Defence Guide 05 Apr, 2022 Defence Guide - Late redelivery in a nutshell Julien Rabeux Head of Claims (Singapore) When is the ship redelivered late? A charterer has an obligation to deliver  the vessel in compliance with the  redelivery provisions of the charter.  The timing of a redelivery will primarily  depend on the duration of the charter. Usually a time charter will fall into two  categories:  A fixed period which could be a flat  period, for example “1 year” or a  period of time until a certain date,  for example “until 15th July”.  A variable period (for example,  “11 to 14 months” or “6 months,  15 days more or less”). 1. Fixed period Even when the word “about” is not  included in the redelivery period, “there is a presumption that a definite  date for the termination of the charter  should be regarded as approximate  only” (London Explorer 1971). The  precise date agreed for redelivery  means “about that date”. Charterers  are allowed a reasonable margin  before and after this precise date. How big is the margin? The extent of the margin of time for  redelivery will depend on many facts.  For example, a ship redelivered 8.4  days beyond the stated period of  a 6 months, 20 days period could  be deemed as reasonable (see also  discussion on “about” below). 2. Variable period There are broadly two types: “11 to 14  months” or “6 months, 15 days more  or less”. (i) “6 months, 15 days more or less”:  here the parties have agreed a fixed? duration with a built-in  tolerance clause. There is therefore no implied allowance. (ii) “11 to 14 months”: here the answer  is not straight forward. Whether  an implied allowance is allowed  will depend on the period of the  spread. If the spread is 15 days  (“6 to 61/2 months”) the law may allow an implied tolerance. If the  spread is long (“11 to