General Terms & Conditions

SEA SPLENDOR PETROLEUM LIMITED, Hong Kong

General Terms and Conditions effective from 26 November, 2021

 

  1. Definitions
    1. “Seller” shall mean Sea Splendor Petroleum Limited, Hong Kong, including its servants, agents, brokers, designated representatives, subsidiaries or affiliates wherever applicable.
    2. “Buyer” shall mean the party and/or parties contracting to buy products and/or services as set out in the Seller’s Confirmation of Order for Products and/or Services, including its servants, agents, brokers, designated representatives, subsidiaries or affiliates wherever applicable.
    3. “Products” shall mean the Fuels, Oils, Lubricants, goods, items, equipment and materials of whatever type and description as specified in the Seller’s Confirmation of Order.
    4. “Services” shall mean agency services, or similar attendance to Buyer’s needs.
    5. “Contract” shall mean an agreement between Seller and Buyer, subject to these conditions.
    6. “Vessel” shall mean the vessel to which the “Products”, and/or “Services” are to be delivered by Buyer to Seller.
    7. “Conditions” shall mean Seller’s General Conditions of Sale and Delivery.
    8. “Supplier” shall mean the party physically supplying the Products and/or Services to the Vessel, together with his servants, successors, sub-contractors and assigns.

 

  1. Validity and Scope of Terms
    1. These Conditions constitute an integral part of any offer and/or Contract made for Products and/or Services provided by Seller to Buyer and override and terms and conditions incorporated or referred to by the Buyer whether in its order or elsewhere.
    2. The supply by Seller of Products and/or Services and every quotation, pro-forma invoice, order confirmation, price list or other similar documents is made or issued solely subject to these Conditions and no representation or warranty, collateral or otherwise shall bind Seller and no statement made by any representative by or on behalf of Seller shall vary these conditions unless such representation, warranty or statement shall be made in writing and signed by an Officer of Seller and shall be stated to be made specifically in pursuance of this clause 2.2.
    3. Any variance to these Conditions shall not prejudice or limit in any way the validity of the remaining Conditions of any Contract between Seller and Buyer. Failure by either party at any time to enforce any of these Conditions shall not be considered as a waiver by such party of such provisions or in any way affect the validity of these Conditions. If any provision of the Contract is invalid, void, or unenforceable, it will not affect the validity, legality, or enforceability of any other provision of the Contract.
    4. Subject to the provisions of Clauses 2.2 and 2.6 and insofar as these clauses apply, these Conditions embody all the terms and conditions and cancel in all respects any previous Conditions, agreements and/or undertakings, whether given in writing or orally.
    5. No statement made outside the Contract, or in any brochures, catalogues or sales literature as well as in any correspondence or orally during negotiations, are intended to have any contractual effect.
    6. Without prejudice to the provisions of Clause 2.2 herein, Seller reserves the right to include, at its discretion, any additional or substitute terms and Conditions. Any additional or substitute terms shall be advised to Buyer prior to the time of concluding the Contract.

 

  1. Terms of Offers and Contracts
    1. Seller’s offers and estimates of costs are to be understood as being conditional and subject to availability and alteration and shall include only such services as are expressly specified.
    2. The Contract shall be deemed to have commenced effective from the time that Seller provides to the Buyer (or its agent, broker or designated representative) notice of confirmation. Any subsequent amendments to the Contract are to take effect as though they had been made as at the date the Seller provided to the Buyer (or its agent, broker or designated representative) notice of confirmation.
    3. Save where otherwise expressly provided for in the Contract specifications, all particulars notified to Buyer (e.g. analytical data) and all documents to which access has been given regarding the characteristics of the Products at any delivery location shall not be construed as specifications of the Products to be delivered hereunder, but only as indications of the characteristics of the Products available at that location from time to time and shall not constitute undertakings. Seller reserves the right to make alterations to such particulars or documents or to the Products. That same provision shall apply to the quality of the Products.   
    4. Referenced commercial terms shall be deemed to have the meaning contained in the most recent edition of Incoterms.
    5. In the case of imported goods the Contract shall be deemed to be concluded subject to the provision that Seller is granted any export or import licenses which may be necessary. Without prejudice to clause 4.1 below, Buyer shall indemnify Seller for any such expenses incurred in connection with the securing or delay in securing of the aforementioned licenses.
    6. Seller is entitled to recover from Buyer all direct and indirect losses, costs and expenses incurred as a consequence of the Contract by Buyer, for whatever reason.

 

  1. Prices
    1. Unless otherwise specified, prices shall be deemed to be in US dollars, ex-wharf, and shall represent only the purchase price of the Products. Buyer shall pay any additional expenses or costs such as barging, surcharges, overtime, demurrage, wharfage, dockage, port/harbor fees, dues, duties, taxes, levies and other costs, including those imposed by governments and local authorities. If the price is quote as “Delivered”, the price includes transportation to Buyer’s Vessel, but does not include demurrage or any other expenses or costs as indicated above.
    2. Seller’s confirmation to Buyer includes the earliest estimated time of Vessel’s arrival (ETA) as advised by Buyer to Seller at the time of nomination. Unless the ETA date range agreed under the Contract is wider than four calendar days, Buyer’s Vessel shall begin to take delivery of the Products within the 4-day range of three calendar days after the earliest estimated ETA. The Contract price shall be valid only for deliveries begun within such period.
    3. If, after Seller’s confirmation of the Contract, Buyer begins to take delivery, or requests delivery to begin outside the 4-day-calendar range referred to in clause 4.2 above, Seller shall be entitled to amend its quoted price under the Contract. This entitlement is without prejudice to any claim Seller may have against Buyer for failing to take delivery within 4-calendar-day range referred to in clause 4.2 above.
    4. If price controls are imposed, Seller shall not be required to deliver if the maximum price is below that previously established with the Buyer.
    5. Buyer shall be liable for all costs, expenses and/or charges incurred by the Seller on account of Buyer’s failure, breach and/or non-compliance with its obligations under Clause 10 herein.
    6. Notwithstanding anything else herein, should the Vessel not arrive within the determined time range, the Contract shall be considered null and void unless Seller elects to accept the new arrival date of the Vessel as the basis of a new contract for which a new price can be agreed upon with the Buyer.

 

  1. Quality
    1. Unless otherwise specified in the Contract, Products shall be of the quality generally offered by Seller to its customers at the time and place of delivery. ANY IMPLIED CONDITIONS AND WARRANTIES, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, ARE EXPRESSLY INCLUDED AND DISCLAIMED. Buyer, having greater knowledge than Seller of his own requirements, shall have the sole responsibility for the prior selection of the particular grade(s) and acceptance thereof.
    2. Products delivered under the Contract shall be segregated from Product(s) already on board the receiving Vessel. Any consequences arising from commingling Products aboard the Vessel shall remain the joint and several responsibility of the receiving Vessel and the Buyer. In any event, the Seller shall not be responsible for any on-board safety or storage failure that may affect the delivery as requested and shall have the right to recover from Buyer any loss, damage or expenses incurred as a result of such failures.
    3. The Seller can in no circumstances be held responsible for any consequences of the misuse or defective application of the Products if caused by lack of information or misinformation given by the Buyer on the use or application of the Products.
    4. In order to determine the quality of the Product delivered, Seller shall be entitled to draw or cause to be drawn samples of each delivery from Supplier’s designated facilities, and to have them sealed. Where reasonably practical, the samples shall be taken in accordance with ISO-8217, but shall otherwise be taken from a point and in a manner chosen by Seller or its representative. At least one of the samples will be handed to the master of the Vessel which has received the delivery. Any remaining samples will be retained by Seller. In the event of a quality complaint, Seller shall seek to agree with Buyer upon the appointment of an independent inspector to undertake an analysis of one of the retained samples. Method ISO-4259, which covers the use of precision data in the interpretation of test results, shall be used in all cases of dispute. In instances where MARPOL Annex VI applies to the supply effected, the sample accompanying the Bunker Delivery Note pursuant to Regulation 18(6) of MARPOL Annex VI should, where reasonable practical, be drawn in accordance with Resolution MEPC 96(47).
    5. If, after 21 calendar days from the date that Buyer registers a quality complaint to Seller, no agreement has been reached between the two parties, Seller reserves the right to have one of its barge retained sealed samples independently analyzed and for the results to be final and binding upon both parties. The cost of any analysis shall be borne by Buyer, unless the complaint as to the quality is shown to be justified.
    6. Unless otherwise agreed to in writing by Seller, only samples provided by Seller to Buyer at the time of delivery shall be deemed representative of the Product delivered.
    7. In any event, the Seller’s obligation hereunder shall not exceed the direct expenses incurred for the removal and replacement of the Products, and shall not include any consequential or indirect damages, including, without limitation, demurrage claims, loss of opportunity or loss of profit. Should the Buyer remove the Products without the prior consent of the Seller, all such costs incurred in doing so shall be for Buyer’s account.
    8. If the sample analysis results are within the recipient confidence limit in ISO 4259 (or any subsequent amendments to it), the marine fuels shall be considered to be on-specification. The Buyer shall provide a separate analysis of a vessel BDN sample (from a laboratory to be mutually agreed) if requested by the Seller.
    9. If a quality claim complies with the foregoing provisions in this clause, the Seller shall arrange for specific alleged off-specification parameter(s) of a Supplier barge retained sample to be analysed at an ISO certified independent inspection company (the “Test”). Where the parties do not agree on the choice of inspection company and/or location of laboratory for the Test the Seller is entitled to choose at its sole discretion. The Buyer (or its representative) may at the Buyer’s cost witness the entire test and/or the breaking of the seal but failure by the Buyer to do either will in no way prejudice the validity of results of the Test.
    10. The results of the Test shall be conclusive as to the quality of the marine fuels and final and binding on the Buyer and the Seller. The results shall be considered as a single result when interpreted in accordance with ISO 4259 (or any subsequent amendments to it)

 

  1. Quantity
    1. All quantities referred to in the Contract are understood to be approximate with a margin of 10 per cent more or less at Seller’s option.
    2. Except where government regulations or local authorities determine otherwise, the quantity of Product shall be determined from the official gauge/sounding of the delivering barge, road wagon, or rail tank car, delivery note for drum deliveries, or by gauging in Supplier’s shore tank or by Supplier’s flow meter, at Seller’s election. Adjustment in volume owing to difference in temperature shall be made in accordance with API/ASTM+IP petroleum measurement standards for generalized Products (table 6B, 24B, or 54B, depending on port location). In the measurement of marine fuel, Seller shall make allowances for all water and non petroleum sediment in excess of one percent (1%), or any other percentage mutually agreed to between Buyer and Seller. Buyer may be present or represented by a properly accredited agent when such measurements are taken. If Buyer is not present or represented, then Seller’s determination of quantities shall be deemed to be correct and conclusive.    

 

  1. Deliveries and Risk
    1. Vessels shall be supplied as promptly as circumstances permit. Any supply date within the Contract is not guaranteed, and time shall not be of the essence in respect thereof. Seller shall not be liable for demurrage or for any losses due to congestion at Supplier’s storage or delivery facilities or due to any prior commitment of available transportation.      
    2. The Seller’s obligation to make any delivery hereunder is subject to the availability to the Seller at the port at which delivery is required of the particular grade of Products requested by the Buyer. If, as a result of any event, matters or things referred to in Clause 15 thereof, or any other foreseeable or unforeseeable event, including contractual changes relating to the supply of crude oil and/or petroleum products from which the Products of the type to be sold hereunder are derived supplied of the Products are curtailed, or are available to the Seller only under conditions which in Seller’s sole judgment are deemed unacceptable, the Seller may allocate, on any fair and reasonable basis according to its own discretion, its available supplies of Products to meet its own requirements and those of its subsidiaries and affiliated companies and other customers. The Seller shall not be required to increase supplies from some other source or supply or to purchase Products to replace the supplies so curtailed or to make up deliveries omitted during the period of disruption, nor will the term of the Contract be extended due to any event occurring under this Clause of Clause 15 herein.
    3. If Buyer causes delays to Supplier’s delivery facilities in the receiving of the Products, Buyer shall be liable to reimburse Seller for any and all costs incurred.
    4. Seller shall not be required to deliver Products into any vessel’s tanks which are not normally used for such Product.
    5. If any government or local port license or permit is required for deliveries hereunder, each party must comply as applicable. In case of Buyer’s failure to comply, Seller shall not be required to deliver, and will be entitled to recover all costs and consequences related thereto from Buyer.
    6. Delivery shall be made either from a shore terminal or by barge or by any other accredited methods of delivery, where such deliveries are available from time to time. In the case of more than one method of delivery being available, Seller shall at its own discretion select one, providing that it does not breach any other conditions of the Contract.
    7. Buyer shall provide free of cost a clear safe berth, position or anchorage alongside the vessel receiving lines. Seller shall be under no obligation to make deliveries when in its sole opinion a clear and safe berth, position or anchorage is not available. Buyer shall indemnify Seller against all claims and expenses for any loss, damage, demurrage or delay caused to Seller’s delivery equipment, irrespective of whether the circumstances causing the loss, damage, demurrage or delay was within the control of Buyer or his local representative.
    8. The Buyer shall make all connections and disconnections between pipelines or delivery hoses and Vessel’s intake lines and shall render all other necessary assistance and provide sufficient tankage and equipment to receive promptly all deliveries hereunder. In no case shall the Seller be liable for any damage or delay resulting from causes beyond its control or avoidable by care on the part of the Buyer or the Vessel.
    9. Delivery shall be deemed to have been completed and risk transferred as the Product passes the flange connecting the pipelines or delivery hoses with the intake lines of the Vessel at which point Seller’s responsibility shall cease. Products supplied by other methods shall be considered to be delivered when passing the Vessel’s rail. Buyer shall assume all risks, including loss, damage, deterioration, depreciation, evaporation, shrinkage as to the Products so delivered.
    10. Upon completion of the delivery to the Vessel, the  master or authorized representative of the Buyer shall confirm the delivery by signing a receipt, provided by Seller or his contractor at that time. Seller shall not be deemed to have any constructive knowledge of the authority or lack of authority of any purported local representative of Buyer and shall be under no duty to verify authority of such purported representative. The acceptance of the aforesaid signed receipt in good faith by Seller shall bind Buyer.
    11. If Buyer fails to take delivery of the product or any part thereof within a reasonable time from the agreed supply time, Seller shall be entitled at Buyer’s risk and expense, either to transport the product back to storage or to sell in a downgraded form at a market price without prejudice to Seller’s other rights under this Contract for damages. Seller shall at its sole discretion determine what constitutes a reasonable time to terminate the delivery.
    12. Delivery shall be made during working normal hours. Unless otherwise agreed, deliveries outside normal working hours shall be subject to additional costs which shall be borne by Buyer.
    13. Seller may elect to discontinue operations at any delivery location for any reason without obligation to Buyer.
    14. Products and Services delivered under a Contract shall be made not only on the account of Buyer but also on the account of the receiving vessel. The Buyer warrants that the Vessel’s owner has given the Buyer express authority to purchase the Products. The Buyer further warrants that the Seller has the right to assert and enforce a lien in accordance with Clause 18.1 herein against the receiving Vessel or any sister or associated Vessel for the amount of the Products and Services provided, plus without limitation, contractual interest pursuant to Clause 9.4 herein and any other expenses related to enforcement of the lien. The Buyer expressly warrants that he has the authority of the Vessel’s owner to pledge the Vessel’s credit as aforesaid. The Vessel is ultimately responsible for the debt incurred through the Contract. The Supplier’s right to apply and enforce a maritime lien will not be altered, waived or impaired by the application to the Bunker Delivery Note of any disclaimer stamp.       

 

  1. Claims
    1. Any claims made by Buyer regarding shortages in quantity must be made in writing to Seller at the time and place of delivery. Seller has the option to leave delivery equipment connected to the vessel at Buyer’s expense until a quantity dispute has been resolved to Seller’s satisfaction.
    2. Any claims made by Buyer with regard to quality must be made in writing to Seller immediately upon detection of the alleged defect, and in any event no later than within fourteen (14) calendar days from receipt of the Product. The foregoing preliminary notice shall be followed by a formal written notice of claim, within thirty (30) calendar days from receipt of the product, to Seller containing all details necessary to allow evaluation of the claim.
    3. Any other claims other than for quantity or quality must be submitted in writing by the Buyer to the Seller within fourteen (14) calendar days of the date of the occurrence.
    4. In any event, should the Buyer fail to comply with Clauses 8.1, 8.2, or 8.3 then any such claims by the Buyer shall be deemed to be waived and absolutely time barred. The Buyer’s submission of any claim hereunder does not relieve it of the responsibility to make payment in full for the Products supplied by the Seller. This provision shall survive a termination of the Contract

 

  1. Payment
    1. Irrevocable payment shall be made by Buyer in full, within the time specified in the Contract. Timely payment is of the essence. Seller shall be absolutely entitled to the payment in full without discount, reduction counterclaim or set off (whether legal or equitable) and free of bank charges, which shall be made to Seller’s bank account. Should the due date for payment fall on a Saturday, Sunday or Public Holiday, then payment should be received by the previous working day.  
    2. When paying, Buyer shall not be entitled without Seller’s consent in writing, to offset any amounts for claims against Seller, whether or not these claims are connected, and whether or not they arise out of the Contract.
    3. Unless otherwise agreed, payment shall be made by irrevocable telegraphic transfer. Delivery documents shall be provided to Buyer, wherever possible, however, payment shall not be conditional upon receipt of such documents, unless specifically agreed at the time of concluding the Contract.
    4. Overdue payments shall be subject to an interest charge of 2% per thirty (30) calendar days period, or the maximum rate permitted under applicable law, running from the date of payment.
    5. All payments received from the Seller by the Buyer, notwithstanding any specific request to the contrary, shall be applied in the following order in diminution or extinction of:
  1. contractual interest;
  2. financial charges incurred by Seller as a result of Buyer’s late payment (if any);
  3. the principal sum in respect of Products/Services supplied by Seller to the Buyer. 

The Buyer has no right to designate application of funds to a newer invoice so long as there are previous overdue invoices, any unpaid charges, interest, collection costs, etc. Any waiver by Seller of interest charges on a particular invoice shall not be construed as a waiver of the right to impose such charges on subsequent deliveries.

  1. Should Products and/or Services be ordered by a broker or agent then such broker or agent as well as Buyer shall be bound and liable for all obligations as fully and as completely as if it were itself a Buyer whether such principal be disclosed or undisclosed and whether or not such broker or agent purports to Contract as brokers or agents only, but in all such cases the said broker or agent shall not have any rights against Seller.
  2. Unless otherwise provided in a Supply Agreement or agreed between the Seller and the Buyer in writing, an order for Marine Fuel shall be binding on the Seller only upon acceptance of the Nomination by the Seller issuing the Bunker Sales Confirmation. In the case an order is made by a Buyer which acts as a broker or agent, irrespective of whether the principal is disclosed or undisclosed the Seller’s acceptance shall bind the Buyer to the Sales Contract to the full extent as if the Buyer were the principal. In particular, the Buyer shall accept all obligations for payment of the price and the giving of undertakings, guarantee, or security under these General Terms and Conditions and the Supply Agreement (if any).
  3. If Buyer is in default of full payment, or if its financial condition, or that of a subsidiary, parent associate or affiliate, in Seller’s sole opinion becomes impaired or if proceedings in bankruptcy or insolvency are instituted by and/or against Buyer, its subsidiary, parent, associate, related affiliate company of the Buyer, or in the case of liquidation or dissolution of Buyer, or of a subsidiary, parent, associate, related affiliate company of the Buyer, or any other reason at Seller’s sole discretion, any and all postponed or deferred payments, including interest thereon, shall become immediately due and payable and Seller reserves the right to offset the same against any debts due to Buyer or its parent, or its subsidiary companies, affiliates, associated or related companies. Exercise of any such rights shall be without prejudice to Seller’s right to recover damages or losses sustained and resulting from any default by Buyer, and Seller shall have the right to suspend and/or cancel deliveries hereunder.
  4. Marine Fuel delivered under a Sales contract is expressly sold on the financial credit of the vessel to which the Marine Fuel is delivered, in addition to the promise of the Buyer to pay. The Buyer warrants and the owner of the Vessel acknowledges that the Seller shall have the right to assert a maritime lien, attachment or claim against the Vessel, its appurtenances and accessories in favour of the Seller for all sums owing by the Buyer under the Sales Contract together with incidental cost, charges, taxes, and interests and expenses. Such remedy shall be in addition to, and not in limitation of, any other remedies available to the Seller. The Seller shall not be bound by any attempt by any person to restrict, limit or prohibit its lien or liens attaching to a vessel. If Buyer fails to take delivery of the product or any part thereof within a reasonable time from the agreed supply time, Seller shall be entitled at Buyer’s risk and expense, either to transport the product back to storage or to sell in a downgraded form at a market price without prejudice to Seller’s other rights under this Contract for damages. Seller shall at its sole discretion determine what constitutes a reasonable time to terminate the delivery.
  5. If the buyer is not the owner of the vessel being supplied (the “Vessel”), these General Terms and Conditions, wherever applicable, also constitute conditions for acceptance of delivery of the Seller’s Marine Fuel by the Vessel and th acknowledge that delivery of Marine Fuel to the Vessel is made on the financial credit of the Vessel. Any Vessel taking delivery of such Marine Fuel and its owner (if not being the Buyer) shall be deemed to have unconditionally accepted these General Terms and Conditions before commencement of the delivery, by authorized personnel of the Vessel signing on the Bunker Requisition Form, Tanker Measurement Form, or another document relating to delivery of Marine Fuel to the Vessel. If the Buyer is not the owner of the Vessel, Seller shall have the right as its discretion to insist as a precondition of the sale that a payment guarantee be provided by the owner of the vessel in a form acceptable to the seller.
  6. Any notice by the Buyer or the owner of the Vessel that a maritime lien on the Vessel may not be created because of the existence of a prohibition of lien clause or similar clause affecting the Buyer or the Vessel, or for any other reason, must be given to the Seller in the Nomination. In the event the Buyer or the owner of the Vessel provides notice of such restriction, the Marine Fuel shall be paid for in cash or equivalent prior to delivery.
  7. In the event that payment of the price is not received in full by the Seller from and within the credit deadline (the due date) stipulated in the Contract, the Buyer agrees to assign and do so assign, effective from the due date, all rights, interest and claims, including rights of action in rem against any receiving vessel(s) and/or her owners/bareboat charterers, For the avoidance of doubt, the Seller may if it so wishes bring any action (including any action in rem) against the receiving vessel of the Marine Fuel in the Buyer’s name or jointly in the names of Seller and Buyer. The Buyer irrevocably consents to have itself named as Plaintiff or Co-Plaintiff in such action and hereby authorizes all steps to be taken in connection with the commencement an continuance of such an action. A receiving vessel refers to the vessel to which the Buyer shall deliver or agree to deliver or has delivered, pursuant to any contract of sale or supply of Marine Fuels between him (i.e, the Buyer) and any third party (including the owner or bareboat charterers of such vessel).
  8. Legal fee : In case Sea Splendor has recourse to an Attorney at Law to recover any sums due by the Buyer, the Attorney’s commission shall be reimbursed to Sea Splendor by the Buyer. The Attorney’s commission shall be reimbursed by the Buyer even if a simple letter of demand is sent by such Attorney.

 

  1. Notice
    1. Buyer shall give Seller directly, or through Buyer’s agent at least 72 hours notice (Saturday, Sunday and local holidays excluded) of vessel’s readiness to receive delivery and exact quantity required to enable Seller to make necessary arrangements for the delivery.
    2. Buyer shall give Seller final notice of requirement directly or through Buyer’s agent at least 48 hours (Saturday, Sunday and local holidays excluded) before loading marine fuels into barge or other accredited methods of transportation.

 

  1. The Vessel and The Environment
    1. it shall be the sole responsibility of Buyer to comply and advise its personnel, agents and/or customers to comply, both during and after delivery, with all health and safety requirements and all environmental regulations and legislation, both national and international, applicable to the Products supplied. Seller accepts no responsibility for any consequences arising from failure to comply with such health and safety requirements or environmental regulations and legislation. Buyer acknowledges familiarity with the hazards inherent in the nature of any petroleum Products, and shall protect, indemnify and hold Seller harmless against any claims or liability incurred as a result of Buyer, or any user of the Products, or its customers, failing to comply with the relevant health and safety requirements or environmental regulations and legislation.
    2. Without prejudice to Clause 7.9 herein, in the event of any leakage, spillage, overflow of Product, causing or likely to cause pollution occurring at any stage, Buyer shall, regardless as to whether Buyer or Seller is responsible, immediately take such action as is necessary to remove the product and mitigate the effects of such leakage, spillage or overflow. Failing such prompt action, the Buyer (who hereby warrants that they have been authorized by the Vessel’s owner) authorizes Seller to take whatever measures Seller deems fit to effect clean up at the Buyer’s expense and on the Buyer’s behalf and the Buyer shall cooperate fully with the Seller and lend all assistance required in the clean up operation. The Buyer shall indemnify and hold Seller and/or Suppliers harmless against any claims or liability expenses, damages, costs, fines and penalties arising out of or in connection with any leakage, spillage or overflow unless such leakage, spillage or overflow shall be proven to be wholly caused by Seller’s gross negligence. The Buyer shall also give, or cause to be given, to the Seller all such documents and other information concerning any leakage, spillage, or overflow, or any program for prevention thereof, which are requested by the Seller, or required by law or regulation applicable at the time and place where delivery of the Products to the Vessel takes place.
    3. Buyer warrants that the vessel at all material times will be in compliance with all national and international regulations. Buyer also warrants that the Vessel, her main engine, her auxiliary engines and all other parts, equipment and machinery are being operated in accordance with the manufacturer’s specifications, instructions and guidelines. The Buyer further warrants that the Product to be supplied to the Vessel is suitable for the Vessel, her parts, her equipment and machinery as set out in the manufacturer’s specifications, instructions and guidelines. It shall be the responsibility of the Master of the Vessel to notify Seller of any special conditions, difficulties, peculiarities, deficiencies or defects with respect to the Vessel or any part thereof, which might adversely affect the delivery of Product. Seller has the right to refuse to deliver the Product to the Vessel if it is deemed probable in Seller’s sole discretion that such delivery will result in adverse consequences of any kind whatsoever.

 

  1. Assignments
    1. Seller may assign/transfer any/all of its right and obligations under the Contract. Buyer shall not assign/transfer any/all of its right under the Contract, without written consent of the Seller.

 

  1. Indemnity
    1. Without prejudice to Clauses 3.6, 11.1, and 11.2 herein, the Buyer shall defend, indemnify, and hold Seller harmless with respect to any and all liability, loss, claims, expenses or damage whatsoever that the Seller may suffer or incur by reason of, or in any way connected with, the fault or default of Buyer, its employees, servants, officers, or crew of the Vessel, agents and representatives in the purchase of, receipt, use, storage, handling or transportation of the Products.

 

  1. Liability and Consequential Damages
    1. The Seller and/or Supplier shall not be liable for any special, indirect, consequential, punitive or exemplary damage of any kind, including but not limited to loss of prospective profits, anticipated cost, savings contracts, or financial or economic loss, claims, including negligence of the Seller and/or Supplier, its agents, servants or sub-contractors, arising out of, or in connection with, the performance or non-performance under the Contract. In any event, the liability of the Seller and/or Supplier shall be limited to the price of the Products supplied under the Contract.

 

  1. Force Majeure
    1. Neither Buyer nor Seller shall be responsible for damages caused by delays, failure to perform in whole or in part any obligations hereunder (other than the payment of money), or non-compliance with any of the terms hereof when such delay, failure or non-compliance is due to or results from causes beyond the reasonable control of the affected party, including without limitation acts of God, fires, flood, adverse weather, perils of the sea, war (declared or undeclared), terrorist actions (threatened or actual), embargoes, accidents, strikes, labor disputes, failure of, or shortage of vessels, or barge services normally available to Seller, breakdown of or damage to, or shortage in facilities used for production, refining or transportation of Products, acts in compliance with requests of any government authority or person purporting to act on behalf thereof, or any similar causes. Notwithstanding the provisions of this clause, the Buyer shall not be relieved of any obligation to make payments for all sums due hereunder.

 

  1. Breach
    1. Seller may terminate the Contract in whole or in part, at its own discretion upon the breach of any provision hereof by Buyer.
    2. Seller reserves the right to recover from Buyer all damages and costs (including but not limited to loss of profit) resulting from any breach of the Contract.

 

  1. Title
    1. The Products shall remain the Seller’s property until Buyer has paid for them in full. Until that time, Buyer shall hold them as bailee, store them in such a way that they can be identified as Seller’s property, and keep them separate from Buyer’s own property and the property of any other person. Although the Products remain the Seller’s property until paid for, they shall  be at Buyer’s risk from the time of delivery and Buyer shall insure them against loss or damage accordingly and in the event of such loss or damage it shall hold the proceeds of such insurance on behalf of Seller as trustee of Seller.
    2. Buyer’s rights to possession of the Products shall cease if:
  1. Buyer has not paid for the Products in full by the expiry of any credit period allowed by the Contract; or
  2. Buyer is declared bankrupt or makes any proposal to his creditors for a reorganization or other voluntary arrangement; or
  3. A receiver, liquidator or administrator is appointed in respect of Buyer’s business.
    1. Upon cessation of Buyer’s right to possession of the Products in accordance with clause 17.2, the Buyer shall at his own expense make the Products available to the Seller and allow Seller to repossess them.
    2. Buyer hereby grants Seller, his agent and employees an irrevocable license to enter any premises where the Products are stored in order to repossess them at any time.

 

  1. Governing Law
    1. This Agreement is subject to the law and jurisdiction of the courts of Hong Kong Special Administration Region or any other law and jurisdiction as specified in the Contract. However, nothing in this clause shall preclude Seller, in event of a breach of this Agreement by the Buyer, from taking any such action or actions as it shall in its absolute discretion consider necessary to enforce, safeguard or secure its rights under this Agreement in any court or tribunal of any state or country, including, but not limited to the action to enforce its rights of lien against ships, the existence and procedure of enforcement of such right of lien being determined by the local law of the place where enforcement is sought, or to otherwise obtain security, attachment or arrest of assets for any amount(s) owed to Seller.
    2. A person who is not a party to this Agreement has no rights under the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999 to enforce any term of this Agreement, but this does not affect any right or remedy of a third party, which exists or is available apart from that Act.        
    3. Any dispute arising out of or in connection with this Contract, which cannot be resolved between the Parties, shall be referred to arbitration in Hong Kong in accordance with the Arbitration Act 1996 or any statutory modification or re-enactment thereof save to the extent necessary to give effect to the provisions of this Clause. The arbitration shall be conducted in accordance with the Hong Kong International Arbitrators Association (HKIAC).
    4. All arbitration awards shall be final and binding on the Parties. By agreeing to arbitration under the HKIAC Terms, the Parties undertake to carry out any award immediately and without delay; and the Parties also waive irrevocably their right to any form of appeal, review or recourse to any state court or other judicial authority, insofar as such waiver may be validly made.
    5. Nothing in this clause shall, in the event of a breach of this Agreement by the buyer, preclude the seller from taking any such actions as it shall in its sole and absolute discretion consider necessary. The Seller shall have the power to claim, enforce, safeguard or secure its rights under this Agreement in any court or tribunal in any state or country.
    6. Without prejudice to the above, the seller may at any time arrest or attach to the vessel a maritime lien, in any jurisdiction where it may be found, to obtain security and /or enforce a maritime lien. Notwithstanding any other language in this contract to the contrary, the parties agree that the United States General Maritime Law and applicable Federal maritime lien statutes shall exclusively govern with respect to the existence and enforceability of a maritime lien. The buyer warrants that it is authorized to incur a lien in the vessel for supply of the product as necessaries to the vessel, and that the buyer specifically intends that these conditions shall bind the vessel.

 

  1. Destination and sanctions
    1. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, nothing in this agreement is intended, and nothing herein should be interpreted or construed, to induce or require either party hereto to act in any manner (including failing to take any actions in connection with this transaction) which is inconsistent with, penalized or prohibited under any laws, regulations, decrees or other official United Nations, United States of America, European Union, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region rules or requirements applicable to such party which relate to, foreign trade controls, export controls, embargoes or international boycotts of any type.
    2. Buyer undertakes as a condition to Seller’s performance of this agreement that the product shall not: 1) be exported directly or indirectly to any restricted jurisdiction (as defined below); or 2) be sold or supplied directly or indirectly to any natural or legal person in any restricted jurisdiction or subject to any prohibition or restriction imposed by the United Nations, the United States of America, the European Union, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region; or 3) be sold or supplied directly or indirectly to any natural or legal person or entity for the purpose of any commercial activity carried out in or from any such restricted jurisdiction.
    3. For the purposes of this clause, "restricted jurisdiction" shall mean any country, including, but not limited to, state, territory or region against which there are sanctions imposed by the United Nations, the United States of America, the European Union, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
    4. At any time, Seller may require Buyer to provide any relevant documents for the purpose of verifying the final destination of the product and Buyer must undertake to provide such documents upon request. Moreover, Buyer agrees to hold Seller harmless from, and indemnify Seller for, any and all losses, costs, damages, fines and/or penalties incurred by Seller resulting from Buyer’s breach of any of its obligations contained in this clause.
    5. Should Seller knows or reasonably believes Buyer be in breach of any provisions of this clause, Seller may at any time and in its absolute discretion and without any liability to Buyer either terminate the agreement or refuse to supply.

 

  1. Sanctions, trade controls and boycotts

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary elsewhere in this contract:

  1. Nothing in the contract is intended nor should be interpreted or construed, to induce or require either Party to act in any manner (including failing to take any actions in connection with a transaction) which is inconsistent with, penalized or prohibited under any laws, regulations, decrees, ordinance, order, demand, request, rules or requirements (being of a voluntary or involuntary nature) applicable to such Party which relate to foreign trade controls, export controls, embargoes, sanctions or international boycotts of any type, non-proliferation, anti-terrorism and similar laws ("Trade Restrictions").
  2. Neither Party shall be obliged to perform any obligation required by this contract (including without limitation an obligation to (a) perform, deliver, accept, sell, purchase, pay or receive monies to, from, or through a person or entity, or (b) engage in any other acts) if this would be in violation of, or otherwise prohibited under the Trade Restrictions.

Where any performance by a Party would be in violation of, or otherwise prohibited under the Trade Restrictions, such Party ("Affected Party") shall, as soon as reasonably practicable, give written notice to the other Party of its inability to perform certain obligations under this contract. Once such notice has been given, the Affected Party shall be entitled:

A)        To immediately suspend the affected obligation (whether payment or performance) until such time as the Affected Party may lawfully discharge such obligation; and/or

B)        Where the inability to discharge the obligation continues (or is reasonably expected to continue) until the end of the contractual time for discharge thereof, to a full release from the affected obligation, provided that where the relevant obligation relates to payment for goods which have already been delivered, the affected payment obligation shall remain suspended until such time as the Affected Party may lawfully resume payment.

C)        Where the obligation affected relates to the acceptance of the vessel nominated to receive the goods, to require the nominating Party to nominate an alternative vessel;

D)        In each case (а), (b) and (c), except as otherwise expressly provided for herein, the Affected Party shall not bear any liability whatsoever (including but not limited to any damages for breach of contract, penalties, costs, fees and expenses).

  1. Without prejudice to the foregoing should the Trade Restrictions prevent or prohibit performance of either Party`s obligations for a period of 60 days or more from the date the obligation in question becomes due, the Seller and the Buyer is entitled to immediately terminate this contract in respect of all unperformed obligations upon written notice to the other Party and, save for sums that have become due and payable prior to termination, which remain to be performed, neither Party will be liable to the other for failure to perform and/or undue performance of any further obligations under this contract.
  2. In circumstances where a trade restrictions legislation, regulation or regime concede the possibility to obtain an authorization, licence or approval, in order to fulfil its obligations under the contract the Party upon the other Party’s demand shall apply to the relevant government and/or other authorized body for such authorization, license or approval as soon as reasonably practicable. If the Party fails to obtain the relevant authorization, license or approval within 60 days from the date of the Party’s relevant obligation becoming due under this contract solely or partially due to the action or inaction of the relevant body then, the other Party is entitled to terminate this contract.
  3. Nothing in this section shall be taken to limit or prevent the operation, where available under the governing law of the contract, of any doctrine analogous to the English common law doctrine of frustration.

 

  1. New and changed regulations, trade restrictions, etc.
    1. It is understood by the Parties that the Seller is entering into the agreement in reliance on the laws, rules, regulations, decrees, agreements, concessions and arrangements (“Regulations”) in effect on the date hereof with governments, government instrumentalities or public authorities, including but not limited to those of the United States of America, applicable to the parties relating to trade sanctions, foreign trade controls, export controls, non-proliferation, anti-terrorism and similar laws, affecting the subject transaction (the “Trade Restrictions”).
    2. If at any time and from time to time during the currency of the agreement any regulations are changed or new regulations have become or are due to become effective, whether by law, decree or regulation or by response to the insistence or request of any governmental or public authority or any person purporting to act therefor, and performance by a party would be in violation of, inconsistent with, or expose such party to punitive measure under the Trade Restrictions, such party (the “Affected Party”) shall, as soon as reasonably practicable give written notice to the other party of its inability to perform. Once such notice has been given the affected party shall be entitled:

A)        To immediately suspend the affected obligation (whether payment or performance) until such time as the affected party may lawfully discharge such obligation; provided that where the relevant obligations relate to payment for goods which have already been delivered, the affected payment obligation shall remain suspended (without prejudice to the accrual of any interest on an outstanding payment amount) until such time as the Affected Party may lawfully resume payment; and/or

B)        To a full release from the affected obligation (without prejudice to the accrual of any interest on an outstanding payment amount, if any) and termination of the agreement; and/or

C)        Where the obligation affected is acceptance of the vessel, to require the other party to nominate an alternative vessel;

 

In each case without any liability whatsoever (including but not limited to any damages for breach of contract, penalties, costs, fees and expenses).

 

 

 

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