Rotterdam Rules

The Rotterdam Rules will, when ratified by 20 states, provide global uniformity on maritime cargo liability, and in doing so sweep away their venerable but single mode, pre-globalisation and pre-internet antecedents: the Hague, Hague-Visby and Hamburg Rules.

They will furnish new - and as yet untested - rights to shippers and cargo-owning interests (assuming they don't sign them away in volume contracts), which means that terminal operators, shipping lines and other parties will be exposed to new legal claims for damaged, stolen or delayed freight.

Lloyd's List presents here the ongoing dialogue of expert opinion and debate surrounding the Rotterdam Rules.