charter party
noun
1A deed between a shipowner and a trader for the hire of a ship and the delivery of cargo.The provisions of these rules shall not be applicable to charter parties, but if bills of lading are issued in the case of a ship under a charter party they shall comply with the terms of these rules....
- Moreover the Deptford officials had specific instructions to see that each storeship was manned by the number of seamen called for in the ship's charter party.
- Upon completion of a voyage, officials of the Navy Board had to determine whether any of the cargo was missing or if there had been any abuses of the charter party.
2A group of people using a hired aircraft or ship.
Origin
Late Middle English: from French charte partie, from medieval Latin charta partita 'divided charter', i.e. one written in duplicate on a single sheet, then divided in such a way that the two parts could be fitted together again as proof of authenticity.