Laycan
The window of dates within which a ship must arrive and be ready to load, or the charterer may cancel.
- Category
- Chartering
- Last reviewed
How it works
Laycan is a contraction of "laydays / cancelling". It defines the earliest date the charterer must start counting laytime (laydays) and the latest date by which the ship must present and tender notice of readiness, failing which the charterer can cancel (the cancelling date).
A tight laycan raises positioning risk for the owner; a missed cancelling date lets the charterer walk away even if the market has moved against them. Laycan is one of the first items agreed in any fixture.
Where it shows up on The Maritime
Also known as: laydays, cancelling date, lay/can.
Related terms
Laytime
The time allowed under the charter party for the charterer to load and discharge the cargo without extra payment.
Demurrage
A daily penalty the charterer pays the owner for using more than the agreed laytime to load or discharge.
Charter Party (C/P)
The contract between shipowner and charterer setting out the terms of hiring a vessel or carrying a cargo.
Voyage Charter
A contract to carry a specific cargo between named ports for a freight rate, with the owner paying the voyage costs.
More chartering terms
A plain-English reference definition: our own explanation of a standard shipping concept, not a licensed source or legal advice. See the full glossary or the broader maritime dictionary.
Last reviewed: .