**Subject:** DEMURRAGE DISPUTE — MT ATLANTIC GLORY — VOYAGE 2026-Paranagua-Singapore-004 — USD 42,000 claimed, WEATHER EXCEPTION applies **To:** Cardiff Marine Inc. Demurrage Department Athens, Greece **From:** Cargill Brazil SA Marine Logistics Reference: CARG-BR-DEM-2026-004 **Date:** 28 May 2026 --- Dear Sirs, We refer to your demurrage invoice dated [date], claim sum **USD 42,000.00**, in respect of voyage 2026-Paranagua-Singapore-004 (MT ATLANTIC GLORY, soybean oil, Paranaguá→Singapore, Asbatankvoy form). We have completed an independent audit and respectfully dispute the claim. The vessel was entitled to **despatch USD 14,000.00**, producing a net amount **due to Charterer of USD 56,000.00**. The principal issue is **misapplication of the weather exception**. ## 1. Engine calculation - **Laytime allowed:** 60.00 h (Asbatankvoy + WWD per CP Part I) - **Laytime used:** 36.00 h (per SoF, excluding 10h weather delay) - **Delta:** -24.00 h (vessel completed 1 day early) - **Despatch rate:** USD 14,000/day × 24 h = **USD 14,000.00 owing to Charterer** ## 2. The weather exception SoF p. 1 ¶7 records: *"Loading suspended — heavy thunderstorm"* at 05:00 UTC on 12 June 2026. SoF p. 1 ¶8 records: *"Weather cleared, ops resuming"* at 15:00 UTC same day — total **10 hours**. The CP specifies WWD (Weather Working Day) per BIMCO Laytime Definitions 2013 Definition 15. Under the WEATHER_WORKING_DAY_DEFINITION rule in our engine (with 9 logic steps codified from Schofield §4.30, Cooke Ch. 16, BIMCO Definitions 2013, plus 4 LMAA awards): - The 10-hour thunderstorm is **weather actually preventing operations** (loading was in progress and was stopped per SoF). - Per *Reardon Smith v Ministry of Agriculture*, the hypothetical test confirms weather would have prevented loading. - Per *The Darrah* the proximate cause is the weather (not a coincident factor). - Per *The Vorras* — sea state qualifies even where skies are clear; here documented heavy thunderstorm is squarely within the exception. The 10 hours must be **excluded from laytime**. Your calculation includes this period and is therefore wrong by 10 h × USD 28,000/day = **USD 11,666.67 over-claimed on weather alone**. ## 3. Applicable authorities - **Asbatankvoy Part II Clauses 6, 7, 17** (NOR, despatch, excepted periods) - **BIMCO Laytime Definitions 2013 Definitions 15-18** (WWD variants) - **Reardon Smith v Ministry of Agriculture** (hypothetical test for waiting vessels) - **The Darrah** [1976] 2 Lloyd's Rep 359 (proximate cause) - **The Vorras** (swell/sea-state qualifies) - **Schofield "Laytime and Demurrage" 8th ed** §4.30 ## 4. Demand We demand withdrawal of the USD 42,000 invoice and payment of despatch USD 14,000 within fourteen (14) days. ## 5. Reservation of rights All Charterer's rights and remedies expressly reserved. Yours faithfully, **Cargill Brazil SA** Enclosures: Annex A (Demurrage.IA audit PDF, 5 pages including weather delay timeline); Annex B (rules dossier — WEATHER_EXCEPTION + WEATHER_WORKING_DAY_DEFINITION sources); Annex C (citations CSV).
Live demo · Tanker + weather exception
MT ATLANTIC GLORY · Paranaguá, Brazil → Singapore
BIMCO form: asbatankvoy · Cargo: Soybean oil (30000 MT) · Charterer: Cargill Brazil SA, São Paulo, Brazil
Why this case?
Soybean oil Paranaguá→Singapore. 10h thunderstorm delay durante loading — engine aplica WEATHER_EXCEPTION + WEATHER_WORKING_DAY_DEFINITION (BIMCO 2013 Defs 15-18).
Para charterers cuja maior dor é "weather mal-aplicado pelo owner". Common em todos verticais LATAM.
Engine verdict
Owner invoiced $42,000.00 · $56,000.00 recoverable by the charterer.
Laytime allowed
60 h
Laytime used
36.00 h
Delta
-24.00 h
Discrepancy
$56,000
Statement of Facts events (12)
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).
- 01ANCHOREDWed, 10 Jun 2026 14:00:00 GMT· Paranaguá OPL
- 02NOR_TENDEREDWed, 10 Jun 2026 14:30:00 GMT· Paranaguá OPL
- 03NOR_ACCEPTEDWed, 10 Jun 2026 15:00:00 GMT· Paranaguá OPL
- 04FREE_PRATIQUE_GRANTEDWed, 10 Jun 2026 15:00:00 GMT· Paranaguá
- 05BERTHEDThu, 11 Jun 2026 08:00:00 GMT· Berth 5 — Cattalini Terminal
- 06LOADING_STARTThu, 11 Jun 2026 10:00:00 GMT· Berth 5
- 07WEATHER_DELAY_STARTFri, 12 Jun 2026 05:00:00 GMT· Berth 5
- 08LOADING_STOPFri, 12 Jun 2026 05:00:00 GMT· Berth 5
- 09WEATHER_DELAY_ENDFri, 12 Jun 2026 15:00:00 GMT· Berth 5
- 10LOADING_STARTFri, 12 Jun 2026 15:00:00 GMT· Berth 5
- 11LOADING_COMPLETESat, 13 Jun 2026 18:00:00 GMT· Berth 5
- 12COBSat, 13 Jun 2026 19:00:00 GMT· Berth 5
Laytime rules applied (120)
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
- WWD_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
- OOMAOM
- 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_CASO_FORTUITO_FORCA_MAIOR_CC
- BR_ANTAQ_OPERACOES_PORTUARIAS
- BR_LEI_PORTOS_RESPONSABILIDADE_TERMINAL
- BR_PRESCRICAO_DEMURRAGE
- BR_PRESCRICAO_AVARIA_CARGA
- BR_FORO_ARBITRAL
- BR_LINDB_LEI_ESTRANGEIRA
- BR_LGPD_DATA_HANDLING
- BR_DEMURRAGE_CLAUSULA_PENAL
- BR_BOA_FE_OBJETIVA
- BR_ONUS_PROVA_EXCLUDENTE
- BR_ONEROSIDADE_EXCESSIVA
- 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
Edge cases triggered:
PORT_CHARTER_NOR_FROM_ANCHORAGEWCCON_ASSUMED_FROM_RIDERSWEATHER_DELAYS_DETECTEDTANKER_SLOP_CHECK_NEEDEDBR_FORTUITO_INVOCATION_FLAGGEDSEASONAL_CONGESTION_HIGH_RISKCUSTOM_OF_PORT_DIVERGENCE_DETECTEDCARGO_DAMAGE_RISK
Analyst notes (75)
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.
+ 70 more warnings in the full audit report.
Sample dispute letter (FS-004)
Below is the actual letter our engine would draft for this case. Sent by you, the Charterer, to the Owner. Cites CP clauses + LMAA precedents + your engine calculation. Editable in the platform before sending.
Synthetic case; real letters are tailored to your CP rider clauses + factual record.
What you receive as a charterer
📄 Dispute letter (FS-004)
AI-drafted, citation-backed, with 9 LMAA precedents catalogued. Ready to send to owner counsel.
📑 Audit PDF (FS-005)
5+ page deterministic report with calc breakdown, rules applied, full citation chain.
📦 LMAA submission ZIP (FS-012)
8-file bundle ready for arbitral tribunal: cover letter + CP + SoF + audit + dispute + citations + rules dossier + raw calc JSON.
💵 Success-fee invoice (FS-007)
20% pilot fee, billed only after charterer confirms recovery. No upfront. No recovery, no fee.
Why charterers + tribunals trust this output
- CP#3 — Deterministic engine. Pure TypeScript, zero LLM in the calc path. Same input = same output, always.
- CP#4 — Citation chain. Every fact in every output traces to a verbatim quote + page + paragraph in the source CP/SoF.
- CP#5 v2 — Multi-source validation. Each rule backed by ≥7 sources (Schofield, Cooke, BIMCO clauses, LMAA awards) + multi-model AI agreement.
- CP#8 — Data ownership. Your CPs and SoFs are yours. Export anytime, delete on churn.
Run this on YOUR claims.
3 fields. No signup, no credit card. André replies within 24h with a Calendly link and walks you through what to send for the first free audit (up to 5 claims).