In the chain Head Owner 'A' demise charters to 'B', who time charters to 'C', who fixes to 'D' for a voyage, who pays crew wages?

In the chain Head Owner 'A' demise charters to 'B', who time charters to 'C', who fixes to 'D' for a voyage, who pays crew wages?

• A. The shipowner
• B. The time charterer
• C. The voyage charterer
• D. The demise charterer

Answer: (B)

Who pays the crew is determined by who has day‑to‑day control of the vessel’s operation during the period in question. In a demise (bareboat) charter, the charterer takes over control and typically pays crew wages. When that vessel is then placed on a time charter, control over the vessel’s routine running matters—including crewing and its costs—passes to the time charterer for the duration of that charter. Even though a voyage is fixed later, the obligation for crew wages during the time charter period sits with the time charterer because they are the party responsible for the vessel’s day‑to‑day operation at that time. Therefore, the person paying crew wages is the time charterer.

Who pays the crew is determined by who has day‑to‑day control of the vessel’s operation during the period in question. In a demise (bareboat) charter, the charterer takes over control and typically pays crew wages. When that vessel is then placed on a time charter, control over the vessel’s routine running matters—including crewing and its costs—passes to the time charterer for the duration of that charter. Even though a voyage is fixed later, the obligation for crew wages during the time charter period sits with the time charterer because they are the party responsible for the vessel’s day‑to‑day operation at that time. Therefore, the person paying crew wages is the time charterer.