586 NICHOLLS'S SEAMANSHIP AND NAUTICAL KNOWLEDGE
times specified, and in others a definite date is fixed by which time
the cargo is to be loaded.
Demurrage.—If the ship is not loaded or discharged at the
expiration of the lay days, and delay arises from the fault of the
charterer or his agents, the charter-party specifies that he must
pay a fixed sum per day or hour for the time the ship is
detained. This payment is termed ** demurrage." It must
be claimed daily, and the claim for Sundays must be made on
Saturday. Generally the charter-party specifies the number of
days during which a ship can be kept on " demurrage," and states
that at the expiration of the demurrage days the ship is to be at
liberty to sail, fall or not full, and if not fully loaded the charterer
is to pay " dead freight "* on the shortage. This, however, depends
upon the actual wording of a charter-party
Despatch Money is the reverse of demurrage. It is a sum of
money paid by the shipowner to the charterer for despatching the
ship before the expiration of the lay days.
Floating Clause.—This stipulates that the ship shall proceed
to her port of destination, or as near thereunto as she can safely
get, where she can safely lay afloat at all times and tides.
Deviation from Voyage.—The charter-party specifies that the
ship must proceed direct to her port of destination ; that is, she
must not deviate unnecessarily from her course.
Deviation and Towing Clause.—This is a clause usually
inserted in steamers* charter-party, giving them liberty to tow or
be towed, or to assist other vessels, and to deviate, if necessary, for
this purpose. Without this clause a vessel would only be justified
in standing by another in distress, in order to save life, and not
with the view of earning salvage.
Exceptions or Negligence Clause.—By this clause the ship
is excepted from responsibility for act of God, perils of the sea,
fire, etc. The following negligence clause is copied word for word
from a Welsh coal charter-party :—" The act of God, the King's
enemies, restraints of princes and rulers, and perils of the seas
excepted. Also fire, barratry of the master and crew, pirates,
collisions, strandings and accidents of navigation, or latent defects
*See "Dead Freight."