Maritime glossary
Laytime
The time agreed in the charter party for cargo loading or discharge — once exceeded, demurrage starts.
Definition
Laytime is the period the owner allows the charterer to use the vessel for cargo operations without additional charge. It is defined precisely in the charter party — running hours, working days, weather working days, "shinc" (Sundays/holidays included), "shex" (excluded), commencement rules, exception rules. The Notice of Readiness (NoR) is the trigger that starts laytime running. Disputes over laytime calculation drive a large share of the demurrage caseload in maritime arbitration.
How Vessel Hunter uses Laytime
Vessel Hunter’s arrival/departure timeline gives ops teams the same audit trail the owner and charterer use in laytime calculation — to the minute.
Related terms
- Demurrage
A daily fee paid by the charterer to the owner when cargo operations exceed the agreed laytime.
- Charter Party
The contract under which a vessel is hired to a charterer — voyage, time, or bareboat.
- ETAEstimated Time of Arrival
The forecast time at which a vessel is expected to arrive at its next port or waypoint.
The bigger picture
Laytime is one piece of the commercial maritime picture Vessel Hunter pulls together for shipyards, port agents, and service providers. Every vessel record bundles AIS, ownership, inspections, dry-dock history, casualty record, classification status, and a verified contact for the operator decision-maker behind the ship — so the team that reaches out first wins the work.
Continue reading: full maritime glossary · every Vessel Hunter feature · where the data comes from.