CO885-24 — Page 274

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

C.O. 885

24 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH—NOT TO

218

APPENDIX B.-AGREEMENTS AND CHARTER PARTIES.

that order) and back direct to a United Kingdom port in ballast, for an inclusive sum of £7,470, to be paid by instalments, as follows:-

£2,000 on receipt of your order to despatch the master and crew. £2,500 on sailing from Gibraltar.

£2,000 on arrival at New York.

£970 on arrival in ballast at United Kingdom port.

£7,470

We are, &c.,

HOULDER, MIDDLETON & COMPANY, LIMITED,

The Common Seal of the above-named

Houlder, Middleton, & Company, Limited, was hereunto affixed in the presence of G. J. MIDDLETON, Director.

The Secretary,

Admiralty, S.W.

GEO. A. NIGHTINGALE, Secretary.

MEMORANDUM.

HOWARD HOULDER,

Director.

Seal.

“Schneefels" (s) now lying at Gibraltar, with about 9,000 tons of Indian cargo on board.

1. Contractor to navigate the above steamer (about to be placed under the British flag and renamed the "Gibraltar ") from Gibraltar direct to Boston and New York (in that order), discharge and deliver her cargo at those ports, and to navigate her home direct to a United Kingdom port in ballast.

2. Contractor to fully insure the steamer out and home and while at New York and Boston (in such name or names as the Admiralty may direct) at Lloyd's, and/or with approved British companies, for £64,000 so valued, against all possible risks, including full R.D.C., no franchise, War risks, Protection and indemnity and small damage risks, Employers' Liability and Workmen's Compensation risks and to deliver the policies to the Admiralty before sailing from Gibraltar.

3. Contractor to provide, pay, and victual an efficient master and full com- plement of officers, engineers, and crew (all to be sent out from United Kingdom to Gibraltar at contractor's expense when ordered by Admiralty) for the out and home voyages, and while in sailing and discharging ports: and to provide all coal, and deck and engine-room stores. The steamer to be placed at contractor's disposal in efficient seaworthy condition for the voyage on arrival of the master and crew at Gibraltar, and Admiralty not to be responsible for wages at Gibraltar while preparing pro- visions, coals, or stores, for that voyage.

4. Contractor to deliver the cargo at Boston and New York (in that order) with all customary despatch as ordered, but not to be liable for short or late delivery of or damage to cargo, or for any other claims in respect of the said cargo.

5. Forthwith, after completion of discharge at the last port, contractor to navigate the steamer home to any United Kingdom port named by the Admiralty, But an offer to load the and there to discharge master, officers, engineers, and crew.

steamer home from an American port to United Kingdom would be considered by the Admiralty, if showing a substantial profit.

6. Contractor to pay all dock, port, harbour, and light dues and charges, pilot- ages, towages, stevedoring, agency, and all other such expenses whatsoever con- nected with the voyages such as are usually borne by steamship owners.

7. Contractor to indemnify the Admiralty against all liability whatsoever in respect of the master, officers, engineers, and crew, or other persons whomsoever employed, in connexion with the voyages or the discharge and delivery of the cargo.

8. Should the Admiralty so desire, the steamer may be placed in the name of the contractor as registered owner, an approved nominee of the contractor being registered as manager; and in such case the contractor shall transfer the steamer by bill of sale to any nominee of the Admiralty on the completion of the home voyage, or (if so required by the Admiralty) at any earlier date.

9. Contractor to be allowed the use of about 600 tons of bunker coal on board the steamer, but to purchase from the Admiralty, at a price to be agreed, or (fuiling agreement) fixed by an independent valuer, any serviceable provisions and stores on board.

403

APPENDIX B.-AGREEMENTS AND CHARTER PARTIES.

No. 2.

219

AGREEMENT WITH THE STRAITS STEAMSHIP COMPANY, LIMITED, FOR THE HIRE OF THE S.S. "RANEE."

An Agreement made in London this thirteenth day of March One thousand nine hundred and fifteen by and between the COMMISSIONERS for executing the office of LORD HIGH ADMIRAL of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland (hereinafter called "the Admiralty") of the one part and THE STRAIts Steamship COMPANY LIMITED of Singapore (hereinafter called "the Charterer ") of the other part.

WHEREBY IT IS AGREED as follows:

13

1. The Admiralty will as soon as practicable procure the steamship "Ranee (hereinafter called "the vessel ") now at Singapore to be registered as a British

ship.

2.

The Admiralty will demise and the Charterer will hire the vessel when so registered for service on monthly hire for a period of six calendar months from the date on which the vessel is placed at the disposal of the Charterer at Singapore or until the date of the signature of a Treaty of Peace between Great Britain and Germany whichever shall be the shorter period. Such period is hereinafter called "the period of service."

3. The Charterer shall pay for the hire of the vessel in cash in advance monthly at the rate of one hundred and sixty pounds (£160) per calendar month commencing on the date when the vessel is placed at the disposal of the Charterer. All such monthly payments shall be made in London to The Assistant Paymaster- General at the Royal Courts of Justice and if the Charterer shall make default in any payments the Admiralty may withdraw the vessel from the service but without prejudice to any claim against the Charterer under this Agreement or otherwise. Should the vessel be lost during the period of service any hire paid in advance and not earned (reckoning from the date of loss) shall be returned to the Charterer.

4. The Charterer shall employ the vessel only in lawful trade between safe British or British protected ports in the Malay Peninsula and shall not allow her to enter any enemy or neutral port or territorial waters (unless necessary for the safety of the vessel or cargo) or to load or discharge any cargo except where she can lie afloat.

5. The Charterer shall on demand pay to the Admiralty the cost of insuring the vessel during the period of service for the sum of £12,500 or for the appraised value of the vessel at Singapore whichever shall be the larger against all the risks covered by an ordinary Lloyd's policy with Institute Clauses F.C. & S. warranty full R.D.C. and without any franchise and also against all Protection Indemnity Small Damage Employers' Liability and Workmen's Compensation risks and the Admiralty shall effect such insurance and in so far as the same shall provide indemnity in.respect of any damage or salvage for which the vessel or the Charterer may become liable to any third parties the Charterer shall be entitled to the benefit thereof. Charterer shall not at any time do or suffer to be done anything whereby the said insurance would be vitiated or in any way affected.

The

6. The Charterer shall take the vessel as she now lies and shall keep her in good repair and condition throughout the period of service and at the expiry thereof shall redeliver her to the Admiralty at Singapore in the same condition and state of repair as she is in at the commencement of the period of service fair wear and tear and any loss or damage recoverable under the said insurance or which but for the F.C. & S. warranty would have been recoverable thereunder always excepted. 7. The Admiralty shall have a lien upon all cargoes and sub-freight for any freight due under this Agreement.

8. The Charterer and the Admiralty respectively shall take over and pay for be on board at current market prices all bunker coals provisions and stores which

may

the vessel at the commencement and expiry respectively of the period of service.

9. Subject as hereinbefore expressly provided the vessel shall during the period of service be at the absolute disposal and under the complete control of the Charterer and at the sole risk and expense of the Charterer.

10. Any notice or process shall be deemed to have been duly served upon the Charterer if sent by registered post addressed to the Charterer c/o Messrs. John Buttery and Company 5 Mark Lane London E.C. or delivered by hand at the same place and the said Messrs. John Buttery and Company are hereby irrevocably con- stituted the agents of the Charterer for the purpose of receiving or being served with such notice or process.

any