Free pratique

Free pratique is the permission a ship receives to use a port and have contact with the shore after the port health authority is satisfied the vessel poses no public-health risk. It follows the master’s declaration of health and is granted under the WHO International Health Regulations 2005. The timing matters in chartering: many charter parties make a valid notice of readiness conditional on the vessel having free pratique, so a tender given before clearance can be invalid and delay the start of laytime. In low-risk cases free pratique is often granted by radio before arrival.