Interview: Jumpei Osada, Attorney at TMI Associates　インタビュー　TMI総合法律事務所・長田旬平弁護士に聞く

Legal risks embedded in charterparties amid a closure of the Strait of Hormuz

Off-hire may be denied, with potential for frustration to arise

ホルムズ海峡封鎖、用船契約に潜む法的リスク

オフハイヤー否定、Frustration発動の可能性も

Tensions surrounding the Strait of Hormuz have intensified, and an extraordinary situation continues in which numerous vessels are effectively stranded within the Persian Gulf. For Japanese shipowners and operators, the current circumstances in and around the Persian Gulf represent an urgent issue.

On contractual points including the applicability of off-hire, the function of war risk insurance, and the potential application of the doctrine of frustration (impossibility of performance), we spoke with Jumpei Osada, attorney at TMI Associates. (Interviewer: Hirofumi Yamamoto)

■The full article covers the following points (approx. 4,200 words in total)

→ As the closure of the Strait of Hormuz prolongs, an examination of how long the obligation to pay hire continues, clarifying the core of chartering practice

→ Can off-hire truly be invoked? An explanation of the legal dividing line concerning operational suspension caused by external factors

→ An assessment of the practical risks faced by shipowners and operators in situations where war risk insurance does not function sufficiently

→ An analysis of how CONWARTIME clauses and War Cancellation Clauses relate to cost allocation and contract termination during crises

→ A closer look at the applicability of the doctrine of frustration and the key legal responses that shipping companies should prepare for now

(The remainder can be read in the full text available in both English and Japanese. The Japanese article is presented following the English version.)

インタビュー　TMI総合法律事務所・長田旬平弁護士に聞く

ホルムズ海峡封鎖、用船契約に潜む法的リスク　オフハイヤー否定、Frustration発動の可能性も

ホルムズ海峡を巡る緊張が高まり、ペルシャ湾内では多数の船舶が事実上足止めされる異常事態が続いている。日本船主、オペレーターにとっても現在のペルシャ湾をめぐる状況は喫緊の課題だ。オフハイヤーの適用可否、戦争保険の機能、Frustration（履行不能）法理の可能性など、契約上の論点についてTMI総合法律事務所の長田旬平（Jumpei Osada）弁護士に聞いた。（聞き手　山本裕史）

■記事本文では以下の内容を読むことができます（記事全文約4200文字）

→ ホルムズ海峡封鎖が長引く中、用船料の支払い義務がどこまで続くのか、契約実務の核心を整理

→ オフハイヤーは本当に主張できるのか。外部要因による運航停止を巡る法的な分岐点を解説

→ 戦争保険が十分に機能しない局面で、船主・オペレーターが直面する現実的なリスクを検証

→ CONWARTIME条項やWar Cancellation Clauseが、危機時のコスト負担や契約終了にどう関わるのかを読み解く

→ Frustration法理の適用可能性を含め、海運会社が今まさに備えるべき法務対応の要点に迫る

（続きは英語と日本語で書かれた本文でお読みください。日本語の記事は英文記事に続いて掲載されています）