Why are the Rotterdam Rules interesting for shippers, shipping lines, freight forwarders, insurance firms and maritime lawyers?
• It is an updated version of earlier conventions. These conventions were so outdated that judges were reinventing the law individually. Regional solutions are inefficient, however, because 90 per cent of maritime shipping is international. With the new treaty, uniformity is restored. This makes trade clearer and more efficient. New developments, such as container transport and electronic data interchange did not feature in the old conventions. Account was also taken of the wish to include combined transport by sea and land in one treaty. • In the event of a stranded ship, a stolen container or damaged cargo, it is now stated more clearly who is responsible and liable for what. In contrast to the earlier conventions, other parties in the chain, such as stevedores, now bear partial liability too. For carriers, liability for damage to the cargo has been increased. There are also clear obligations for the shippers. They must ensure, for example, that the goods are ready for transport in g
