Introduction 1
Ⅰ.The concept of limitation of liability 1
Ⅱ.The international nature of the concept and the need for a comprehensive approach 2
Ⅲ.Methodology and contents 3
1 Historical background 5
1.1 Origins of the concept and its development in continental Europe 5
1.2 English Law and limitation of liability 8
1.2.1 Limitation of liability and the action in rem 8
1.2.2 Statutory regulation of limitation of liability 10
1.3 Different systems of limitation of liability 15
1.3.1 Limitation by reference to tonnage 15
1.3.2 Limitation by residual value 15
1.3.2.1 Limitation by abandonment 15
1.3.2.2 Limitation by execution 16
1.3.3 Option systems 16
1.3.3.1 The American system 16
1.3.3.2 The Belgian system 17
1.4 International regulation of limitation of liability 17
1.4.1 The 1924 Convention 18
1.4.2 The 1957 Convention 19
2 The LLMC Convention 22
2.1 Persons entitled to limit liability 23
2.1.1 Shipowners 23
2.1.1.1 Charterers 25
2.1.1.2 Managers and operators 31
2.1.2 Salvors 32
2.1.3 Any person for whose act the shipowner or salvor is responsible 33
2.1.4 Liability insurers 35
2.2 Ships in respect of which liability can be limited 35
2.2.1 Ships 36
2.2.2 Seagoing ships 37
2.2.3 Craft excluded by the Convention 39
2.3 Claims subject to limitation 40
2.3.1 Claims in respect of loss of life or personal injury or loss of or damage to property 41
2.3.2 Claims resulting from delay 43
2.3.3 Claims for infringement of rights 44
2.3.4 Claims for wreck and cargo removal 45
2.3.5 Claims in respect of measures taken in order to avert or minimize loss 46
2.4 Claims excepted from limitation 47
2.4.1 Salvage and general average 47
2.4.2 Oil pollution claims 48
2.4.3 Nuclear claims 49
2.4.4 Claims by servants of the shipowner and salvor 50
2.4.5 Other excluded claims 51
2.4.5.1 Exclusions by interpretation 51
2.5 Loss of right to limit 54
2.5.1 Conduct barring limitation under the 1957 Convention 54
2.5.1.1 What is actual fault or privity? 54
2.5.1.2 Whose fault or privity? 57
2.5.1.3 The move away from actual fault or privity 61
2.5.2 Conduct barring limitation under the LLMC Convention 62
2.5.2.1 Whose personal act or omission? 63
2.5.2.2 Intent 64
2.5.2.3 Recklessness 64
2.5.2.4 With knowledge 65
2.5.2.5 Loss 68
2.5.2.6 Such loss 68
2.5.2.7 The burden of proof 69
2.5.3 The impact of the ISM Code on the conduct barring limitation 69
2.5.4 Is the right to limit really unbreakable? 73
2.6 The general limits of liability 76
2.6.1 Which tonnage? 76
2.6.1.1 Tug and tow situations 76
2.6.1.2 Salvors 78
2.6.2 The limitation amounts 79
2.6.2.1 The overspill provision 80
2.6.2.2 Claims in respect of damage to harbour works,basins and waterways and aids to navigation 83
2.6.2.3 The unit of account 84
2.7 Limitation of liability for passenger claims 85
2.7.1 Was a separate fund necessary? 85
2.7.2 Per capita limit,global limit,or both? 86
2.7.3 Minimum or maximum limit? 86
2.7.4 'Authorized to carry' or 'actually carried'? 87
2.7.5 Amount of the limit? 88
2.7.6 The adopted text 89
2.8 Reservations 91
2.8.1 Is a reservation based on the wording of Article 18 an effective reservation? 95
2.8.2 Does an effective reservation also exclude recourse actions? 99
3 The 1996 Protocol 103
3.1 Persons entitled to limit liability 103
3.2 Claims excepted from limitation 104
3.2.1 Automatic exclusions 104
3.2.2 Optional exclusions 105
3.3 The new limits of liability 106
3.3.1 The general limits 106
3.3.2 The limit of liability for passenger claims 108
3.3.3 Amendment of limits 110
3.3.3.1 First proposal to amend the limits of liability under Article 8 of the 1996 Protocol 110
4 Conventions relating to the carriage of passengers and their luggage by sea 113
4.1 First attempts at international regulation 115
4.1.1 The 1961 Convention 115
4.1.2 The 1967 Convention 116
4.2 The Athens Convention and the 1976 Athens Protocol 116
4.2.1 Persons entitled to limit liability 117
4.2.2 Basis of liability 118
4.2.2.1 Liability of the carrier 118
4.2.2.2 Liability for servants or agents 119
4.2.2.3 Liability of the performing carrier 120
4.2.2.4 Liability for valuables 121
4.2.2.5 Contributory fault 122
4.2.2.6 Burden of proof 122
4.2.2.7 Basis for claims 123
4.2.3 The limits of liability 123
4.2.3.1 Death or personal injuries 124
4.2.3.2 Loss of or damage to luggage 124
4.2.3.3 Supplementary provisions 125
4.2.3.4 The monetary unit 126
4.2.4 Loss of right to limit 126
4.2.5 Other conventions on limitation of liability 128
4.3 The 1990 Protocol 128
4.4 The 2002 Protocol 129
4.4.1 Basis of liability 130
4.4.1.1 Liability of the carrier 130
4.4.1.2 Burden of proof 133
4.4.2 Compulsory insurance 134
4.4.2.1 The amount of compulsory insurance cover 135
4.4.2.2 The compulsory insurance certificate 136
4.4.2.3 The right of direct action 138
4.4.3 The new limits of liability 138
4.4.3.1 Death or personal injuries 138
4.4.3.2 Loss of or damage to luggage 139
4.4.3.3 The unit of account and conversion 140
4.5 IMO Reservation and Guidelines for the Implementation of the Athens Convention 2002 140
4.5.1 The Reservation 141
4.5.2 The Guidelines 142
4.5.3 Relationship between the IMO Reservation and Guidelines and the Athens Convention 2002 142
5 Conventions relating to liability and compensation for pollution damage 145
5.1 The 1969 CLC and the 1992 CLC 145
5.1.1 Scope of application 146
5.1.1.1 Application to sea-going vessels 146
5.1.1.2 Types of loss covered 147
5.1.1.3 Territorial application 148
5.1.2 Liability of the shipowner 148
5.1.3 Channelling of liability 150
5.1.4 Limitation of liability 150
5.1.5 Compulsory insurance 151
5.1.6 The right of direct action 151
5.1.7 Difference between the 1969 CLC and the 1992 CLC 151
5.2 The HNS Convention 152
5.2.1 Damage covered 154
5.2.2 Limitation of liability 154
5.2.3 The 2010 HNS Protocol 155
5.2.3.1 Limits of liability 155
5.2.3.2 A single international HNS regime 157
5.2.3.3 Entry into force 158
5.3 The Bunkers Convention 158
5.3.1 Scope of application 159
5.3.1.1 Territorial application 159
5.3.1.2 Types of loss covered 159
5.3.1.3 Exclusions 162
5.3.2 Persons liable 162
5.3.2.1 Responder immunity 163
5.3.3 Basis of liability 164
5.3.4 Limitation of liability 165
5.3.5 Compulsory insurance 166
6 The Nairobi Convention 167
6.1 Wrecks covered by the Convention 169
6.1.1 Wreck 169
6.1.2 Hazard 170
6.1.3 Convention area 170
6.2 Liability of the owner 171
6.2.1 Standard of liability 172
6.2.2 Burden of proof 173
6.2.3 Basis for claims 173
6.3 Limitation of liability 173
6.4 Compulsory insurance 174
6.4.1 The amount of compulsory insurance cover 174
6.5 Entry into force 175
7 Relationship between global limitation conventions and particular liability regimes 176
7.1 Global limitation conventions and the conventions relating to carriage of assengers and their luggage by sea 176
7.1.1 Relationship between the LLMC Convention and the Athens Convention 176
7.1.2 Relationship between the 1996 Protocol and the Athens Convention 179
7.1.3 Relationship between the LLMC Convention as amended by the 1996 Protocol and Athens Convention 2002 as implemented through the IMO Reservation and Guidelines 180
7.2 Global limitation conventions and the conventions relating to liability and compensation for pollution damage 184
7.2.1 Relationship between the LLMC Convention as amended by the 1996 Protocol and the 1969 CLC as amended by the 1992 CLC 185
7.2.2 Relationship between the LLMC Convention as amended by the 1996 Protocol and the HNS Convention as amended by the 2010 HNS Protocol 188
7.2.3 Relationship between the LLMC Convention as amended by the 1996 Protocol and the Bunkers Convention 190
7.2.3.1 Bunker oil pollution claims under the LLMC Convention 191
7.2.3.2 Linkage between the Bunkers Convention and the LLMC Convention 195
7.3 Global limitation conventions and the Nairobi Convention 197
7.3.1 No reservations 198
7.3.2 Reservations in respect of Article 2(1)(d) and (e) 198
7.3.3 Reservations in respect of Article 2(1)(d) 199
7.3.4 Reservations plus national law 199
8 The way forward 201
8.1 Proposed amendments to the LLMC Convention 202
8.1.1 Definitions 202
8.1.2 Persons entitled to limit liability 202
8.1.2.1 Charterers 203
8.1.2.2 Managers and operators 204
8.1.3 Other persons to whom the right to limit may be extended 205
8.1.3.1 The carrier of passengers 205
8.1.3.2 Harbour,conservancy,dock and canal authorities 207
8.1.3.3 Classification societies 208
8.1.4 Claims subject to limitation 210
8.1.4.1 Wreck and cargo removal claims 210
8.1.4.2 Bunker oil pollution claims 212
8.1.5 Claims excepted from limitation 213
8.1.5.1 Claims for oil pollution 213
8.1.5.2 Claims for legal costs 214
8.1.6 The limits of liability 214
8.1.6.1 The limitation amounts 214
8.1.6.2 Tug and tow situations 215
8.1.6.3 The overspill provision 215
8.1.6.4 Slot charterers 215
8.1.7 Passenger claims 216
8.1.8 Reservations 217
8.1.9 A single international LLMC regime 218
8.2 Draft amendments 219
APPENDICES 227
1.Convention on Limitation of Liability for Maritime Claims,1976 229
2.Protocol of 1996 to amend the Convention on Limitation of Liability for Maritime Claims,1976 242
3.Athens Convention relating to the Carriage of Passengers and their Luggage by Sea,1974 249
4.Protocol of 2002 to the Athens Convention relating to the Carriage of Passengers and their Luggage by Sea,1974 260
5.IMO Reservation and Guidelines for Implementation of the Athens Convention 279
6.International Convention on Civil Liability for Oil Pollution Damage,1969 289
7.Protocol of 1992 to amend the International Convention on Civil Liability for Oil Pollution Damage,1969 300
8.International Convention on Liability and Compensation for Damage in Connection with the Carriage of Hazardous and Noxious Substances by Sea,1996 314
9.Protocol of 2010 to the International Convention on Liability and Compensation for Damage in Connection with the Carriage of Hazardous and Noxious Substances by Sea,1996 354
10.International Convention on Civil Liability for Bunker Oil Pollution Damage,2001 370
11.Nairobi International Convention on the Removal of Wrecks,2007 384
Selected bibliography 401
Index 409