Explanatory notes

The following explanatory notes are intended to provide users with guidance as to the nature and extent of changes made to the WRECKSTAGE 99 form: 

PART I Box Layout

Part II

• Clause 1 (Definitions)
• Clause 2 (The Services)
• Clause 3 (Company Representative) 
• Clause 4 (Change of Method of Work and/or Personnel, Craft and Equipment)
• Clause 5 (Miscellaneous)
• Clause 6 (Permits)
• Clause 7 (Delays)
• Clause 8 (Termination)
• Clause 9 (Delivery and/or Disposal)
• Clause 10 (Payment)
• Clause 11 (Extra Costs)
• Clause 12 (Security)
• Clause 13 (Liabilities)
• Clause 14 (Himalaya Clause)
• Clause 15 (Lien)
• Clause 16 (Time for Suit)
• Clause 17 (Expert Evaluation) 
• Clause 18 (Arbitration and Mediation) 
• Clause 19 (Notices Clause)
• Clause 20 (Insurance)
• Clause 21 (Pollution)
• Clause 22 (Rotation and Replacement of craft, equipment and personnel)
• Clause 23 (General Provisions)

Annexes

PART I Box Layout

Part I of WRECKSTAGE 2010 is largely unchanged from the ’99 edition of the form. Box 4 (Vessel Specifications) has been expanded to include the vessel’s IMO number and the P&I Club/insurer.

Box 7 (Nature of Services) now requires two fields to be completed: (i) a description of the nature of the services; and (ii) the party responsible for obtaining confirmation of compliance by the Company with the orders issued by competent authorities.

Box 9 (Permits) has been removed as the revised agreement now requires the Contractors to obtain and maintain the necessary permits (with the assistance of the Company as appropriate).

Part II

Clause 1 (Definitions)

A number of new definitions have been added to the agreement to improve the overall clarity of the form. The new definitions include “Company”, “Contractor”, “Services” and “Worksite” all of which were terms already used in WRECKSTAGE, but not defined. There is now a consistent use of these defined terms through the Agreement.

Clause 2 (The Services)

This Clause deals with the Contractors’ obligations in providing the agreed services, as well as the provision of personnel, craft and equipment, the method of work, and any change in the method of work, or provision of personnel, craft and equipment. Consistent with the approach taken in the 1989 Salvage Convention, the Contractor is obliged to exercise “due care” when providing the services. Provided that it is not inconsistent with the nature of the services to be rendered, the Contractor must also exercise “due care” to prevent and minimise damage to the environment.

The first paragraph of Clause 2 has been amended to make the delivery and/or disposal of the vessel a “due diligence” type obligation on the part of the Contractor. The previous reference to the Contractor’s “endeavour to deliver” has been removed as the obligation to exercise “due care” applies to all of the agreed services under the Agreement, which may also include delivery and/or disposal.

In the last sentence of the first paragraph the Contractor now has to exercise due care to “prevent” as well as minimise damage to the marine environment. This has been done to be consistent with the phrasing used in the newly introduced Clause 21 (Pollution).

Two new provisions have been added at the end of Clause 2. The first requires the Contractor to give the Company Representative, if in attendance at the site, daily reports (the reports to be based on a standard format set out in Annex III (Contractor’s Daily Reports)). The second new provision requires assistance to be given to the party named in Box 7(ii) by the other party to assist in obtaining confirmation from the authorities of compliance with their orders.

Clause 3 (Company Representative)

This Clause provides for a representative of the Company to be available onsite, but only if required by the Contractor. A previous reference to the Company being obliged to provide information to the Contractor has been moved to the final part of Clause 5 (Miscellaneous)

The Clause also deals with the attendance on site, at the Company’s risk and expense, of ship’s personnel who are fully conversant with the layout of the Vessel and its cargo system in order to provide advice to the Contractors.

Clause 4 (Change of Method of Work and/or Personnel, Craft and Equipment)

Problems may arise during the operation that require a substantial change of method, equipment, etc. This Clause deals with the circumstances under which the Contractor may seek a variation to the Lump Sum stated in Box 9.

Clause 4 has been substantially restructured and split into three distinct sections. The first section (sub-clause (a)) deals with substantial changes before or during the services resulting in additional costs. The second section (sub-clause (b)) deals the task becoming easier due to a change in circumstances and where the Company can ask for a reduction in the money due to the Contractor. In both cases the parties must agree to a work variation order and to any increase or decrease in costs. In sub-clause (c) provision is made for the parties to resolve any disagreement in respect of sub-clauses (a) and (b) by referring the matter to a new expert evaluation procedure or to mediation or arbitration.

The previous method of referring the matter solely to arbitration was felt to be too slow and inefficient for this type of dispute where it is essential that work is not interrupted or delayed awaiting the outcome of an arbitrator’s decision. In any event the Contractor is obliged to continue operations pending the outcome of any evaluation, mediation or arbitration.

Clause 5 (Miscellaneous)

This Clause, which is largely unchanged from the WRECKSTAGE 99 edition, deals with matters such as the marking of the Vessel; use of the Vessel’s machinery and equipment; removal or jettison of parts of the Vessel and/or its cargo, and provision of plans and manifests.

In sub-clause (d) the strict obligation on the Company to provide the Contractors with plans, drawings and other data/information has been amended to “best endeavours” as the Company may simply not be in possession of some of the requested information. The Contractors are at liberty to request the Company to provide plans, drawings and information (previously, the requirement to provide information was found in Clause 3 (Company Representative)) but such requests must be “reasonable”.

Clause 6 (Permits)

This Clause deals with the need to obtain licences, approvals, authorisations and permits. The Permits Clause previously allowed for either party to be designated as responsible for obtaining permits. This has now been amended to make the Contractor solely responsible for this task although the Company is required to assist where necessary (for example in situations where a particular permit can only be issued to the shipowner or where the submission of certificates held by the shipowner is required). This amendment reflects the reality of salvage operations where the on-site contractor is best placed to obtain the necessary permits.

Clause 7 (Delays)

This Clause has undergone significant amendment and now offers a much more sophisticated method of dealing with delays encountered during the salvage operation. The previous Clause did not take into account a partial reduction in salvage work, meaning that anything other than full salvage work resulted in the standby rate applying. The new Delays Clause deals with partial standby as well as a full stand-down of services and which rates should apply under each set of circumstances. The provision as amended clearly sets out the position of the parties and which rate should apply in the event of delays whether caused by weather (Sub-clause (a)) or breakdown or failure of the Contractors’ equipment or personnel (Sub-clause (b)) or third party equipment or personnel hired in by the Contractor (Sub-clause (c)). As such, the provision more clearly sets out the position of the parties in the event of delays whether caused by weather or breakdown or failure of the Contractors’ equipment or personnel or third party equipment or personnel hired in by the Contractor.

Sub-clause (d) places the onus on the Contractor to act swiftly to advise the Company or its on-site representative of any delays to which the Contractor feels the Delay Payment Rate should apply. The Contractor must also at that time inform the Company (or its representative if appropriate) in writing (which would normally be done as part of the daily report and is consistent with obligations under the Lloyd’s Form SCOPIC Clause).

Sub-clause (e) excludes from the Delay Payment Rate individual delays of 6 running hours or less duration. This “free time” represents half a working day and is felt by salvors to be a reasonable compromise. However, if the delay exceeds 6 hours then the entire delay period is to count at the Delay Payment Rate.

Sub-clause (f) provides a means of resolving any disagreement as to what rate applies in the different circumstances listed in sub-clauses (a), (b) and (c) or for how long such a rate should apply. If the parties cannot agree on the rate that is to apply then the matter is referred to a new expert evaluation procedure (Clause 17).

Clause 8 (Termination)

This Clause remains unchanged from WRECKSTAGE 99. It sets out the circumstances under which the Agreement may be terminated by the Company (Sub-clause 8(a)); the manner in which the termination of the Agreement will be carried out by the Contractor (Sub-clause 8(b)); and the situation if permission to terminate the services is not given by the competent authorities (Sub-clause 8(c)).

Clause 9 (Delivery and/or Disposal)

The Clause has been amended to take account of situations where the Contractors also agree to dispose of the vessel or part of the vessel. “Part” of the vessel includes cargo and bunkers and it is recognised that disposal of such items may take place at different locations and at different times from the disposal of other parts of the vessel.

Clause 10 (Payment)

The new Payment Clause is the result of the merging of the old Clause 10 (Price and Conditions of Payment) and Clause 11 (Time of Payment and Interest).

Clause 10 is fundamental to the proper working of the Agreement. Sub-clauses (9(a), 9(b) and 9(c) deal with the payment of the agreed Lump Sum in instalments irrevocably earned when due and without deduction; Sub-clause (d) provides for the Lump Sum instalments to be paid in the agreed currency to the stated bank account; Sub-clause (e) gives the Contractor a right of termination in the event that payment is not made in accordance with the terms of the Agreement, or if security is not provided in accordance with the provisions of Clause 12 (Security); and Sub-clause (f) enables the Contractors to charge the Company interest at the agreed rate in the event any sums due and payable are not received by the Contractors within the agreed period.

Clause 11 (Extra Costs)

This Clause provides for any various extra costs incurred to be for the account of the Company. A new sub-clause (e) obliges the Company to meet the cost of obtaining and maintaining licenses and permits needed to undertake the salvage operation.

The final paragraph of Clause 11 has been amended to require the Company to reimburse the Contractor for any costs paid on the Company’s behalf plus any agreed handling charge.

Clause 12 (Security)

The Security Clause requires the Company to provide an irrevocable and unconditional security in any form as agreed between the parties. The Company is required to provide satisfactory security to cover monies due to the Contractor. The Contractor may also commence operations without the provision of initial security, but can request it to be provided at a later stage when “reasonably” required. This Clause remains unchanged from WRECKSTAGE 99.

Clause 13 (Liabilities)

Clause 13 provides the usual knock for knock provisions common in offshore contracts. Sub-clauses (a), (b), (c) and (d) have been slightly modified to include “sub-contractors” (which reflects the common use by salvors of third party sub-contractors). Sub-clause 13(e) is new and replaces the old consequential losses provision which was felt to be ineffective. The new wording is taken from TOWHIRE 2008 the consequential losses provision of which has been positively received by lawyers previously critical of BIMCO consequential liability provisions.

Clause 14 (Himalaya Clause)

This Clause is the same as that found in WRECKSTAGE 99.

Clause 15 (Lien)

This Clause is the same as that found in WRECKSTAGE 99.

Clause 16 (Time for Suit)

This Clause remains largely unchanged from WRECKSTAGE 99. The previous reference to notification by “telex, facsimile, cable or otherwise in writing” has been deleted because methods and forms of notification are now dealt with by a new Notices Clause (see Clause 19).

Clause 17 (Expert Evaluation)

WRECKSTAGE 2010 introduces a new method of dealing with certain types of dispute under the Agreement – notably disputes relating to the application of Delay Payment Rates (Clause 7) and the adjustment of costs following a change to the nature of the services (Clause 4). It was felt that the standard BIMCO Dispute Resolution Clause used in most BIMCO forms is simply not well suited to resolving issues that require a more or less on-the-spot decision so that work is not interrupted. Conventional arbitration lacks the infrastructure and expertise to determine such types of disputes. Therefore a two-tier approach to dispute resolution has been introduced.

In the first instance, if the parties cannot agree to additional costs for a change in the nature of the services, or are in dispute as the application of the standby rate, they may refer the disagreement to an “expert evaluator”. It is intended that the role of the “expert evaluator” will be assumed by a SCR (Special Casualty Representative) chosen from the Panel of SCRs maintained by the Salvage Arbitration Branch of Lloyd’s. Once appointed, the SCR acting as “expert evaluator” will take into account short written submissions provided by each party and then within 72 hours give written advice to the parties as to how costs/rates should be adjusted or how time should be accounted for. The cost of such an evaluation is to be met by both parties.

It is important to note that the evaluation is not binding on either party. The intention is to take impartial advice so as to not delay or further delay the salvage operation. The parties only agree that whatever the SCR proposes is given immediate effect but without prejudicing their right to resolve the dispute by conventional arbitration methods set out in Clause 18 at a later date.

Clause 18 (Arbitration and Mediation)

The Arbitration and Mediation Clause of WRECKSTAGE 2010 builds on the “Governing Law and Arbitration” Clause in WRECKSTAGE 99 which makes special provision for using Lloyd’s Salvage Arbitrators who are experts in resolving salvage related disputes. Consistent with the current BIMCO standard Dispute Resolution Clause, the parties may choose an applicable law and arbitration venue from a choice of English law/London arbitration; US law/New York arbitration; or a choice of law and arbitration as chosen and agreed by the parties.

The Clause incorporates the LMAA’s recently introduced intermediate claims procedure to supplement the existing small claims procedure. The Clause also introduces new mediation provision which permits the parties to refer all or part of a dispute, for which arbitration has been commenced, to mediation.

Clause 19 (Notices Clause)

The notices provision is new but is a provision commonly found in other recently produced BIMCO standard forms. The Clause provides that all notices must be in writing and sent using one of the prescribed formats. The Clause also sets out when notices given under the Agreement take effect depending on the method of communication used.

Clause 20 (Insurance)

This is another new Clause for WRECKSTAGE and provides for each party to warrant that they have in place appropriate insurance cover.

Clause 21 (Pollution)

This Clause is also new and requires the Contractor to exercise “due care” to prevent and minimise damage to the environment and have in place an oil spill response plan which meets the requirements of the Authorities and the Company. Sub-clauses (b) and (c) provide knock-for-knock provisions in relation to pollution from the vessel and the Contractor’s vessels.

Clause 22 (Rotation and Replacement of craft, equipment and personnel)

This is another new provision that basically gives the Contractor the right to swap resources/equipment in and out of the salvage operation for maintenance and/or fatigue-relief purposes.

Clause 23 (General Provisions)

This set of clauses covering the enforceability of provisions; third party beneficiaries; no-waiver; and warranty of authority, reflect additional clauses commonly added to wreck removal and other marine service agreements used in the salvage/offshore industry.

Annexes

Annex I (Schedule of Personnel, Craft and Equipment) and Annex II (Method of Work and Estimated Time Schedule) are unchanged from the previous edition of WRECKSTAGE.

A new Annex III has been added to provide a proforma template for the Contractor’s daily reports.