of this Agreement shall remain in force but without penalty or additional charge against the CHARTERER.
If the CHARTERER fails to re-deliver the Yacht to the OWNER at the Port of Re-Delivery due to intentional delay or change of itinerary against the Captain’s advice, then the CHARTERER shall pay forthwith to the OWNER demurrage at the daily rate plus forty percent (40%) of the daily rate, and if delay in re-delivery exceeds twenty-four (24) hours, the CHARTERER shall be liable to indemnify the OWNER for any loss or damage which the OWNER shall suffer by reason of deprivation of use of the Yacht or cancellation of, or delay in delivery under, any subsequent charter of the Yacht.
CLAUSE 11: CANCELLATION BY THE CHARTERER
Should notice of cancellation of this Agreement be given by the CHARTERER on or at any time before commencement of the Charter Period, or should the CHARTERER fail after having been given notice to pay any amount payable under this Agreement, the OWNER shall be entitled to retain the full amount of all payments made by the CHARTERER prior to cancellation.
Without prejudice to the OWNER’s remedies in (a) above, if the OWNER is able to re-let the yacht to another Charterer for all or part of the Charter Period and under the same conditions or reduced price then the OWNER or the BROKER on his behalf shall refund to the CHARTERER such net balance as is due to the CHARTERER after re-letting which is to be calculated upon the following basis:
The original Charter Fee, net of commissions, shall be deducted from the net hire for the Charter Period due to the OWNER from the re-letting. To this figure is to be added all reasonable additional expenses, including commissions, incurred by the OWNER on re-letting. The figure as calculated will be deducted from the monies actually received from the CHARTERER and any remaining credit balance due to the CHARTERER will be repaid. The intention is that the OWNER shall not
receive less in net proceeds from any re-letting than would have been received if the original Agreement has been fulfilled. The OWNER shall use his best endeavors to re-let the yacht and shall not unreasonably withhold his agreement to re-let, although charters, which may reasonably be considered detrimental to the yacht, its reputation, its crew, or its schedule may be refused.
CLAUSE 12: BREAKDOWN OR DISABLEMENT
If, after delivery, the Yacht at any time is disabled by breakdown of machinery, grounding, collision, or other cause so as to prevent reasonable use of the Yacht by the CHARTERER for a period of not less than twelve (12) consecutive hours or one-seventh (1/7th) of the Charter Period, whichever is the larger, and not more than forty-eight (48) consecutive hours or one-seventh (1/7th) of the Charter Period, whichever is the shorter, (and the disablement has not been brought about by any act or default of the CHARTERER), the OWNER shall make a pro rata return of the Charter Fee from the date and time when the Yacht was disabled or became unfit for use. Alternatively, if the parties mutually agree and subject to the circumstances, the Charter Period shall be extended by a time equivalent to the disablement. If the CHARTERER considers the circumstances justify the invoking of this Clause, he shall give immediate notice in writing to the Captain that he wishes to do so.
If, however, the Yacht is lost, or is so extensively disabled as aforesaid that the Yacht cannot be repaired within a period of forty-eight (48) hours or one-seventh (1/7th) of the Charter Period, whichever is the shorter, the CHARTERER may terminate this Agreement by notice in writing to the OWNER or the BROKER(s) or, if no means of communication is possible, to the Captain on the OWNER’s behalf, and as soon as practicable after such termination the Charter Fee shall be repaid by the OWNER pro rata without interest for that part of the Charter Period remaining after the date and time that the loss or disablement occurred. In these circumstances the CHARTERER may effect Re-Delivery by giving up possession of the yacht where she lies. The CHARTERER shall be entitled to recover from the OWNER the reasonable cost of returning himself and his passengers to the Port of Re-Delivery by scheduled services, together with any accommodation expenses necessary for this purpose.
Article a and b of clause 12 shall not be valid for time charters, where there are special clauses in the case of breakdown or disablement.
CLAUSE 13: USE OF THE YACHT
The CHARTERER shall use the Yacht exclusively as a pleasure vessel for the use of himself and his Guests. The CHARTERER shall ensure that no pets or other animals are brought on board the Yacht without the consent in writing of the OWNER. The CHARTERER shall ensure that the behavior of himself and his Guests shall not cause a nuisance to any person or bring the Yacht into disrepute.
The CHARTERER shall comply, and shall ensure that his Guests comply, with the laws and regulations of any country into whose waters the Yacht shall enter during the course of this Agreement. The CHARTERER shall ensure that any bonded stores or other merchandise which may already be aboard the Yacht, or may be brought aboard the Yacht during the Charter, are cleared through Customs before being taken ashore, if required by the laws and regulations. The Captain shall promptly draw the CHARTERER’s attention to any infringement of these terms by himself or his Guests, and if such behavior continues after this warning, the Captain shall inform the OWNER or his BROKER, and the OWNER may, by notice in writing given to the CHARTERER, terminate this Agreement in accordance with Clause 7 of this Agreement.
If the CHARTERER or any of his Guests shall commit any offense contrary to the laws and regulations of any country which results in any member of the crew of the Yacht being detained, fined or imprisoned, or the Yacht being detained, arrested, seized, or fined the CHARTERER shall indemnify the OWNER against all loss, damage and expense incurred by the OWNER as a result, and the OWNER may, by notice to the CHARTERER, terminate this Agreement forthwith.
It is also specifically understood that the possession or use of any illegal drugs or any weapons (including particularly firearms) shall be sufficient reason for the OWNER to terminate the Charter forthwith without refund or recourse against the OWNER.
CLAUSE 14: NON-ASSIGNMENT
The CHARTERER shall not assign this Agreement, sub-let the Yacht or part with control of the yacht without the consent in writing of the OWNER, which consent may be on such terms as the OWNER thinks fit.
CLAUSE 15: SALE OF THE YACHT
Should the OWNER agree to sell the Yacht after the signing of this Charter Agreement, but before delivery to the CHARTERER, the OWNER shall immediately give notice of such sale in writing to the CHARTERER and the BROKER(s). Should the vessel be sold one of the following provisions will apply:
The OWNER shall arrange for the Buyer to take over the Charter Agreement and perform the Charter on the same terms and conditions by way of a new Charter Agreement between the involved parties. Shall the Charter not be perform on the same terms and conditions and with the same crew or Yacht of similar or superior standard, the CHARTERER is entitled to refuse signing of a new Charter Agreement.
If the Buyer is unwilling or unable to fulfill the Charter Agreement, the OWNER hereby procures the Charter of a replacement yacht of similar or superior standard and on the same Charter Fee. Shall the replacement Yacht not be of similar or superior standard, equivalent crew and expenses, then the CHARTERER is entitled to refuse the replacement Yacht.
Should the CHARTERER in accordance to article b of this clause, not sign a new Charter Agreement, or reject the proposed replacement, the CHARTERER will be entitled to repayment without interest of the full amount of all payments made by him, and shall in addition be paid by the OWNER liquidated damages, calculated and paid forthwith on the following scale:
If the CHARTERER is informed three (3) months or more before commencement of the Charter Period, an amount equivalent to 7.5% of the Charter Fee.
If the CHARTERER is informed more than fourteen (14) days but less than three (3) months before commencement of the Charter Period, an amount equivalent to fifteen percent (15%) of the Charter Fee.
If the CHARTERER is informed less than fourteen (14) days before commencement of the Charter Period, an amount equivalent to twenty-five percent (25%) of the Charter Fee.
The BROKER’s commission is deemed earned on the signing of this Contract and the OWNER shall pay the whole of the commission forthwith.
CLAUSE 16: INSURANCE
The OWNER shall insure the Yacht in accordance with paragraph 1 – clause 8 on N.2743/99 and specifically:
for urban liability for death, personal injury of Guests and third parties caused by collision, shipwreck or any other causes, and for an amount of at least three hundred thousand (300.000) Euro, regardless
of the number of victims,
for damage of third parties caused by collision, shipwreck, or any other causes, and for an amount of at least three hundred thousand (300.000) Euro,
for property damage and damage to luggage of the Guests or third parties and for an amount of at least three hundred thousand (300.000) Euro for each passenger,
for the Captain and the crew of the vessel for civil liability arising from the navigation of the vessel and for an amount of at least one hundred thousand (100.000) Euro for each member of the crew,
for medical expenses and repatriation of the Guests, for a minimum amount of thirty thousand (30.000) Euro, and
for the risks that the Captain, the Crew, and the Guests may incur while using the Yacht’s water sports equipment (jet-ski, windsurf, etc.), for an amount of at least one hundred thousand (100.000) Euro.
The CHARTERER is required to effect at his expense such liability insurance in respect of his liability against any third party which may arise during the period of this Agreement.
CLAUSE 17: BREACH OF AGREEMENT
If the CHARTERER or his Guests fail to comply with any provision of this Agreement, the OWNER may terminate this Agreement forthwith, in which case all moneys paid by the CHARTERER shall be forfeited. Such termination shall be without prejudice to the rights of the OWNER against the CHARTERER and his Guests in respect of any breach of this Agreement or any other rights of the OWNER.
CLAUSE 18: ARBITRATION
In the event of any dispute arising out of or in connection with this Agreement, including any question regarding its existence, validity, or termination, the parties shall seek to resolve the dispute amicably through negotiations between themselves.
If the dispute is not resolved within [number] days of written notice of the dispute being given by one party to the other, then the dispute shall be referred to and finally resolved by arbitration under the [Arbitration Act/Arbitration Rules] of [country]. The arbitration shall be conducted by [number] arbitrators appointed in accordance with the said rules.
The language of the arbitration shall be [language], and the place of arbitration shall be [place]. The arbitral award shall be final and binding on the parties, and judgment upon the arbitral award may be entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof.
CLAUSE 19: ENTIRE AGREEMENT
This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, whether written or oral, relating to such subject matter. No modification, amendment, or waiver of any provision of this Agreement shall be effective unless in writing and signed by the party against whom the modification, amendment, or waiver is to be asserted.
CLAUSE 20: GOVERNING LAW
This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of [country]. Any dispute arising out of or in connection with this Agreement, including any question regarding its existence, validity, or termination, shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of [country].
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Charter Agreement as of the date first above written.
[Signature of Owner] [Signature of Charterer] [Printed Name of Owner] [Printed Name of Charterer] [Title of Owner] [Title of Charterer]