Abstract:
As the most widely used voyage charter party contract in the global dry bulk industry,the revision of the GENCON contract significantly impacts shipping practices. By deeply exploring the new changes in the GENCON 2022 contract and comparatively analyzing the differences between GENCON 2022 and GENCON 1994,a series of applicable challenges are identified for charterers and shipowners. These include the unreasonable allocation of sanction risks,uncertainty in arbitration choices,technical risks arising from electronic bills of lading,and war risk challenges affecting charterers’ interests. Finally,from the perspective of both parties,practical coping strategies are proposed.These include flexible responses to sanction risks,clarification of arbitration clause wording,the introduction of blockchain technology for electronic bills of lading,and the establishment of standard operating procedures under war risks. These strategies aim to provide intellectual support for the industry in comprehending and adapting to the new version of the contract.