Terms
PETROMAR PLC. STANDARD TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR THE SALE OF MARINE BUNKER FUELS, LUBRICANTS AND OTHER PRODUCTS
THE BUYER’S ATTENTION IS DRAWN TO CLAUSES IN THESE CONDITIONS WHICH EXCLUDE OR LIMIT THE COMPANY’S LIABILITY, WHICH REQUIRE THE BUYER TO INDEMNIFY THE COMPANY IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES AND WHICH LIMIT TIME, BEING CLAUSES [5,8,9,13,15,16 and 17]
1.0 INTRODUCTORY
These are the standard terms and conditions which shall apply to all contracts entered into with Petromar plc, 32 Tzar Simeon 1st Str. ,Varna 9000, Bulgaria
2.0 DEFINITIONS
2.1 Agreement The agreements between the Company and the Buyer evidenced by the Standard Terms and the Confirmation. If there is any conflict between the Standard Terms and the Confirmation, the terms of the Confirmation shall prevail
2.2 Basic Cost Unit Price multiplied by the number of units delivered.
2.3 Buyer The person or entity so identified in the Confirmation and shall include any agent, principal, associate, manager, partner, servant, parent, subsidiary, owner or shareholder thereof and any Vessel (as defined in 2.18) and/or Vessel’s Owner and/or Charterer to which product has been delivered.
2.4 Company Petromar plc., its servants, agents, assigns, sub-contractors and any and all other persons acting under the Company’s instructions in fulfillment compliance or observance of this Agreement unless the context otherwise permits.
2.5 Confirmation The Company’s written confirmation of stem.
2.6 Delivery As set out in clause 8.
2.7 Due Date The date specified in the Confirmation for payment of the Price or in the absence of such date the date of delivery. In respect of Further Costs the Due Date shall be thirty days from delivery of the bunkers/lubricants or other products.
2.8 Further Costs As set out in Clause 11.2.
2.9 Notice of Claim Written notice of any claim or potential claim by the Buyer to the Company.
2.10 Physical Supplier The person or entity that physically supplies the Product to the Vessel and shall include the Physical Supplier’s servant, agent, successors, sub-contractors and assigns. The Physical Supplier may be the Company.
2.11 Place of Supply The port or other readily identifiable geographical location specified in the Confirmation wherein or adjacent to which is the Point of Delivery.
2.12 Point of Delivery The precise place at which delivery is to be effected as provided in the Confirmation or as thereafter confirmed, advised or revised by the Company or the Physical Supplier and which may be a berth, mooring, anchorage or other point within, adjacent to or associated with the Place of Supply.
2.13 Price The Basic Cost and Further Costs.
2.14 Product The fuels, oils, lubricants, goods, items, equipment and materials of whatever type and description as specified in the Confirmation.
2.15 Standard Terms These standard terms and conditions of the Company.
2.16 Unit One metric tone or such other measurement as the Confirmation may specify.
2.17 Unit Price The rate of cost in United States Dollars (or such other currency as specified in the Confirmation) per metric tone (or such other unit of measurement specified in the Confirmation) of Product specified in the Confirmation.
2.18 Vessel The vessel, ship, facility, tank, container, or craft nominated in the Confirmation to receive Product.
2.19 Working days Monday to Friday inclusive but excluding all public and international bank holidays and any other day designated as non-working from time to time as notified in writing by the Company to the Buyer.
3.0 HEADINGS
3.0 The use of headings and sub-headings is for convenience and elucidation only and do not form part of the Standard Terms.
4.0 ENTIRETY AND VALIDITY
The Standard Terms together with the Confirmation constitute the entire Agreement and supersedes all prior oral or written agreements, representations and/or warranties. No derogation, addition or amendment to the Agreement shall be of any effect unless and until expressly confirmed in writing by the Company. If any provision of the Agreement shall to any extent be invalid or unenforceable the reminder of the Agreement shall not be affected thereby.
5.0 FORCE MAJEURE
The Company shall not be liable for any loss, damage, costs or expenses arising from the Company’s failure to fulfill or comply with any term or condition of the Agreement if fulfillment or compliance has been delayed, hindered or prevented by any circumstance whatsoever which is not within the immediate and reasonable control of the Company including, but without limiting the generality of the foregoing, any acts of God, fires, floods, perils of sea, war (declared or undeclared), hostilities, embargoes, accidents, strikes, lockouts or labour disputes or reasonable apprehension thereof, any government order, request or restriction, or acts in compliance with requests of persons purporting to act on behalf of a government authority, or any other similar causes, any limitation restriction or interruption to existing or contemplated sources of supply of Product and/or the means of supply and/or the means of delivery.
- BROKERS AND AGENTS
6.1 Unless the person or entity with whom the Company is corresponding specifically declares in writing to the Company prior to dispatch by the Company of the Confirmation that it is not the Buyer and at the same time provides in writing to the Company the full name and address of the Buyer then the person or entity with whom the Company is corresponding shall be deemed to be the Buyer.
6.2 Without prejudice to the provision of Clause 6.1, in the event that the person or entity with whom the Company is corresponding is an agent of the Buyer then such person or entity shall be jointly and severally liable with the Buyer to perform the Buyer’s obligations under the Agreement notwithstanding that such person or entity purports to contract as a mere agent.
- ASSIGNMENT
The Buyer shall not assign its interest in the Agreement without the prior written approval of the Company. The company may assign the Agreement and shall thereafter give notice to the Buyer.
- DELIVERY
8.1 Allocation: If the Company at any time and for any reason believes that there may be a shortage of product at the Place of Supply it may allocate its available and anticipated supply of Product among its buyers in such a manner as it may in its absolute discretion determine. Any such allocation shall constitute full and proper performance of the Company’s obligations.
8.2 Restrictions: The Company shall not be required to deliver Product into any Vessel or other places which are not regularly used for storage of bunkers or lubricants or other products as the case may be and shall not be required to deliver any Product for export for which a government permit is required and has not been obtained.
8.3 Means of Delivery: Delivery shall be effected in one or more consignments at the Point of Delivery by such means as the Company shall deem appropriate in the circumstances.
8.4 Barging: In the event of delivery by barge the Buyer shall, as its own expense, provide a clear and safe berth for the barge(s) alongside the Vessel’s receiving lines and shall provide all necessary facilities and assistance required to effect delivery. The Buyer shall pay and indemnify the Company against all claims, costs, losses and expenses in respect of any loss, damage or delay caused by the Vessel and/or the Vessel’s personnel to any barge and/or its equipment and injury and/or death caused by the Vessel and/or the Vessel’s personnel to any of the personnel effecting delivery in the course of or in connection with delivery of Product.
8.5 Connection/Disconnection: The Buyer shall be responsible for making all connections and disconnection between the pipelines or delivery hoses and the Vessel’s intake line and shall render all other necessary assistance and provide sufficient tankage and equipment to receive promptly each and every consignment of the delivery. The Buyer shall be responsible for ensuring that Product is delivered at a safe rate and pressure and that all equipment utilised is in a safe and satisfactory condition.
8.6 Delivery: Shall deemed complete when the Product has passed the flange connecting the Physical Supplier’s delivery facilities with the Vessel provided by the Buyer and/or, where appropriate, has passed the Vessel’s rail and/or Point of Delivery.
8.7 Title Ownership of the Product shall pass to the Buyer only after the Price and all other amounts due in relation to the particular delivery have been received by the Company as provided in Clause 12.1. Until such time as the full Price and all other monies due are received by the Company the person or entity in possession of the Product delivered shall hold the Product as a mere bailee, without any charge to the Company and shall hold the Product on behalf of the Company and to the Company’s order, storing it in a way so that it can be identified as the Company’s property and not being entitled to use/consume the Product. In case of non or short payment for the Product by the Buyer, the Company is entitled (but not obliged) to repossess the Product without prior juridical intervention, without prejudice to all other rights or remedies available to the Company. In the event that the Product has been mixed with other products on board the Vessel, the Company shall have the right to trace its proprietary interest in the Product into the mixed product and/or to exercise a lien on such part of the mixed product as corresponds to the quantity or net value of the Product delivered. The provisions of this Clause does not prejudice or in any way limit the Company’s right to arrest/attach the Vessel and/or any other assets, wherever situated in the world, without prior notice and/or to exercise any other right under the Agreement or the Law.
8.8 Risk: The Company’s responsibility for Product shall cease and the Buyer shall assume all risks and liabilities relating thereto, including loss, damage, deterioration, depreciation, contamination, evaporation or shrinkage of Product and responsibility for loss, damage and harm caused by pollution or in any other manner to third parties at the time Product leaves the Physical Supplier’s fixed depot or wharf facilities. The Buyer agrees to indemnify without limit the Company in respect of any liability, loss, damages, costs, expenses, claim or demand arising in connection with the Product after risk has passed to the Buyer.
8.9 Measurement: The quantity of Product delivered under the Agreement shall be measured by and at the Physical Supplier’s option by one of such generally recognized methods of measurement as is appropriate in the circumstances and the Physical Supplier’s measurements shall be final and binding and, absent manifest error, conclusive. The Buyer or its properly accredited representative may be present at all measurements.
8.10 Specification: The Product to be delivered shall be as specified in the Confirmation and in respect of marine bunkering and lubrication products, save where more precisely specified in the Confirmation, these shall be of the Company’s commercial grades of product as currently offered generally to its buyers at the time and Point of Delivery for marine bunkering or lubrication purposes. No other warranties, express or implied as to quality or fitness for any purpose, are given or form part of the Agreement.
8.11 Compatibility and Segregation: Responsibility for establishing compatibility of Product delivered with any other product or products and for segregating or co-mingling the same rests solely with the Buyer.
8.12 Substitution: The Company may discharge its obligation to deliver Product as specified in the Confirmation by supplying in substitution product of a different grade and/or brand name provided always that such substitute product is of an equivalent or superior specification to that specified in the Confirmation.
8.13 Availability/Subject to the availability of Product: The availability of facilities at the Place of Supply and Point of Delivery, and the customary priority of mail vessels and tankers, and to the Buyer giving notice in accordance with Clause 8.16, the Company will use its best endeavors to ensure that Product is delivered promptly upon the Vessel’s arrival but the Company shall not be responsible for any loss, expense, damage or increased costs incurred in consequence of the Vessel not being supplied promptly or otherwise being delayed or restrained for any reason whatsoever.
8.14 Time: The Buyer is responsible for ensuring that the Vessel is ready to receive Product at the Point of Delivery on the expiry of the notice given in accordance with Clause 8.16.
8.15 Delay: In the event that the Vessel’s arrival at the Point of delivery is delayed or likely to be delayed the Buyer must so advise the Company and the Vessel’s agent at the Place of Supply and must ensure that the Vessel’s agent advises the Physical Supplier accordingly. At the Buyer’s request the Company will use its best endeavors to supply a delayed Vessel on the terms originally agreed but reserves the right to pass on to the Buyer all additional costs including increased Basic Cost arising from the Vessel’s delayed arrival.
8.16 Notice and Other Delivery Requirements: The Buyer must give in writing to the Physical Supplier not less than 3 working days notice of the Vessel’s readiness to receive Product with a copy to the Company. Notice must be given during the Physical Supplier’s normal business hours. Notice given outside these hours will be deemed to have been given at 08.00 on the first working day thereafter. Furthermore, it is in all circumstances and on all occasions the responsibility and duty of the Buyer to ascertain and where appropriate to comply with:
8.16.1 the precise requirements of the Physical Supplier and any other person, body or authority in respect of the giving of notice of the Vessel’s time of arrival at the Point of Delivery, and
8.16.2 the exact location of the Point of Delivery, and
8.16.3 any particular requirements to enable delivery to be effected as efficaciously as possible.
8.17 It is the responsibility and duty of the Buyer to instruct its agent at the Place of Supply to liaise with the Physical Supplier so as to ensure compliance with the provisions at 8.16.1 to 8.16.3 inclusive.
8.18 Information: In response to a specific request for information from the Buyer in respect of the Point of Delivery the Company will use its best endeavors to obtain or provide the information requested. Whilst every care will be taken to ensure that such information is accurate and up-to-date it is furnished on the strict understanding that it is not a contractual representation and that no responsibility whatsoever will attach to the Company for its accuracy and veracity.
8.19 Environmental Protection: Without prejudice to Clause 8.8 the Company may at any time without notice take any steps which it considers necessary to protect the environment from damage arising from spillage or transport of Product. Any action so taken shall be on behalf of and at the expense of the Buyer and the Buyer shall indemnify the Company for any loss, costs, damages or expense incurred by the Company for any such steps taken by the Company.
9.0 CANCELLATION AND BREACH
In the event of the Buyer at any time canceling a request for Product or the Vessel failing to take delivery of part or all of the requested Product for any reason, regardless of fault or causation, the Company shall have the right to pursue a claim against both the Buyer and the Vessel and the Buyer and the Vessel shall be jointly and severally liable for all loss and/or damage and/or expense thereby suffered including loss of profit and, (where the Company has engaged in derivative hedging instruments to offer a fixed price to the Buyer for the Product), loss and damage incurred arising from the Company’s purchase of derivative instruments to include, but not limited to, the premium cost of such instruments, net payments made by the Company to instrument writer and administrative fees. The Company may treat any other breach by the Buyer of any express term of the Agreement as a breach of a condition and it may at its discretion accept the breach, treat the Agreement repudiated and seek such remedies as it considers appropriate. However, the provisions of Clauses 15.0, 16.0 and 17.0 shall survive the determination of the Agreement in any event.
10.0 LIENS
Where Product is supplied to a Vessel, in addition to any other security, the Agreement is entered into and Product is supplied upon the faith and credit of the Vessel. It is agreed and acknowledged that a maritime lien over the Vessel is thereby created for the Price of the Product supplied and that the Company in agreeing to deliver Product to the Vessel does so relying upon the faith and credit of the Vessel. The Buyer, if not the Owner of the Vessel, hereby expressly warrants that he has the authority of the Owner to pledge the Vessel’s credit as aforesaid and that he has given clear notice of the provisions of this Clause to the Owner. The Company shall not be bound by any attempt by any person or entity to restrict, limit or prohibit its lien or liens attaching to a Vessel, either by clausing the delivery receipt, or otherwise. The Seller is entitled to relay on any provisions of law of the flag state of the Vessel, the place of delivery or where the Vessel is found and shall among other things, enjoy full benefit of local rules granting the Seller maritime lien in the Vessel and/or providing for the right to arrest the Vessel. Nothing in this Contract shall be construed to limit the rights or legal remedies that the Seller may enjoy against the Vessel or the Buyer in any jurisdiction.
11.0 THE PRICE
11.1 Unit Price As the cost of marine bunkering products is volatile the Company reserves the right to increase the Unit Price at any time before delivery. Where possible, prior notice of the increase will be given during the Buyer’s normal business hours, Monday to Friday, inclusive but excluding national and bank holidays, 08.30 -18.00 Nicosia time. Notice given outside these hours will be deemed to have been given at 08.30 on the first working day thereafter. In such event the Buyer may forthwith give written notice the Company of cancellation of the Agreement. If no such notice is received within one hour of the Company advising the Buyer of the increase of the Unit Cost the Buyer shall be deemed to have agreed to the revised Unit Price and the Agreement so revised shall remain in full force and effect.
Further Costs In addition to the Basic Cost of the Product the Buyer shall pay for any charges raised in respect of taxes, freight, barge, vehicle, wagon, cleanup costs, overtime, or other like payments, insurance, pilotage, port dues and any and all other like costs and expenses incurred by or charged to the Company. Such charges, costs and expenses will be passed on to the Buyer at the rates charged to the Company as and when they are advised to the Company and together with the Basic Cost shall for all purposes constitute the Price due from the Buyer to the Company for the Product supplied.
Notice of the Price: The Company will give notice of the Price to the Buyer as soon as reasonably practicable after Delivery. In certain circumstances the Company will give notice of the Price in installments. Where notification of the Price is given in installments each element of the Price so notified shall when due constitute an enforcement debt due from the Buyer to the Company. Notice of the Price may at the Company’s option be provided by invoice sent by post, fax, telex, email or as otherwise provided herein or as agreed.
Proof of Delivery: The Buyer or his representative should attend Delivery and obtain at that time all information relating to Delivery including the exact quantities and precise specification of Product delivered. Unless otherwise requested by the Buyer prior to dispatch by the Company of the Confirmation, the Company shall be under no obligation any time to produce to the Buyer any evidence of Delivery to the Vessel. It is expressly agreed that the furnishing by the Company of Proof of Delivery is not a pre-requisite to payment of the Price.
12.0 PAYMENT
12.1 Each of the following terms apply unless the Confirmation otherwise provides:
12.1.1 Payment of the Price will be made in United States dollars, or such other currency as specified in the Confirmation, in full without set off and/or deduction for any reason whatsoever so as to ensure that the Company receives value for the payment in cleared funds on or before the Due Date.
12.1.2 Timely payment is of the essence of the Agreement.
12.1.3 In respect of all sums which are overdue the Buyer shall be liable to pay to the Company interest calculated at 2% per calendar month pro-rated and compounded on a daily basis from the Due Date until receipt by the Company of sufficient cleared funds. Accrued interest and costs and/or expenses incurred by the Company in requesting payment of outstanding amounts will be added at monthly intervals to and become part of the outstanding sum. In the event that this contractually agreed rate of interest is in excess of that permitted by relevant law there shall be substituted the maximum rate so permitted.
12.1.4 Payment will be made by way of telegraphic, telex, swift or rapid electronic transfer to the bank and account specified in the Company’s invoice. All bank and other charges if any incurred in effecting remittance will be for the account of the Buyer. Advice of remittance including identifying references should always be given to the Company. If payment is not received as a result of the Buyer not complying with the payment instructions, then the Buyer will pay immediately, upon written request, all sums due including interest and all other charges.
12.1.5 Payments received by the Company from or on behalf of the Buyer notwithstanding any specific request to the contrary will be applied in the following order in diminution or extinction of:
12.1.5.1 accrued financial and other charges in respect of transactions for which the principal sum has been previously paid.
12.1.5.2 accrued financial and other charges arising from all other transactions.
12.1.5.3 any principal sum due and outstanding commencing with the oldest and proceeding chronologically thereafter to the most recent.
12.1.5.4 any principal sum which the Company knows or reasonably expects will fall due at a future date.
12.2 The Company may in good faith vary, amend, withdraw, substitute or add to the terms relating to payment at any time in the course of a transaction in such manner as it shall in its absolute discretion consider necessary to protect its interests.
12.3 If at any time the reputation, standing, creditworthiness, liquidity or solvency of the Buyer or any subsidiary, parent, associate or affiliate thereof should give the Company reasonable cause for concern, and/or if any amount due remains outstanding for a period of 7 days from the Due Date, the Company may without prejudice to all other rights and remedies which it may have give notice to the Buyer that credit facilities from the Company to the Buyer are withdrawn or suspended as the case may be and all sums outstanding and/or due for payment at a future date shall thereupon fall due to immediate payment.
12.4 In the event that the Buyer or any subsidiary or parent thereof shall commit an act of bankruptcy or shall be the subject of proceedings judicial or otherwise commenced for debt, bankruptcy, insolvency, liquidation or winding up the Company may forthwith determine the Agreement.
12.5 The full legal and other costs and expenses incurred by the Company including those of the Company’s own legal and credit departments and of other lawyers in connection with any breach by the Buyer of any term of the Agreement including but not limited to actions for debt shall be for the Buyer’s account and shall for all purposes form part of the Price due from the Buyer to the Company for Product supplied.
13.0 CLAIMS, DISPUTES AND PRECAUTIONS
13.1 Notification: Written Notice of Claim must be given to the Company within the time limit specified in Clauses 13.4 (quantity claims and disputes), 13.5 (quality claims and disputes) and 13.6 (all other claims and disputes) below or as specified in the Confirmation and any claim not notified within the specified time limit shall be deemed waived and absolutely barred and the Company shall be discharged of all liability whatsoever and howsoever arising. It is the Buyer’s responsibility to ensure that notice of claim is received by the Company whose confirmation of receipt should always be sought. Regardless of whether a claim or dispute has risen or is anticipated the Buyer must give Notice of Claim forthwith to the Company of any discrepancy, error or omission present in any form or document tendered, submitted or produced by the Physical Supplier and of any unusual occurrence relating to the delivery.
13.2 Sufficiency of Information: The Notice of Claim must contain sufficient information to enable the Company to identify the relevant transaction, the nature of the complaint and the loss or damage alleged. Any Notice of Claim which does not give such sufficient information will not be valid for the purpose of compliance with the relevant time limit. In addition, the Buyer must provide a full and complete response to any and all questions, enquiries and requests made of it by the Company concerning the claim and matters relating thereto.
13.3 Categories Claims fall into 3 categories:
3.3.1 Quantity claims and disputes
13.3.2 Quality claims and disputes
13.3.3 Other claims and disputes
13.4 Quantity Claims and Disputes For bulk deliveries the Physical Supplier must measure the contents of delivery barges and/or wagons and/or vehicles and/or storage tanks by tank-dipping to ensure full out-turn and must check flow meters for seals, correct settings, calibration and general condition. All of these checks must be carried out before and after delivery of each consignment on each barge and/or wagon and/or vehicle and/or storage tank load. The delivery shall be supervised by the Physical Supplier at all times and all documentation shall be complete and accurate before signing and stamping. The Buyer’s representative may attend throughout the delivery. Any discrepancies must be recorded by the Buyer or the Buyer’s representative on the Physical Supplier’s delivery receipt or a letter of protest issued by the Buyer and counter-signed by the Physical Supplier on completion of delivery. In the absence of discrepancies recorded or letter of protest issued in accordance with this Clause the Company shall not be liable for any claims for discrepancies, including but not limited to claims for short delivery.
13.4.1 The Company shall not be liable for claims for short delivery based upon figures obtained by measuring Product in the Vessel’s tanks.
13.4.2 The time limit for receipt by the Company of Notice of Claim in a quantity dispute is 7 (seven) days from the date of delivery or such shorter period as may be specified in the Confirmation.
13.5 Quality Claims and Disputes It is the Buyer’s sole responsibility to ensure that Product tendered for delivery is fit for use by the Vessel and is delivered into the correct tanks.
13.5.1 It is the duty of the Buyer to instruct the Physical Supplier to take three representative samples of every consignment and load of the Product on commencement of delivery in accordance with the custom at the Point of Delivery. The three representative samples must be sealed and labeled and the label signed by a representative of the Physical Supplier and by an officer of the Vessel and/or other senior representative of the Buyer. One set of the Physical Supplier’s samples shall be retained by the Buyer and one set by the Physical Supplier, each to be retained for a minimum of 60 (sixty days) after delivery to the Vessel. The third sample shall be retained by the Vessel in accordance with the provisions of MARPOL 73/78, Annex VI. The third sample may only be used for the purposes of confirming the sulphur content of the marine fuel and such other matters as are specifically set out in Marpol Annex VI, Regulation 18.
13.5.2 All documentation must be checked by the Buyer or the Buyer’s representative and be in order and any discrepancies noted on the Physical Supplier’s delivery receipt before signing and stamping.
13.5.3 In the event of the Buyer having grounds to believe that the Product supplied does not accord with the description in the Confirmation or is defective the Buyer shall immediately:
13.5.3.1 Take all reasonable steps to mitigate the consequences of having been supplied with possibly defective or incorrect Product.
13.5.3.2 Give immediate notice with full details of the possibly defective or incorrect Product to the Company together with the Vessel’s position, destination and ETA, the quantities and locations of all bunkers on board the Vessel/stored in the Vessel, the rate and quantity of consumption since delivery and the location of the Vessel immediately prior to delivery of the Product, and for each of the three preceding deliveries to the Vessel, the quantity, quality and specification of Product supplied, the place and date of supply and the name of the supplier;
13.5.3.3 Inform the Company of the whereabouts of the Buyer’s set of samples.
13.5.4 It is pre-condition to the Company’s liability for any quality claim that at the time Notice of Claim is given the set of samples retained by the Physical Supplier are available for analysis by a reputable independent testing laboratory, approved by the Company, in accordance with established procedures and the analysis is carried out in the presence of a representative of the Company. The Buyer hereby acknowledges that the sealed samples retained by the Physical Supplier are representative of the Product delivered and that the Company has no duty to consider any other independently produced samples. The results of the analysis shall be final, binding and conclusive on all parties. In the event that the Physical Supplier is unable or unwilling to make available for analysis the samples within 7 (seven) days from the date of delivery or such shorter period as may be specified in the Confirmation, the Company will accept the Buyer’s set of sealed samples provided by the Physical Supplier as representative of the Product delivered for analysis in accordance with the provisions of this Clause, provided that the Buyer’s request in writing to the Physical Supplier for the sealed samples is copied to the Company at the same time the request is sent to the Physical Supplier.
13.5.5 If it is alleged that any equipment or machinery has been damaged by incorrect or defective Product full details must be given to the Company at the earliest opportunity and the item allegedly damaged must be preserved and made available for inspection on demand at any reasonable time or times by the Company and/or its representative.
13.5.6 The time limit for receipt by the Company of Notice of Claim in respect of quality and/or claims arising out of quality is 7 (seven) days from the date of delivery or such shorter period as may be specified in the Confirmation.
13.6 Other Claims and Disputes: In all other cases Notice of Claim must be given to the Company as soon as reasonably possible and in any event no later than 28 days after delivery. If the Confirmation provides for a shorter period such shorter period shall apply.
13.7 Proceedings: Without prejudice to the provisions of Sub-Clauses 13.1 above the Company shall in any event be discharged of all liability whatsoever howsoever arising in respect of any Product and/or supplies and/or services provided to the Buyer or which the Company has undertaken to supply and/or provide unless suit be brought and written notice thereof given to the Company within 6(six) months from the date of delivery and/or date of Company’s undertaking.
14.0 WAIVER
The failure by any party to the Agreement to enforce any right against any other party shall not be construed as a waiver of that right or in any way affect the validity of the Agreement. In particular, the granting by the Company of any additional time to make payment or the waiving or reducing of any interest or other charge shall not prevent the Company at any time thereafter from relying upon its strict contractual rights.
15.0 INDEMNITY
The Buyer hereby indemnifies the Company against any claim for injury and/or death occurring to any person and/or all damage and/or damage to any property and against all actions, suits, claims, demands, costs, charges or expenses arising in connection therewith to the extent that the same shall have been occasioned by the negligence or default of the Buyer, his servants, representative, or agents or any third party in the course of performance of or arising out of or in connection with the Agreement.
16.0 LIABILITY
Save as provided in Clause 13.0 to 13.7 (inclusive), the Company shall not be liable to the Buyer for any loss or damage including loss of profit or any other consequential loss whatsoever arising from any cause whatsoever whether in contract, tort or otherwise including the negligence of the Company, its servants, agents or sub-contractors.
17.0 COMPENSATION
Without prejudice to the provisions of Clause 16.0, in the event that the Company is found to be liable to the Buyer, the total amount payable by way of compensation other that in respect of personal injury or death shall not exceed the Price (excluding Further Costs, interest and other charges payable by the Buyer) of the Product supplied under the Agreement. It is a pre-condition to the payment of any compensation by the Company that all sums due to the Company from the Buyer are first paid and settled.
18.0 INSURANCE
The Buyer is responsible for effecting and maintaining in force adequate insurance which will fully protect the Buyer, the Company and all third parties from all risks, hazards and perils associated with or arising out of or in connection with the Agreement and delivery.
19.0 LICENCES PERMITS AND APPROVALS
The Buyer is responsible for obtaining all necessary permits, licenses and approvals required to enable both parties to execute all of their obligations under the Agreement.
20.0 WRITTEN, IN WRITING and NOTICE
Any requirement for written communication including the giving of any notice may be fulfilled by the use of letter-post, courier, telex, facsimile transmission, email or any other medium which produces a tangible result for the intended recipient. The communication shall be deemed to have been given and received upon completion of transmission of any electrical or electronic medium, within two working days of dispatch for first class inland letter-post, within five working days of dispatch for second class inland letter post and air mail and on the expiry of the declared or guaranteed time for delivery of any courier or monitored service.
21.0 LAW AND JURISDICTION
21.1 The Agreement and all claims and disputes arising under or in connection therewith shall be governed by the General Maritime Law of the United States of America.
21.2 Without prejudice to the provisions of Clause 21.3 here below, any disputes and/or claims arising against Company in connection with the Agreement, shall be submitted to the competent Courts of the place where vessel arrested.
21.3 For the sole benefit of the Company, it is further agreed that the Company, without prejudice to any of its rights, has the right to proceed against the Buyer and/or the Vessel and/or any other party in such jurisdiction worldwide as the Company in its sole discretion sees fit, inter alia, for the purpose(s) of securing any payment due to it or proceeding in the main or any other proceedings in order to enforce and/or collect any claim or cause the issuance of any Court judgment whatsoever. The Buyer agrees and acknowledges that the nature of the transaction and of the respective business concerned is such, to the effect that the foregoing which are set for the benefit of the Company, are absolutely reasonable and fully acceptable by the Buyer, which hereby confirms that it will also be liable for all costs of the Company including but without limitation attorneys’ fees.
21.4 If any proceeding of any nature whatsoever is instituted under Clause 21.2 or 21.3 above, in connection with any controversy arising out of the Agreement or to interpret or enforce any rights under the Agreement, the prevailing party shall have the right to recover from the losing party its reasonable costs and attorneys’ fees incurred in such proceeding.