Legal Definitions - voyage charter

A voyage charter is a type of charter under which a shipowner provides a ship and crew to a charterer for the carriage of cargo to a designated port. The voyage charterer may lease the entire vessel for a voyage or series of voyages or may lease only part of the vessel through a "space charter." This is different from a time charter, which is for a specified period, rather than for a specific task or voyage.

For example, if a company needs to transport a large amount of goods from one port to another, they may enter into a voyage charter with a shipowner. The shipowner will provide the vessel and crew, and the charterer will pay for the use of the vessel for the specific voyage.

Another example is a slot charter, which is a charter for one or more slots on a container vessel. Each slot accommodates a 20-foot container, and the charterer can lease as many slots as they need for their cargo.

Overall, a voyage charter is a contractual agreement between a shipowner and a charterer for the transportation of goods by sea. It is a common practice in the shipping industry and allows companies to transport their goods efficiently and cost-effectively.