On Knock-for-Knock Principle: Analysis of SUPPLYTIME 2017 Clause 14(a)

In June 2017, the Baltic and International Maritime Council launched a revised version of its standard time charter party for offshore support vessels, codename as SUPPLYTIME 2017. SUPPLYTIME 2017 contains several changes based on SUPPLYTIME 2005, especially in the Clause 14(a) (Liabilities and Indemnities ' Knock-for-Knock). SUPPLYTIME 2017 makes the knock-for-knock clauses better adapted to the current shipping market by extending the range of ＂Owners' Group＂ and ＂Charterers' Group＂ respectively, reducing the content of Proviso, and expanding the content of ＂Cause of Loss＂. Through reviewing the history of knock-for-knock clauses, analyzing relevant legal precedents in British judicial practice, and comparing SUPPLYTIME 2005 with SUPPLYTIME 2017, this paper makes it clear that the knock-for-knock clauses of SUPPLYTIME 2017 shall not be boldly used nor unreasonably resisted or excluded.