| Award 1204

Award 1204 – Synacomex 90 – Political unrest in Egypt – Berthing delayed – Dispute on laytime calculation at discharging – Validity of notice of readiness tendered on roads (yes) – Application of clause 25 (no).On the day of her arrival at Damietta, the vessel dropped anchor in the inner anchorage where samples were taken, then was ordered to go on outer roads and came alongside only 9 days later. The dispute hinged on the validity of NOR tendered on roads and the laytime calculation during waiting time. The charterer put forward the statement of facts which mentioned a situation of political unrest and curfew when the owner referred to the Master’s remarks pointing out that the port remained open and active. The Tribunal decided that the NOR had been validly tendered on the roads since sampling was not dealt with in the charterparty and that no reason why the vessel did not go alongside on arrival was given. On the matter of laytime, it considered that clause 25 of charter-party, regarding the except ions to layt ime calculation, should be construed strictly and that the lack of official documentation about the state of the port during the waiting time did not allow for its application.