CHAPTER Ⅰ PERSONS AND VESSELS ENTITLED TO LIMITATION OF LIABILITY Introduction 1
Ⅰ.Persons Entitled to Limitation of Liability 1
Shipowners 1
Charterers 4
Managers or Operators 8
Master and Crew Members 10
Salvors 13
Insurers 15
Ⅱ.Vessels for Purposes of Limitation of Liability 18
Vessels under U.S.Law 18
Defiinition 18
Pleasure Craft 21
Seagoing Vessels 24
Vessels under the International Conventions 25
Vessels under Chinese Law 28
CHAPTER Ⅱ CLAIMS SUBJECT TO LIMITATION OF LIABILITY Introduction 30
Ⅰ.Claims Subject to Limitation of Liability 30
Personal Injury and Death Claims 30
Claims for Loss of or Damage to Property 33
Causes of Action for Property Claims 33
Claims for Damage to Harbor Works， Basins and Waterways and Aids to Navigation 34
Claims for Loss of or Damage to Cargo 35
Delay Damage 38
Claims for Loss from Infringement of Rights 38
Claims for Costs for Wreck Removal 39
U.S.Wreck Law 40
Claims for Wreck Removal Costs under Chinese Law 43
Claims for Wreck Removal Costs under the International Conventions 46
Claims for Measures Taken to Avert or Minimize Loss 48
Ⅱ.Claims not Subject to Limitation of Liability 49
Claims for Salvage Rewards and Contributions in General Average 49
Claims for Special Damages 51
Claims Arising from Personal Contracts 54
CHAPTER Ⅲ CONDUCT BARRING LIMITATION OF LIABILITY Introduction 59
Ⅰ.Actual Fault or Privity 60
Definition 61
Privity or Knowledge of Corporate Shipowners 62
Privity or Knowledge of the Master and Crew Members 65
Breach of Duty 66
Non-Delegable Duty 69
Causation 71
Burden of Proof 72
Ⅱ.Conduct Barring Limitation under the 1976 Convention 73
Personal Act or Omission 73
Intention and Recklessness 75
Willful Misconduct or Gross Negligence 75
Test for Knowledge 77
Burden of Proof 79
Ⅲ.Conduct Barring Limitation under Chinese Law 80
CHAPTER Ⅳ LIMITATION FUND Introduction 82
I.Tonnage System 84
Tonnage Measurement 84
Flotilla Doctrine 84
Financial Unit of Limitation Fund 85
Extent of Limits 87
The 1957 Convention 87
The 1976 Convention 88
Protocol of 1996 to Amend the 1976 Convention 91
Distinct Occasion Theory 93
Ⅱ.Value Based System 94
The Value of Vessel and Flotilla Doctrine 95
Pending Freight 98
Other Interests for Purposes of Limitation Fund 99
Voyage Rule 100
Limitation Fund for Personal Injury and Death Claims 102
Ⅲ.Limitation Fund under Chinese Law 103
CHAPTER Ⅴ LMITATION PROCEEDINGS Introduction 105
Ⅰ.Initiation of Limitation Actions 105
Ⅱ.Bar to Other Actions 107
International Conventions 107
U.S.Law 107
Chinese Law 114
Ⅲ.Statutes of Limitation 115
U.S.Law 115
Chinese Law 118
CHAPTER Ⅵ CHOICE OF LAW IN LIMITATION ACTIONS Introduction 119
Ⅰ.U.S.Jurisprudence on Choice of Law Rules 120
Early Cases on Choice of Law Rules 120
Procedural/Substantive Dichotomy 122
Interest Analysis Methodology 125
Ⅱ.International Conventions and Choice of Law Rules 129
Inconsistency of International Law on Limitation of Liability 130
Interaction Between Conventions in Related Areas 130
National Implementation of International Conventions 131
Ⅲ.Choice of Law Rules under Chinese Legal Regime 132
Choice of Law Rules in Civil Matters 132
Choice of Law Rules in Maritime Cases 135
Choice of Law Rules in Limitation Actions 137
CHAPTER Ⅶ LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CLAIMS ARISING OUT OF MARINE OIL POLLUTION DAMAGE Introduction 138
Ⅰ.International Conventions 139
The 1969 Civil Liability Convention 139
The 1971 Fund Convention 142
The 1992 Protocols 143
Ⅱ.U.S.Law 143
Ⅲ.Chinese Law 148
CONCLUSION 150
BIBLIOGRAPHY 153
STATUTES 157
CASES 160
INDEX 167