Ice Clause for Time Charter Parties 2005
Overview
Ice Clause for Time Charter Parties 2005
BIMCO Ice Clause for Time Charter Parties 2005
(a) The Vessel shall not be obliged to force ice but, subject to the Owners’ prior approval having due regard to its size, construction and class, may follow ice-breakers.
(b) The Vessel shall not be required to enter or remain in any icebound port or area, nor any port or area where lights, lightships, markers or buoys have been or are about to be withdrawn by reason of ice, nor where on account of ice there is, in the Master’s sole discretion, a risk that, in the ordinary course of events, the Vessel will not be able safely to enter and remain at the port or area or to depart after completion of loading or discharging. If, on account of ice, the Master in his sole discretion considers it unsafe to proceed to, enter or remain at the place of loading or discharging for fear of the Vessel being frozen in and/or damaged, he shall be at liberty to sail to the nearest ice-free and safe place and there await the Charterers’ instructions.
(c) Any delay or deviation caused by or resulting from ice shall be for the Charterers’ account and the Vessel shall remain on-hire.
(d) Any additional premiums and/or calls required by the Vessel's underwriters due to the Vessel entering or remaining in any icebound port or area, shall be for the Charterers' account.
Explanatory notes
BIMCO has recently revised its suite of stand-alone ice clauses and has distilled them into two standard clauses: the BIMCO Ice Clause for Voyage Charter Parties and the BIMCO Ice Clause for Time Charter Parties.
The amendments were made because the existing ice clauses were felt to be deficient in a number of ways, particularly because they were silent on the issues of forcing ice and following ice breakers. It was also felt that provisions were needed to protect the owners against the risk of ice being experienced on the approach voyage. Consequently a set of revised Ice Clauses has been drafted to take the above concerns into consideration. A provision common to both Clauses has been included that makes it clear that the vessel should not be obliged to force ice, but may reasonably be expected to follow ice breakers where other vessels of the same size, class and construction are doing so.
The BIMCO Ice Clause for Time Charter Parties is based on recent equivalent clauses contained in BIMCO time charter parties and takes into account that it is “in the master’s sole discretion” to assess whether in the ordinary course of events the vessel will not be able to safely enter or remain in an ice bound port or area.
Furthermore, the Clause provides that in the event there is a risk that the vessel may be frozen in, the master shall be at liberty to sail to the nearest “ice-free place”.
Finally, the Clause stipulates that any delay or deviation caused by ice does not place the vessel off-hire. After all, under a time charter party it is the charterers who make the commercial decisions regarding the employment of the vessel and it is they, therefore, that must assume the associated risks.
Originally published in BIMCO Special Circular No. 1, 24 February 2005 - BIMCO Ice Clauses
Related Help & Advice
Create or edit a contract
The one-stop digital shop for all the standard maritime contracts and clauses you’ll ever need.
Related publication
Check Before Fixing
This publication builds upon decades of BIMCO’s experience as the world leader in developing standard shipping contracts and clauses and its daily practic...
Related training
Summer Shipping School
- Copenhagen, Denmark
- 16 June, 2025
The Summer Shipping School is designed to provide a thorough overview of skills used in chartering and operations through case studies and first-class teaching....
Latest Related News
-
BIMCO adopts portfolio of four ETS clauses
The shipping industry is facing an increase in new regulations from the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the European Union (EU) and an increase in the urgency to decarbonise. To support the industry, BIMCO has developed a portfolio of new emission trading scheme (ETS) clauses.
-
BIMCO adopts new CII clause for Voyage Charter Parties
The shipping industry is facing an increase in new regulations from the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the European Union (EU) and an increase in the urgency to decarbonise. To support the industry, BIMCO has developed a new CII Clause for Voyage Charter Parties. The clause was adopted by BIMCO’s Documentary Committee on 11 October and is the latest addition to BIMCO’s portfolio of carbon clauses.
-
BIMCO’s CII clause adopted
The BIMCO Documentary Committee has adopted a CII Operations Clause for Time Charter Parties which will help the industry commercially navigate the complexities of the new CII regulations from the International Maritime Organization (IMO).
-
Fumigation
BIMCO providing information and guidance relating to fumigation of cargoes that are shipped under the IMSBC Code, the Grain Code and the IMDG Code.
-
Bottom fouling
From time to time, BIMCO is approached by members enquiring about responsibility for the cleaning of a ship’s underwater parts when it has been idle at a port for a long time pursuant to the orders of the time charterers.
ELSEWHERE ON BIMCO
Holiday calendar
BIMCO's Holiday Calendar covers general holidays in over 150 countries, plus local holidays and working hours in more than 680 ports around the world.
Learn about your cargo
For general guidance and information on cargo-related queries.
