《LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR MARITTIME CLAIMS》

1.INTRODUCTION1

2.HISTORY OF LIMITATION IN THE UNITED KINGDOM5

3.THE 1976 LIMITATION CONVENTION7

Explanatory Note7

CHAPTER I-THE RIGHT OF LIMITATION7

Article 1:Persons entitled to limit liability7

Article 1[Text]7

(a)Shipowners8

(b)Salvors10

(c)Seagoing ships and hovercraft11

(d)Other persons12

(e)Owner/master13

(f)Liability insurer14

(g)Summary16

Excluded persons/excluded vessels16

Article 2:Claims subject to limitation17

Article 2[Text]17

Article 2(1)18

Article 2(1)(a)19

Article 2(1)(b)20

Article 2(1)(c)21

Article 2(1)(d)21

Article 2(1)(e)22

Article 2(1)(f)23

Article 2(2)24

Loss of or damage to valuables; loss or damage by fire25

Article 3:Claims excepted from limitation25

Article 3[Text]25

Article 3(a)26

Article 3(b)26

Article 3(c)27

Article 3(d)28

Article 3(e)28

Summary29

Article 4:Conduct barring limitation30

Article 4[Text]30

Ⅰ.The effect of Article 430

(a)"Personal"act or omission35

(b)The"person liable"35

(c)"Loss"36

(d)(i)"Such loss"37

(ii)"Intent to cause such loss"38

(iii)"Or recklessly and with knowledge that such loss would probably result"38

Ⅱ.Onus of proof under Article 439

Ⅲ.The overall effect of the changes40

Ⅳ.Vestiges of section 502 of the MSA 189441

Article 5:Counterclaims42

Article 5[Text]42

CHAPTER II-THE LIMITS OF LIABILITY44

Article 6:The general limits[Text]44

Article 7:The limit for passenger claims[Text]45

Article 8:Unit of Account[Text]45

Article 6:The general limits47

Article 6(1)47

Article 6(2)48

Article 6(3)49

Article 6(4)49

Article 6(5)50

Calculation of limitation tonnage50

Transitional provisions52

Article 7:The limit for passenger claims53

The position in the United Kingdom55

Summary of Limits56

For loss of life/personal injury claims only56

Other claims56

Total potential exposure where there are personal and property claims56

Passenger claims57

Article 8:Unit of account57

Article 9:Aggregation of claims57

Article 9[Text]57

Comment58

Introduction to Articles 10-1459

Article 10:Limitation of liability without constitution of a limitation fund59

Article 10[Text]59

Article 10(1)59

Article 10(2)60

Article 10(3)60

The position in the United Kingdom60

CHAPTER III-THE LIMITATION FUND63

Article 11:Constitution of the fund[Text]63

Article 12:Distribution of the fund[Text]63

Article 13:Bar to other actions[Text]64

Article 14:Governing law[Text]64

Article 11:Constitution of the fund65

Article 11(1)65

Article 11(2)66

Article 11(3)67

Article 12:Distribution of the fund67

Article 12(1)67

Article 12(2)68

Article 12(3)69

Article 12(4)69

Liens or other rights in respect of any ship or property-effect on distribution69

Article 13:Bar to other actions70

Article 13(1)70

Article 13(2)72

(a)General aims of the subsection72

(b)The mechanics of the subsection73

Article 13(3)75

Article 14:Governing law75

CHAPTER Ⅳ-SCOPE OF APPLICATION76

Article 15[Text]76

Article 15(1)77

Article 15(2)77

(a)Non sea-going ships77

(b)Ships of less than 300 tons78

Article 15(3)79

Article 15(4)79

Article 15(5)79

CHAPTER Ⅴ-FINAL CLAUSES81

Article 16:Signature,Ratification and Accession[Text]81

Article 17:Entry into force[Text]81

Article 18:Reservations[Text]82

Article 19:Denunciation[Text]82

Article 20:Revision and Amendment[Text]82

Article 21:Revision of the limitation amount and of Unit of Account or Monetary Unit[Text]83

Article 22:Depositary[Text]83

Article 23:Languages[Text]83

Article 17:Entry into force84

Article 17(1)84

Article 17(4)84

Article 18:Reservations84

4.LIMITATION:PASSENGER CLAIMS85

The Passenger Contract:General Principles85

THE ATHENS CONVENTION 197486

Article 1:Definitions86

Article 1[Text]86

(a)Carrier/performing carrier88

(b)Contract of carriage88

(c)Ship89

(d)Passenger90

(e)Luggage/cabin luggage90

(f)Loss of or damage to luggage91

(g)Carriage91

(h)International carriage92

Article 2:Application92

Article 2[Text]92

Comment92

Article 3:Liability of the carrier93

Article 3[Text]93

Article 4:Performing carrier93

Article 4[Text]93

Article 5:Valuables94

Article 5[Text]94

Article 6:Contributory fault94

Article 6[Text]94

Articles 3-694

Article 7:Limit of liability for personal injury96

Article 7[Text]96

Article 8:Limit of liability for loss of or damage to luggage96

Article 8[Text]96

Article 9:Monetary unit and conversion96

Article 9[Text]96

Article 10:Supplementary provisions on limits of liability96

Article 10[Text]96

Articles 7-1097

Article 11:Defences and limits for carriers'servants98

Article 11[Text]98

Article 12:Aggregation of claims98

Article 12[Text]98

Articles 11 and 1299

Article 13:Loss of right to limit liability99

Article 13[Text]99

Article 14:Basis for claims99

Article 14[Text]99

Articles 13 and 14100

Article 15:Notice of loss or damage to luggage101

Article 15[Text]101

Article 16:Time-bar for actions102

Article 16[Text]102

Articles 15 and 16102

Article 17:Competent jurisdiction103

Article 17[Text]103

Article 17103

Article 18:Invalidity of contractual provisions103

Article 18[Text]103

Article 18104

Article 19:Other conventions on limitation of liability104

Article 19[Text]104

Article 19104

Article 20:Nuclear damage105

Article 20[Text]105

Article 21105

CHAPTER 5:LIMITATION:CARRIAGE OF GOODS107

History107

Relationship between the Hague,Hague-Visby and Hamburg Rules and the 1976 Limitation Convention108

Example110

Package limitation111

(i)Hague Rules111

(a)"Per package or unit"112

(b)"￡100"114

(ii)Hague-Visby Rules114

Example 1-Light cargo116

Example 2-Heavy cargo116

(iii)Hamburg Rules119

Article 6:Limits of liability[Text]120

Article 7:Application to non-contractual claims[Text]120

Article 8:Loss of right to limit liability[Text]121

(iv)Can the carrier of goods rely on lower"package"limits?123

(v)No"package"limit124

(vi)Loss of right to rely on package limitation125

(a)Hague Rules125

(b)Hague-Visby Rules127

(c)Hamburg Rules130

(vii)Persons who can limit liability130

(1)Owners and charterers130

(a)Hague/Hague-Visby/Hamburg Rules130

(b)1976 Convention131

(2)Other"carriers"132

(a)Hague/Hague-Visby/Hamburg Rules132

(b)1976 Convention132

(3)Servants and agents of a carrier132

(a)Hague Rules132

(b)Hague-Visby Rules133

(c)Hamburg Rules133

(viii)Claims which are subject to limitation134

(a)Hague and Hague-Visby Rules134

(b)Hamburg Rules135

(c)1976 Convention135

APPENDICES139

Ⅰ.Section 503 of the Merchant Shipping Act 1894 as amended by(a)Merchant Shipping(Liability of Shipowners and Others)Act 1958;(b)section 12 of the Merchant Shipping Act 1984139

Ⅱ.Sections 14,17,18,19,35 and 48 of the Merchant Shipping Act 1979143

Ⅲ.Merchant Shipping Act 1979,Schedule 3,Parts I,II and III147

Ⅳ.Merchant.Shipping Act 1979,Schedule 4,Parts I and II159

Ⅴ.Merchant Shipping Act 1979,Schedule 5169

Ⅵ.Statutory Instruments171

1.Merchant Shipping Act 1979(Commencement No.10)Order 1986171

2.Merchant Shipping(Liability of Shipowners and Others)(Calculation of Tonnage)Order 1986174

3.Merchant Shipping Act 1979(Commencement No.11)Order 1987175

4.Merchant Shipping Act 1979(Commencement No.13)Order 1989179

5.Carriage of Passengers and their Luggage by Sea[United Kingdom Carriers][Amendment]Order 1989182

Ⅶ.Carriage of Goods by Sea Act 1971(The Hague-Visby Rules)183

Ⅷ.United Nations Convention on the Carriage of Goods By Sea 1978(The Hamburg Rules)195

Ⅸ.Limitation of Liability for Maritime Claims:Summary of Limits217

Index223