CONTRACTING PARTIES IN THE CONTRACT OF AFFREIGHTMENT (A CONTRACT FOR THE CARRIAGE OF GOODS BY SEA)

Da bi se teret sigurno i učinkovito prevezao iz jedne u drugu pomorsku luku ili obavio neki drugi pomorsko plovidbeni posao, neophodno je prije svega da zainteresirane strane dogovore uvjete i potpišu ugovor o iskorištavanju broda. U svim ovakvim ugovorima sudjeluju ugovorne strane koje žele realizirati pomorski pothvat s ciljem ostvarivanja dobiti iz iskorištavanja broda. No, kvalitetu kao i kvantitetu potpisanih ugovora određuje dinamika globalnog pomorskog tržišta, koje daje trenutni odnos ponude i potražnje za nekom vrstom robe ili usluge, bilo da je ona sezonskog, kratkoročnog ili dugoročnog karaktera. Retrospekcija globalnog pomorskog tržišta, daje okvire u kojim granicama će se cijena prijevoza roba ili putnika tj. vozarina kretati. Oscilacije, odnosno fluktuacije vozarine su neizbježne kako u kraćim vremenskim razmacima promatranja svjetskog pomorskog tržišta, tako i u širim vremenskim intervalima. Često presudnu ulogu u ostvarivanju maksimalnog profita, u određenom vremenskom intervalu, ima vještina predviđanja stanja na pomorskom tržištu a time i hoda vozarina. To je naravno, izrazito zahtjevan timski i organizacijski proces, no najbolji opstaju.In order to safely and efficiently transfer cargo from one port to another, it is necessary to sign a contract for the carriage of the goods by sea (Contract of Affreightment). Contracting parties that want to pursue a maritime venture, with the aim of transportation of goods and passengers by sea participate in it. However, the quantity and the quality of signed contracts are determined by the global shipping market dynamics, which shows the current supply and demand for a certain type of goods, whether its character is seasonal or not. A retrospective analysis of the global maritime market provides limits in which the price of transportation of goods or passengers, i.e. freight rates, might fluctuate. Oscillations or fluctuations in freight rates are inevitable in any short period of observation of the global maritime market, let alone in the wider intervals. Therefore, the contracting parties must show an exceptional ability to foresee current and future changes in freight rates in order to maximise profits for their businesses. It is, of course, an extremely challenging teamwork and organizational process in which only the best are able to survive. Several basic contracts of affreightment may be distinguished. They will be presented in detail in the discussion below