Notice of Readiness: When Does Laytime Start?

Laytime starts from a valid Notice of Readiness, not from arrival. Here is what makes a NOR valid, how turn time delays the clock, and the disputes that decide when demurrage begins.

Laytime does not start when the vessel arrives — it starts from a valid Notice of Readiness. Getting that moment right is where a large share of demurrage disputes begin.

What the NOR is

The Notice of Readiness is the master's formal declaration that the vessel has arrived and is ready in all respects to load or discharge. Once it is validly tendered (and any grace period passes), the laytime clock begins.

When is a NOR valid?

A valid NOR generally requires that the vessel is:

• An "arrived ship" — at the agreed place (berth, or the customary anchorage under WIBON/WIPON terms)
• Ready in all respects — physically and legally able to work cargo
• In free pratique / cleared, where the charter requires it
• Tendered in the manner and to the parties the charter specifies

Turn time: the gap before the clock starts

Many charters add a grace period after NOR — the turn time (e.g. 6 hours) — before laytime counts. Others start on berthing. The clause wording controls it.

Where disputes arise

Common issues include a NOR tendered before the vessel was truly ready, tendered outside permitted hours, or tendered without free pratique where required — any of which can invalidate it and push back when laytime commenced. Because the commencement point flows straight into the laytime calculation, a shaky NOR is one of the first things to test when you challenge a claim.