Charter-Party

contracts, is a contract of affreightment in writing by which the owner of a ship or other vessel lets the whole, or a part of her, toa merchant or other person for the conveyance of goods, on a particular voyage, in consideration of the payment freight. This instrument ought to contain, 1, the name and tonnage of the vessel; 2, the name of the captain; 3, the names of the letter to. freight and the freighter; 4, the place and time agreed upon for the indemnity in case of delay; 7, such other conditions as the parties may agree upon. Abbott on Ship. pt.

3, c.1,s.1 to 6; Poth. h. t. n. 4; Pardessus, Dr. Com. pt. 4, t. 4, c. i,n. 708.

When a ship is chartered this instrument serves to authenticate y of the facts on which the proof of her neutrality must rest, and should therefore be always found on board chartered ships.

1 Marsh. Ins. 407.

When the goods of several merchants unconnected with each other, are laden on board without any particular contract of affreightment with any individual for the entire ship, the vessel is called a general ship, (q. v.) because open to all merchants; but where one or more merchants, contract for the ship exclusively, it is said to be a chartered ship.

3 Kent, Com. 158; Abbott, Ship. pt. 2, c. 2, s. 1.