ECSA / ICS / BIMCO / WSC Press Release

SHIPOWNER ASSOCIATIONS WELCOME
EP SUPPORT FOR ROTTERDAM RULES

17.05.10

The European Community Shipowners’ Association (ECSA), the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), BIMCO and the World Shipping Council (WSC) have greatly welcomed the clear recommendation by the European Parliament that EU Member States should move “speedily to sign, ratify and implement the UN Convention on Contracts for the International Carriage of Goods Wholly or Partly by Sea, known as the ‘Rotterdam Rules’, establishing the new maritime liability system”.

The Rotterdam Rules, adopted by the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) will replace the existing cargo liability regimes such as the Hamburg and Hague/Visby Rules. Shipowner organisations firmly believe that this will achieve greater global uniformity for cargo liability, facilitating e-commerce through use of electronic documentation, reflecting modern ‘door to door’ services involving other modes of transport in addition to the sea-leg and ‘just in time’ delivery practices.

Following a thorough and detailed analysis of the Rotterdam Rules, ECSA, ICS, BIMCO and WSC have all concluded that this important new regime must be promoted by the industry to avoid the risk of a proliferation of regional cargo liability regulations. However, early ratification of the UNCITRAL Convention by major trading nations, such as EU Member States, will almost certainly give this process critical momentum.

Notes:

The recommendation is contained in a European Parliament Resolution on strategic goals and recommendations for the EU’s maritime transport policy until 2018.

ECSA, ICS, BIMCO and WSC are international trade associations that collectively represent about 90% of the global shipping industry.

The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) and the European Community Shipowners’ Associations (ECSA) represent the world’s national shipowners’ associations.

BIMCO has a wide international membership of individual shipping companies, operating the majority of the world merchant fleet in all sectors and trades.

The World Shipping Council (WSC) represents the interests of global containership operators.

Source: BIMCO