Defending claim from charterer with Kpler AIS data

In today's dynamic maritime industry, real-time monitoring and effective management of vessel operations are crucial for maintaining compliance and operational efficiency. This blog explores how a leading global shipping firm successfully managed a bulk carrier's voyage to defend claims from a charterer by leveraging advanced fleet management solutions. 

A bulk carrier, part of a fleet managed by a top global shipping company, embarked on a journey from Santos to Nansha under the flag of Panama. The vessel operator was tasked with ensuring compliance with charter party agreements and defending against potential charterer claims.

The challenge arose when the charterer reported an observed slowdown in the bulk carrier's speed and sought an explanation. The operator needed to closely monitor the vessel’s performance and voyage details to ensure alignment with the charter party agreements. This involved real-time tracking, assessing deviations, and evaluating performance against contractual obligations. For more details on FuelEU Maritime and its implications, visit Gard's article.

Using the MarineTraffic platform, the operator tracked the vessel's location and status in real-time. Although the initial position seemed accurate, a slowdown in speed prompted a review of weather conditions, revealing unfavourable weather around the Cape of Good Hope. To address this, the operator uploaded the passage plan and reviewed compliance, examining details from the voyage's start to prevent and prepare for disruptions.

By overlaying the planned route with the actual sailed route, the operator identified deviations caused by adverse weather, justifying the reduced speed and route changes. The playback feature, with up to 5 years of vessel track history, was utilised to analyse positions, speeds, and weather conditions, providing a detailed understanding of the deviations and performance issues.

A detailed voyage report assessed the vessel's performance against the charter party agreement clauses, highlighting weather impacts and justifying the operational changes. This report was shared with the charterer to discuss any discrepancies and confirm compliance.

The Fleet Management solution provided comprehensive oversight of the bulk carrier through real-time and historical data monitoring, ensuring compliance with charter party agreements. The robust evidence from voyage reports and playback features enabled the operator to successfully address the charterer's claims.

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