The Norwegian Law Commission’s recommendation – a general approach

1. The Norwegian Law Commission’s recommendation– a general approach Professor Erik Røsæg Nordisk institutt for sjørett erik.rosag@jus.uio.no folk.uio.no/erikro

2. History • The failure of the reforms in the 1970ies • US law reform • Multimodal transports – maritime hegemony • Electronic documents • Integration of sales contracts and letters of credit • New trends in contract law

3. Outline of the Rules Right of control Transfer of rights Limitation of liability Time limitation Jurisdiction Arbitration Freedom of contract Other conventions Final clauses • Definitions • Scope • Electronic documents • Carrier’s obligations • Carrier’s liability • Special rules • Shipper’s obligations • Transport documents • Delivery of the cargo

4. Ratification • Yes • Timing • Jurisdiction and arbitration

5. Implementation technique • Amending the Maritime Code • Individual articles identifiable • Order changed • Drafting style

6. Final risk allocation • Wrong focus? • Initial risk allocation • Adjustment through price mechanisms

7. Mandatory • The weaker party • Mandatory rules come at a cost • Cui bono? • Lawyers • Reluctance to use normal contract law • The Norwegian Commission’s approach

8. Tackle to tackle • First and last terminal • Art. 12(3) • Travaux préparatoires

9. Merchant haulage • No duty to contract door to door • Documents wider than transport obligation • Clarity

10. Service agreements • Grater freedom • USA and Europe

11. Basis of liability • Negligence • Navigational errors • Fire • Unseaworthiness • How it works

12. Limitation • Insurance costs and total costs • 3 SDR/ 875 SDR • Montreal 19 SDR • Up 50% / 31% • Inflation 731% • No tacit amendment • Privity

13. Delay • Special limits for delay • Goods damaged by delay

14. Shipper • Shipper ≠ avskiper • Shipper = contractual shipper • «Contractification»

15. Shipper’s liability • Liability situation • Basis for liability • Limitation of liability?

16. Direct action and respondeat superior • General principle of respondeat superior • Direct action on maritime performing parties • No rule on non-maritime performing parties • The distinction

17. Scope • Mandatory scope • Outside the scope • National transports

18. National transports • The RR apply • Special limitation regime • National transport as part of an international transport

19. Relation to Ch. 14 of the MC • Current rules • New approach

20. Time limitation • Action within two years • Extension • Counterclaims and set-off

21. Delivery of the goods • Clear delivery mechanisms • Delivering without a negotiable transport document

22. Right of control • Explicit rules • Similar to delivery • Limited freedom of contract

23. Position of the receiver • No liability for passive holder • Receiver’s liability • Freight prepaid

24. Relationship to EU • Competence and supremacy • Jurisdiction • Choice of law • Other? • Ratification

25. Provisions of the current maritime code • Cancellation • Quantum meruit