Ballast Bonus is best described as?

• A. Extra payment that covers the ballast leg (Charter pays)
• B. Bonus for ballast water treatment
• C. Penalty for ballast delays
• D. Charge for ballast loading

Answer: (A)

Ballast leg refers to the part of a voyage when the ship sails without cargo to reposition to where it will load. Since this leg doesn’t earn freight, the charterer may offer an extra payment to compensate the owner for the costs and lost revenue of sailing in ballast. That additional payment is the ballast bonus, and it is described as an extra payment covered by the charterer. It is not related to ballast water treatment, nor a penalty for delays, nor a charge for loading ballast water.