Bimco has launched an anti-corruption clause for charter parties designed to protect owners and charterers against demands for illegal payments from port officials and others. The clause applies the anti-corruption laws to each of the parties and the local law of the place where the ship is located, and gives a mechanism for owners to issue a note of protest if an illegal demand is made and is not withdrawn. The note then triggers a co-operative response by charterers and owners to the demand. The clause states that if an owner issues a protest to resist a demand and the ship is delayed, the charterer cannot place the ship off-hire.
