Who we are
Forewatch Intelligence is run by Lennart van Wimersma Greidanus in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. In these terms, “we” is Forewatch and “you” is the company that asks for a screening. Write to [email protected].
When these terms apply
These terms apply to every screening we deliver and to this website. By requesting a screening, you accept them. Your own general terms do not apply unless we accept them in writing. Where a written agreement between us says something different, the agreement prevails.
Our services are for businesses. We do not contract with consumers.
What a screening is
A screening answers one question: does this vessel, on this voyage, fall under a target criterion that an attacker has published, or that an official body advises, for the theatre concerned?
The dossier sets out the criteria in force on the reference date, the six links between the vessel and those criteria with what was found for each, what every finding rests on, and the outcome. The outcome follows from a fixed rule, published on this site, so the same findings always give the same outcome. Where a criterion has to be read, the dossier states how it was read.
We deliver the dossier within 48 hours of receiving the vessel and voyage details we need. If we cannot, we tell you before then.
What a screening is not
- Not a forecast. It does not predict whether a vessel will be attacked, and it does not cover risks no criterion names, such as mines, misidentification, or attacks outside an attacker’s own criteria.
- Not a security assessment of the vessel, its crew or its route.
- Not a sanctions check against EU, UN, UK or US lists, and not legal or insurance advice.
- Not a decision. Whether to sail, to accept an order, or to rely on a war-risk clause such as CONWARTIME, remains yours.
The reference date, and the watch
Every finding holds as at the reference date and time printed on the dossier. Criteria change, and so do owners, flags and schedules.
Every screening, the free one included, is watched until the vessel sails, as scheduled on the dossier. If in that time a statement is made or withdrawn, an official advisory is issued, changed or cancelled, or you tell us of a change to the schedule or the parties, and it changes a link or the outcome, we issue a new version and tell you what changed and why. The watch ends at sailing. We work to find changes quickly, but cannot promise to find every change the moment it happens.
Sources
We work from the attackers’ own published statements and from official advisories, and for the vessel from registry, database, schedule and AIS records. Each finding names its source and date. We report what a source says; we cannot guarantee that it is complete or correct. Where a link could not be established, the dossier says so, and the outcome reflects it.
What you give us
The outcome rests on the vessel and voyage details you give us: a different port, flag or operator can change it. Make sure they are right, and tell us when they change.
We keep what you send confidential and use it only for your screening. Our privacy statement sets out how we handle personal data.
The first screening
The first screening for your company is free: one per company, with the companies in one group counting as one, for a vessel and voyage in which it has a real commercial interest. It includes the watch. We may decline a request, for example when it falls outside a theatre we cover. A free screening is delivered on these same terms.
Price, payment and cancelling
Further screenings are charged at the price we agree with you before we start. We invoice on delivery, and invoices are payable within 30 days.
You can withdraw a request until we deliver the dossier. For a paid screening, we may charge for the work already done.
Using a dossier
You may use a dossier within your business, and share it with the parties to the voyage and their advisers: owners, managers, charterers, brokers and insurers. You may also put it before a court or arbitral tribunal. You may not publish a dossier in full or sell it on; quoting from it, with its reference, is fine.
A dossier is prepared for the client named on it. Others you share it with may read it, but rely on it at their own risk: we accept no liability towards them.
Each dossier carries a fingerprint of its record. Anyone who holds a copy can check it against the log on this site.
Keeping dossiers
We keep every dossier and its record for seven years from issue, so that it can serve as evidence. The log of fingerprints holds no personal data and is kept for as long as we trade. If we stop, we will make it available, so that dossiers can still be checked.
Intellectual property
The method, the dossiers and this website are our intellectual property; the sources remain their owners’.
Liability
We prepare every screening with care, but a screening is a finding as at its reference date, not a guarantee. We are not liable for indirect or consequential loss, such as lost hire, delay, deviation or a lost fixture. Our total liability for a screening is limited to the fee charged for it, or EUR 1,000 if that is higher. A claim must be made in writing within twelve months of the date the screening was issued.
We are not liable for a delay or failure caused by circumstances beyond our reasonable control, such as sources or systems we depend on being unavailable.
These limits do not apply where the law does not allow them, including loss caused by our intent or deliberate recklessness.
Law and disputes
Dutch law applies to these terms and to every screening. Disputes go to the competent court in Rotterdam.
Changes to these terms
We may update these terms. A screening is governed by the version in force on the day you asked for it. The date at the top of this page shows when they last changed.