The Norwegian Law Commission’s recommendation

– a general approachoProfessor Erik Røsæg

oNordisk institutt for sjørettoerik.rosag@jus.uio.no

ofolk.uio.no/erikro

2

Historyo The failure of the reforms in the

1970ieso US law reformo Multimodal transports

– maritime hegemonyo Electronic documentso Integration of sales contracts and

letters of credito New trends in contract law

3

Outline of the Rules

1. Definitions2. Scope3. Electronic

documents4. Carrier’s

obligations5. Carrier’s liability6. Special rules7. Shipper’s

obligations8. Transport

documents9. Delivery of the

cargo

10.Right of control11.Transfer of rights12.Limitation of

liability13.Time limitation14.Jurisdiction15.Arbitration16.Freedom of

contract17.Other conventions18.Final clauses

4

Ratification

o Yeso Timingo Jurisdiction and arbitration

5

Implementation technique

o Amending the Maritime Codeo Individual articles identifiableoOrder changedoDrafting style

6

Final risk allocation

oWrong focus?o Initial risk allocationo Adjustment through price

mechanisms

7

Mandatory

o The weaker partyoMandatory rules come at a costo Cui bono?

o LawyersoReluctance to use normal contract

lawo The Norwegian Commission’s

approach

8

Tackle to tackle

o First and last terminalo Art. 12(3)o Travaux préparatoires

9

Merchant haulage

oNo duty to contract door to dooroDocuments wider than transport

obligationo Clarity

10

Service agreements

oGrater freedomoUSA and Europe

11

Basis of liability

oNegligenceoNavigational errorso FireoUnseaworthinessoHow it works

12

Limitation

o Insurance costs and total costso 3 SDR/ 875 SDRoMontreal 19 SDRoUp 50% / 31%o Inflation 731%oNo tacit amendmento Privity

13

Delay

o Special limits for delayoGoods damaged by delay

14

Shipper

o Shipper ≠ avskipero Shipper = contractual shippero «Contractification»

15

Shipper’s liability

o Liability situationo Basis for liabilityo Limitation of liability?

16

Direct action and respondeat superior

oGeneral principle of respondeat superior

oDirect action on maritime performing parties

oNo rule on non-maritime performing parties

o The distinction

17

Scope

oMandatory scopeoOutside the scopeoNational transports

18

National transports

o The RR applyo Special limitation regimeoNational transport as part of an

international transport

19

Relation to Ch. 14 of the MC

o Current rulesoNew approach

20

Time limitation

o Action within two yearso Extensiono Counterclaims and set-off

21

Delivery of the goods

o Clear delivery mechanismsoDelivering without a negotiable

transport document

22

Right of control

o Explicit ruleso Similar to deliveryo Limited freedom of contract

23

Position of the receiver

oNo liability for passive holdero Receiver’s liabilityo Freight prepaid

24

Relationship to EU

o Competence and supremacyo Jurisdictiono Choice of lawoOther?o Ratification

25

Provisions of the current maritime code

o CancellationoQuantum meruit