Notice of readinessNOR

Under a voyage charter, laytime normally does not begin until a valid notice of readiness has been tendered — unless the charterer waives it. West P&I sums up the three conditions: the ship must be an "arrived ship" under the charter, physically ready (holds clean, gear working) and legally ready (customs, immigration and free pratique as required).^[1,2]

Where the ship must be to count as arrived depends on the wording. Under a berth charter she must reach the nominated berth; under a port charter it is enough to be within port limits at the usual waiting place if no berth is free. Clauses such as WIBON ("whether in berth or not") and WIPON move that point. A NOR tendered outside office hours usually takes effect when office hours next begin.^[1,2]

An invalid NOR is a nullity — it does not become valid later just because the ship becomes ready (The Mexico I, 1990), though a charterer who starts cargo work without rejecting it may be held to have waived it (The Happy Day, 2002). Owners therefore re-tender "without prejudice" when in doubt. Getting it wrong moves the start of laytime, and with it every hour of demurrage.^[1,2]