BIMCO船员更换条款
近期，我们注意到很多新闻报道，关于疫情期间船上船员更换受到各个港口当地的疫情管控措施限制，遇到了延期以及产生了额外的费用支出。为了解决期租下由此可能产生的潜在争议，Bimco最近也公布一个新的疫情期间期租合约下的船员换班条款。条款全文见末尾。
整体而言，该条款约定的船东和租家的权利义务关系相对比较平衡。需要额外注意的有两点问题；
1. 绕航
根据条款a款的约定，船东有权绕航去其他港口更换船员，如果该航次下需要挂靠的港口无法进行船员更换，且船东不承担任何由此造成的任何责任与损失。
这里存在一个问题，虽然期租合约下的合同双方可以自由约定绕航的问题，但同时承运人也要在提单下向提单持有人承担尽速速遣的义务。一旦船东无故绕航， 船东可能会被视为丧失了提单项下的责任限制的权利。因此，为了规避这个风险，租家需要将这一绕航的条款内容并入提单下，保护承运人的权利（c款对此有明确约定）。
2. 相关费用的承担
d款提供了两个可选项。绕航期间的租金以及港口费用，合同双方可以选择按照折扣价支付，或者全部由船东承担。
通常Bimco的格式条款往往在Rider或者在Recap里做指示性的并入，所以我们建议租家需要格外注意在近期订立的租约里，船东是否要求并入这个条款。
如果要并入该条款，我们建议对b款进行适当的修改；
b) Owners right under subclause (a) above will be subject to Charterers’ consent, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed. Owners shall notify Charterers in writing as soon as reasonably possible of any intended deviation for crew changes purposes for Charterers’ consideration and approval.
BIMCO COVID-19 Crew Change Clause for Time Charter Parties 2020
(a) In addition to any other right to deviate under this contract, the Vessel shall have liberty to deviate for crew changes if COVID-19-related restrictions prevent crew changes from being conducted at the ports or places to which the Vessel has been ordered or within the scheduled period of call. Any deviation under this clause shall not be deemed to be an infringement or breach of this contract, and Owners shall not be liable for any loss or damage resulting therefrom.
(b) Owners shall exercise the right under subclause (a) above with due regard to Charterers’ interests and shall notify Charterers in writing as soon as reasonably possible of any intended deviation for crew changes purposes.
(c) Charterers shall procure that subclause (a) shall be incorporated into any and all sub-charter parties, bills of lading, waybills or other documents evidencing contracts of carriage issued pursuant to this Charter Party.
(d) During the period of such deviation the Vessel shall:
(i)* remain on hire, but at a reduced rate of hire of USD ……….. per day. In the absence of an agreed amount, fifty per cent (50%) of the hire rate shall apply. The cost of bunkers consumed shall be shared equally between Owners and Charterers.
(ii)* be off-hire and the cost of bunkers consumed shall be for Owners’ account.
(e) While the Vessel is at the port of deviation all port charges, pilotage and other expenses arising out of such crew changes shall be for the Owners’ account.
*(d)(i) and (d)(ii) are alternatives. Delete whichever is not applicable. In the absence of deletions alternative (d)(i) shall apply.
来源：租家保赔协会@ 2020.07.02
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