This article, which was written by Simon Tatham and David High of Maritime Law Firm, Tatham & Co., discusses the main practicalities of invoking clause 20 of the BARGEHIRE 2008 contract which is a force majeure clause. This might be because a shutdown in the field of operation means that it cannot be manned or loaded, that the cargo destined to be carried is very seriously delayed or simply that the charterers’ business is in such stress that there is no cash to pay ongoing hire.

In line with their legal and regulatory obligations, all Clubs in the International Group maintain sophisticated sanctions compliance programmes and procedures. The rules and procedures developed by Clubs to manage sanctions risks take account of the guidance provided by bodies such as the UN Security Council (UNSCR), the UK Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI), the US State Department and the US Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). Through its system of circulars and news alerts, Clubs also seek to keep their Members up to date on recent developments with respect to sanctions.

This circular is an update on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) sanctions enforcement circular that we published in 2019. It has been updated following the recently published 2019/2020 UN Panel of Experts of North Korea Sanctions Report.

Coronaviruses (CoV) are a large family of viruses that cause illness ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV).

The global Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has brought about exceptionally challenging trading conditions and the Club is committed to supporting Members through this difficult time. To this end, the Club has produced the following guidance which addresses some of the most frequently asked questions regarding the contractual implications of the outbreak.