MT NIKE · Tuapse, Russia → Singapore

Statement of Facts events (11)

Extracted from the SoF PDF by Claude Sonnet 4.6 + Mistral OCR. Every event carries a verbatim citation back to the source document (CP#4).

1. 01
   NOR_TENDEREDWed, 25 Mar 2026 08:00:00 GMT· Tuapse OPL
2. 02
   NOR_ACCEPTEDWed, 25 Mar 2026 08:30:00 GMT· Tuapse OPL
3. 03
   FREE_PRATIQUE_GRANTEDWed, 25 Mar 2026 09:00:00 GMT· Tuapse
4. 04
   BERTHEDThu, 26 Mar 2026 07:00:00 GMT· Berth 3
5. 05
   LOADING_STARTThu, 26 Mar 2026 09:00:00 GMT· Berth 3
6. 06
   STRIKE_STARTFri, 27 Mar 2026 08:00:00 GMT· Berth 3
7. 07
   LOADING_STOPFri, 27 Mar 2026 08:00:00 GMT· Berth 3
8. 08
   STRIKE_ENDSun, 29 Mar 2026 08:00:00 GMT· Berth 3
9. 09
   LOADING_STARTSun, 29 Mar 2026 08:00:00 GMT· Berth 3
10. 10
    LOADING_COMPLETEMon, 30 Mar 2026 07:00:00 GMT· Berth 3
11. 11
    COBMon, 30 Mar 2026 09:00:00 GMT· Berth 3

Laytime rules applied (110)

Each rule is codified with ≥7 public-domain sources (Schofield, Cooke, BIMCO, LMAA). Full source dossier available in the LMAA submission package.

• CANCELLATION_CLAUSE
• LAYCAN_RIDER_EXTENSION
• NOR_VALIDITY_BASIC
• NOR_NOTIFICATION_METHOD
• ANTI_TECHNICALITY_CLAUSE
• ARRIVED_SHIP_DOCTRINE
• WIBON_WIPON_WIFPON
• COMMENCE_AT_BERTH_ONLY
• NOR_OFFICE_HOURS
• FREE_PRATIQUE_REQUIREMENT
• CUSTOMS_CLEARANCE_REQUIREMENT
• CARGO_RETENTION_CUSTOMS
• BALLAST_COMPLETE_REQUIREMENT
• SEAWORTHINESS_DUTY
• PERFORMANCE_WARRANTIES
• CARGO_CARE_DURING_VOYAGE
• TURN_TIME_APPLICATION
• WAITING_FOR_BERTH
• SLOPS_RECEPTION_OBLIGATION
• SUBSTITUTE_VESSEL
• STOWAGE_PLAN_DISPUTE
• STEVEDORE_DAMAGE
• PILOTAGE_DELAY
• TUGS_UNAVAILABLE
• WAR_RISKS_CLAUSE
• BLOCKING_BY_OTHER_VESSEL
• AGENT_INCOMPETENCE_DELAY
• NEGLIGENCE_OF_OWNER
• DEAD_FREIGHT
• SAFE_PORT_WARRANTY
• ALWAYS_AFLOAT_WARRANTY
• NOMINATION_FAILURE
• DESPATCH_RATE_APPLICATION
• SHINC_COUNTING
• WEATHER_EXCEPTION
• WEATHER_WORKING_DAY_DEFINITION
• BREAKDOWN_EXCEPTION
• STRIKE_EXCEPTION
• ICE_CLAUSE
• CUSTOM_OF_PORT_LOCAL_PRACTICE
• PUMPING_PRESSURE_WARRANTY
• PUMPING_LOG_VERIFICATION
• HOLIDAY_DEFINITION_PER_PORT
• EIU_AND_UU_MODIFIERS
• SHIFTING_BETWEEN_BERTHS
• BUNKER_OPERATIONS
• SLOP_DISPOSAL
• LIGHTERING_OPERATIONS
• HOLD_CLEANING
• CARGO_HEATING_DELAY
• CARGO_SAMPLING_TIME
• MULTI_PORT_REVERSIBILITY
• AVERAGING
• INHERENT_VICE_CARGO_DETERIORATION
• TIME_BAR_ENFORCEMENT
• DEMURRAGE_TIME_BAR_FORM_VARIATIONS
• INVOICE_PRESENTATION_REQUIREMENTS
• SET_OFF_RIGHTS
• SOF_EVIDENTIARY_WEIGHT
• BURDEN_OF_PROOF_ALLOCATION
• CESSER_CLAUSE
• LIEN_CLAUSE
• DEVIATION_CLAUSE
• CLAUSE_PARAMOUNT
• APPLICABLE_LAW_CLAUSE
• JURISDICTION_ARBITRATION_CLAUSE
• SANCTIONS_CLAUSE
• FORCE_MAJEURE_CLAUSE
• CARGO_RETENTION_QUARANTINE
• BR_FORO_ARBITRAL
• BR_LINDB_LEI_ESTRANGEIRA
• BR_LGPD_DATA_HANDLING
• WARNING_PORT_CONGESTION_SEASONAL
• WARNING_CUSTOM_OF_PORT_DIVERGENCE
• SUSPICIOUS_LARGE_DESPATCH
• SUSPICIOUS_LARGE_DEMURRAGE
• TIME_BAR_EXPIRED_OUTPUT_NONZERO
• IMPLAUSIBLE_HOURS
• CROSS_VALIDATION_SOF_CP
• COA_SCOPE_DRIFT
• COA_TERMINATION_NOTICE
• COA_VESSEL_SUBSTITUTION
• COA_PERFORMANCE_OBLIGATION
• COA_DEMURRAGE_ALLOCATION
• SUBCHARTER_PRIVITY
• SUBCHARTER_RATE_DIFFERENTIAL
• SUBCHARTER_DISPUTE_CASCADE
• SUBCHARTER_TIME_BAR_INHERITANCE
• SLOT_CHARTER_ALLOCATION
• SLOT_CHARTER_NO_SHOW
• SLOT_CHARTER_TRANSFER
• POOL_EARNINGS_DISTRIBUTION
• POOL_VOYAGE_SELECTION
• POOL_TIME_BAR_POOLED
• POOL_PERFORMANCE_INDEX
• VESSEL_LIEN_ON_CARGO
• CARGO_LIEN_BY_CHARTERER
• CHARTERER_LIEN_ON_SUBFREIGHT
• LIEN_NOTICE_REQUIREMENT
• LIEN_RELEASE_PROCEDURE
• DAMAGE_DURING_DEMURRAGE
• CAUSE_ATTRIBUTION_DAMAGE
• OWNER_MITIGATION_DUTY
• CARGO_CLAIM_SET_OFF
• BUNKER_QUALITY_DELAY
• BUNKER_TIME_OFF_HIRE
• BUNKER_SURCHARGE_TRIGGER
• WAR_RISK_TRADING_LIMITS
• CARGO_DOCUMENTATION_DELAY
• LMAA_PRECEDENT_LOOKUP

Analyst notes (58)

Engine flags each clause needing customer review. First 5 shown below.

• CANCELLATION_CLAUSE: customer verify laycan window em CP. Laydays = earliest NOR; cancelling date = latest arrival before charterer pode cancel. Vessel early: charterer pode delay laytime start. Vessel late: charterer cancels sem liability. Owner improper cancellation: damages for market loss (ballast + freight). BIMCO Cancelling Clause 2002 standard.
• LAYCAN_RIDER_EXTENSION: customer verify rider clauses. "Slip laycan" permits N-day extension via mutual consent. "Firm laycan" no slippage. "Substitute laycan" entire window replaced. LATAM CPs (Synacomex/Norgrain): laycan tied to grain elevator availability. Brazilian iron ore: mining production schedule. Argentine grain: Up-River elevator. Mutual consent required (no unilateral). Addenda document changes.
• NOR_VALIDITY_BASIC is draft-pre-sme: does not check WIPON/WIBON/WIFPON/WCCON, free pratique, customs, pumping readiness
• NOR_NOTIFICATION_METHOD: customer verify CP notification method clause. Asbatankvoy Cl. 6: telex/written. BPVoy 3: fax confirmed by telex. Modern CPs: email increasingly accepted. Default English law: any reasonable method. The Port Russell: enumerated list = exhaustive (closed). Recipient: charterer ou authorised agent (não pilot/port authority/terminal). Waiver via subsequent action sem protest cures defect.
• ANTI_TECHNICALITY_CLAUSE: customer verify CP. NYPE 2015 cl. 11(b) standard 3 banking days cure. BIMCO Anti-Technicality 2002 standard. Three notice elements required: (1) identify default; (2) state cure period; (3) warn of withdrawal. The Afovos [1983]: premature notice invalid. The Li Hai [2005]: clear banking days computation excluding day of notice. The Nanfri: bona fide deductions bar withdrawal. Cannot validate fundamentally bad NOR — só minor defects.

+ 53 more warnings in the full audit report.

**Subject:** DEMURRAGE DISPUTE — MT NIKE — VOYAGE 2026-Tuapse-Singapore-007 — USD 92,000 claimed, STRIKE EXCEPTION applies

**To:** Sovcomflot Maritime
Demurrage Department
Moscow, Russia

**From:** Glencore Energy UK Ltd.
Trading Operations — London
Reference: GLEN-DEM-2026-007

**Date:** 28 May 2026

---

Dear Sirs,

We refer to your demurrage invoice dated [date], claim sum **USD 92,000.00**, in respect of voyage 2026-Tuapse-Singapore-007 (MT NIKE, HSFO, Tuapse→Singapore, Asbatankvoy form).

We have completed an independent audit and respectfully dispute the claim. The audit determined the vessel was in fact entitled to **despatch USD 52,500.00**, producing a net amount **due to Charterer of USD 144,500.00**. The principal issue is the application of the **strike exception** which your calculation appears to have ignored.

## 1. Engine calculation

- **Laytime allowed:** 84.00 h (Asbatankvoy + SHINC, per CP Part I)
- **Laytime used:** 42.00 h (per SoF events, 48h strike excluded per Asbatankvoy Part II strike clause)
- **Delta:** -42.00 h (vessel completed 1.75 days ahead)
- **Despatch rate:** USD 15,000/day × 42 h = **USD 52,500.00 owing to Charterer**

## 2. The strike exception

SoF p. 1 ¶6 records: *"Strike — port workers walkout"* at 08:00 UTC on 27 March 2026.
SoF p. 1 ¶7 records: *"Loading stopped"* same time.
SoF p. 1 ¶8 records: *"Strike ended"* at 08:00 UTC on 29 March 2026 — total **48 hours**.
SoF p. 1 ¶9 records: *"Loading resumed"* same time.

The strike is a recognised laytime exception under:

- **Asbatankvoy Part II Clause 17** (excepted periods including strikes and lockouts)
- **BIMCO Laytime Definitions 2013** definition of "strike"
- **The Laga** (strike exception NOT applicable to Owner's own crew — confirms that in this case, where the strike was by port workers, the exception **applies** in Charterer's favour)
- **STRIKE_EXCEPTION rule** in our engine, codified with 7 public-domain sources (Schofield §5.50, Cooke Ch. 16, BIMCO commentary, and 4 LMAA awards)

The 48 hours of port-worker strike must be excluded from laytime. Your calculation includes this period and is therefore wrong by 48 hours × USD 30,000/day = **USD 60,000 over-claimed on the strike alone**.

## 3. Applicable authorities

- **Asbatankvoy Part II Clauses 6, 7, 17** (NOR, despatch, strike exception)
- **The Laga** (own-crew strike distinction)
- **The Darrah** [1976] 2 Lloyd's Rep 359 (proximate cause / "once on demurrage" — not yet on demurrage in this case, so strike exception applies fully)
- **Schofield "Laytime and Demurrage" 8th ed** §5.50 (strikes)
- **Cooke "Voyage Charters" 5th ed** Ch. 16 (excepted periods)

## 4. Demand

We demand:

1. **Withdrawal** of your demurrage invoice in the sum of USD 92,000.00; and
2. **Payment** to Charterer of despatch **USD 52,500.00** within **fourteen (14) days** from this letter.

Failing which Charterer reserves the right to commence LMAA arbitration in London under Asbatankvoy Clause 24.

## 5. Reservation of rights

All Charterer's rights and remedies expressly reserved including interest at the LMAA published rate plus costs.

Yours faithfully,

**Glencore Energy UK Ltd.**

Enclosures: Annex A (Demurrage.IA audit PDF, 6 pages including strike timeline); Annex B (rules dossier with STRIKE_EXCEPTION sources); Annex C (citations CSV).

Synthetic case; real letters are tailored to your CP rider clauses + factual record.