Fake GUARDCON contracts may prove costly for shipowners

This week BIMCO warned shipowners of a number of private maritime security companies using unofficial copies of GUARDCON to conclude transit agreements with Shipowners. BIMCO highlight a handful of cases where wordings vary from the genuine GUARDCON wording. BIMCO warns that using these unofficial versions as well as breaching BIMCO's copyright may lessen the liabilities and responsibilities of private maritime security companies. The changes are not clearly marked in the text making it difficult for a shipowner to detect the changes.

Signing a fake GUARDCON that may contain subtle amendments to the liability provisions could prove to be a costly error for a shipowner if something goes wrong.

The Club recommends that owners verify the source of any GUARDCON contract to establish that it has been printed directly from IDEA2 - BIMCO's online contract editing system. If in doubt, you can contact the BIMCO Secretariat who will verify the document.

More information is available on BIMCO's website:

https://www.bimco.org/sitecore/content/home/news/2015/07/21_turning_the_tide_on_homemade_guardian_contracts

For more information on Maritime Security & Piracy view our dedicated resources page.

Staff Author

UK P&I

Date22/07/2015

Tags

You may also be interested in:

We are living in a digital age where information can be transmitted instantaneously and yet progress towards a fully digitalised international trade remains slow

This circular informs Members of the review of open policy years.

Congratulations to UK Club board member Nikolaus H Schües, who has been named the 46th President of BIMCO.

This circular confirms approval by the International Group of an updated version of the Secro Customer and User Agreement dated 16th March 2023 as well as use of the Secro Customer e-billls of lading in conjunction with the said User Agreement