In commercial shipping, laytime is the amount of time allowed (in hours or days) in a voyage charter for the loading and unloading of cargo. If the laytime is exceeded, demurrage is incurred. If the whole period of laytime is not needed, despatch may be payable by the shipowner to the charterer, depending on the terms of the charter party (despatch does not apply to tanker charters).

In commercial shipping, laytime is the amount of time allowed (in hours or days) in a voyage charter for the loading and unloading of cargo. If the laytime is exceeded, demurrage is incurred. If the whole period of laytime is not needed, despatch may be payable by the shipowner to the charterer, depending on the terms of the charter party (despatch does not apply to tanker charters).