Legal Definitions - contract of affreightment

A contract of affreightment is an agreement for the transportation of goods by water. It is a type of contract used in maritime law.

The contract of affreightment can use a bill of lading, a charterparty, or both to ship the goods. The bill of lading is a document that serves as a receipt for the goods and a contract of carriage between the shipper and the carrier. The charterparty is a contract by which a ship or a part of it is leased by the owner to a merchant for the conveyance of goods on a predetermined voyage or for a specified period of time.

For example, a company may enter into a contract of affreightment with a shipping company to transport their goods from one country to another. The contract may specify the type of vessel to be used, the route to be taken, and the price to be paid for the transportation.

The contract of affreightment is important because it sets out the terms and conditions of the transportation of goods by water. It helps to ensure that the goods are transported safely and efficiently, and that both the shipper and the carrier are protected in case of any disputes or problems that may arise during the transportation.