Explanatory Notes
BIMCO members have access to the supporting explanatory notes.
BOXCHANGE is a standard agreement for container interchange, which is the process of moving containers on a trip basis from a location with a container surplus to a place with container shortage. All terms and conditions are mirrored for both parties as they are simultaneously suppliers and users of containers. The latest edition of this contract is BOXCHANGE 2016.
Copyright in BOXCHANGE 2016 is held by BIMCO.
Background
Interchanging containers is an integral part of the daily operations of many liner companies. BIMCO’s BOXCHANGE form provides a contractual platform on which liner operators can agree terms for using containers belonging to other operators.
BOXCHANGE was first published in 2004 and has now been updated to reflect current commercial practice, in particular the usage of EDI in container handling. The use of tracking and remote control devices has also been taken into account and, finally, the provisions relating to delivery and redelivery of containers have been split up for clarification.
The BOXCHANGE contract mirrors all terms and conditions because the parties are at the same time suppliers and users of containers.