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Supplytime & Other Chartering Contracts
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About the Course
Offshore support vessels provide vital services to energy producers in today’s global economy. Increasing interest in alternative sources of energy, such as wind and solar power, will continue to drive the market for offshore support vessels well into the future. Unfortunately, many of these vessels are also involved in, or indispensable in responding to, high-profile catastrophes such as the sinking of the DEEPWATER HORIZON and resulting spill.
National and international laws that apply to OSV operations are being re-examined and challenged in the wake of the DEEPWATER HORIZON spill, and major changes are already being debated. New clauses in OSV contracts and OSV insurance policies are being drafted, as market actors attempt to adjust to the new reality and allocate risks that were inconceivable just a few years ago.
This course examines contracts, clauses, catastrophes, and laws – some familiar, some quite specialized – that apply in the offshore-support context. All aspects of OSV chartering are considered. The course materials include form contracts, clauses, industry news and commentary, and legal authorities. Case studies are used throughout the course to provide a lively, practical context for learning the material. Delegates are encouraged to ask questions and share their own experiences and contract forms or clauses with the group.
This OSV-chartering masterclass will establish and build upon the fundamental principles of contracting for support-vessel services to the offshore energy industry, including:
- Types of vessels considered to be OSVs
- Commonly used OSV-chartering forms, including Supplytime and Towcon
- Custom or “manuscript” contracts and rider clauses
- Allocation of risk between owners and charterers
- Interplay of insurance and indemnity
- Commercial considerations
- Choice-of-law, choice-of-forum, and arbitration clauses
- Relevant distinctions between US and English maritime law
- Force majeure
- Special considerations following catastrophes
- The future of offshore support and service vessels
Who Should Attend
- Offshore support vessel owners, charterers, and operators
- Government agencies
- Oil and gas companies
- Ship brokers
- Marine Insurance and P&I personnel
- Equipment and service providers
- Maritime lawyers
- In-house contract administrators and legal advisers
International Course Director
David B. Sharpe, Partner,
Lugenbuhl, Wheaton, Peck, Rankin & Hubbard
David is a Professor of Law on the adjunct faculty of Tulane Law School in New Orleans, USA where he teaches an upper-level course on Towage & Offshore-Service Law. He has over 21 years of practical experience on contract negotiation (charterparties, master service contracts, and oilfieldservice indemnity agreements) and commercial dispute resolution (breach of contract, maritime liens, and casualties).
