The answer in one line
Laytime used = time from commencement to completion, minus the time the charter party excepts. If that is more than the laytime allowed, demurrage is due on the difference; if less, despatch may be due.
The fixture
| Term | What the charter party says |
|---|---|
| Cargo | 50,000 mt |
| Discharge rate | 10,000 mt per weather working day of 24 consecutive hours |
| Exceptions | SHEX — Sundays and holidays excepted, even if used |
| Commencement | NOR tendered before noon: laytime starts 14:00 the same day. After noon: 08:00 the next working day |
| Demurrage / despatch | USD 12,000 per day / USD 6,000 per day |
The statement of facts
| When | Event |
|---|---|
| Thu 5 Mar 2026, 10:30 | Notice of readiness tendered |
| Thu 5 Mar, 13:00 | All fast |
| Thu 5 Mar, 14:00 | Discharging commenced |
| Fri 6 Mar, 09:00–15:00 | Rain, discharging stopped |
| Thu 12 Mar, 18:00 | Discharging completed |
No holidays fell in the period at the discharge port.
Step 1: the laytime allowed
50,000 mt ÷ 10,000 mt per day = 5 days = 120 hours.
Step 2: when laytime starts
The notice was tendered at 10:30, before noon, so under the clause laytime starts at 14:00 on Thursday 5 March. The clause decides this, not the time the notice was handed over: other charters give a turn time (for example 6 hours after notice) or start the next working day.
Step 3: count the time, and take out what is excepted
| Period | Hours | Counts? | Laytime used |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thu 5 Mar 14:00 – 24:00 | 10 | Yes | 10 |
| Fri 6 Mar 00:00 – 09:00 | 9 | Yes | 19 |
| Fri 6 Mar 09:00 – 15:00, rain | 6 | No — weather | 19 |
| Fri 6 Mar 15:00 – 24:00 | 9 | Yes | 28 |
| Sat 7 Mar | 24 | Yes | 52 |
| Sun 8 Mar | 24 | No — SHEX | 52 |
| Mon 9 Mar | 24 | Yes | 76 |
| Tue 10 Mar | 24 | Yes | 100 |
| Wed 11 Mar 00:00 – 20:00 | 20 | Yes | 120 — laytime expires |
| Wed 11 Mar 20:00 – 24:00 | 4 | Demurrage | |
| Thu 12 Mar 00:00 – 18:00 | 18 | Demurrage |
Under a weather working day of 24 consecutive hours, time lost to weather is deducted, so the 6 hours of rain come out. Sunday comes out under SHEX. Both happened while laytime was still running.
Step 4: when laytime runs out
The 120 hours are used up at 20:00 on Wednesday 11 March. From that moment the vessel is on demurrage.
Step 5: the demurrage due
From 20:00 Wednesday to completion at 18:00 Thursday is 22 hours.
| Summary | |
|---|---|
| Laytime allowed | 120 h |
| Time from commencement to completion | 172 h |
| Less rain | −6 h |
| Less Sunday (SHEX) | −24 h |
| Laytime used | 142 h |
| Demurrage: 22 h at USD 12,000 per day | USD 11,000.00 |
Had discharging finished before laytime ran out, despatch would have been earned instead, at USD 6,000 per day on the time saved — counted either as working time saved or all time saved, depending on the charter party.
For the same working across a whole voyage — two load ports, two discharge ports and two contracts reading the same hours — see the full laytime statement example.
Where laytime statements usually go wrong
- Starting the clock when the notice was tendered. The notice clause says when laytime starts; the notice itself does not.
- Reading SHEX as the port's working week. SHEX, SSHEX and FSHEX say which days do not count. Whether the port actually works on a given day is a separate question of fact at that port.
- Using the wrong weekend. The weekend and holidays are those of the country the port is in. At some ports Sunday is a working day and Friday is not.
- Keeping the exceptions after laytime has expired. Once on demurrage, they stop — unless the clause says otherwise.
- Calculating towards the other side's figure. A statement from either side can be shaded in its own favour. Calculate from the charter party and the statement of facts, then compare.
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