Definition
Husbandry is the care of the ship herself during a call. The FONASBA standard agency agreement puts it in one clause: the agent is to arrange "bunkering, repairs, husbandry, crew changes, passengers, ship's stores, spare parts, technical and nautical assistance and medical assistance", and separately handles claims, P&I matters and surveyors. Its fee schedule treats "clearance and ship's husbandry" as a fee to be agreed.[1]
Owners often appoint a husbandry agent of their own even when the charterer nominates the port agent for cargo work — so the owner's matters (a crew change, a spare landed for the engine, cash to master) are handled by someone answerable to the owner. The same agreement lets the agent call for funds in advance of disbursements, which is why husbandry calls start with a proforma.[1]
For buyers, husbandry is where supply and agency meet: the agent clears owners' items and spares in transit, books the launch, and coordinates the chandler's delivery with the ship's schedule.
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Sources
- [1] FONASBA Standard Liner and General Agency Agreement (sample, PDF via BIMCO) — https://bimco.org/media/iazhjorc/sample-copy-fonasba-standard-liner-and-general-agency-agreement.pdf
A working definition for buyers, not legal advice — the contract, the convention text and your club or class have the last word.