safe berth clause
safe-berth clause. Maritime law. A provision in a voyage or time charterparty obligating the charterer to choose a berth for loading and unloading the chartered ship where the ship will be safe from damage. • The ship’s master can refuse to enter the berth without breaching the charter. But if the master reasonably enters the berth and the ship is damaged, the charterer is liable. Cf. SAFE-PORT CLAUSE.