Discussion and debate will focus on the following:
• inter-governmental action to deter corruption, national legislation and implications of the UK Bribery Act 2010;
• one-sided market “anti-bribery” charter party clauses leaving owners at risk of criminal sanctions and loss of a contract if a payment is made but uncompensated for time lost taking a stand;
• BIMCO’s new and balanced clause for owner and charterer cooperation to resist demands for unlawful payments, preserve owners’ rights to hire, laytime and demurrage during any resulting delay and the high threshold test to prevent capricious termination of a contract; and
• the rôle of the clause as a criminal law provision distinct from the governing law of the underlying charter party.