Legal Principles in Shipping Business

LEGAL PRINCIPLES IN SHIPPING BUSINESS - Group One Syllabus

GENERAL PRINCIPLES
English law is the most widely used law in shipping business. Nearly all practical documents of an international nature involved with shipping business are based on English Law, therefore students must thoroughly understand concepts of Common Law, case law and precedent and how these contrast with statute law (knowledge of specific national statutes is not required).

Be aware that all law is codified in many countries and therefore case law does not apply there.

Thoroughly understand statutes of limitations and time bars and their impact on shipping business. Be aware of those time bars imposed by statutes or international conventions and those which are contractually agreed.

Be aware of the difference between civil and criminal courts and of their structure, methods of appeal and choice of forum.

Thoroughly understand the role of arbitration in dispute resolution.

Understand the different services provided by maritime arbitrators including short form arbitration and mediation.

Be aware of the main arbitration centres, especially London, New York, Singapore, Shanghai and Paris and their respective maritime arbitration associations.

Thoroughly understand the advantages and disadvantages of arbitration v. litigation.

Be aware of the impact of European law and understand the potential for conflict with national law.

CONTRACT
Thoroughly understand the principles of the law of contract especially the essential ingredients of offer, acceptance, consideration and legality. Understand how and when a contract comes into existence. 

Understand how a contract may be broken and the circumstances under which it may be voided and how force majeur may prevent its performance. 

Understand how some breaches may frustrate a contract completely whereas others may require the contract to be fulfilled with compensation for the breach. Understand how losses may be recovered.

AGENCY
Thoroughly understand general principles of law of agency and how an agency may be created.

Be aware of the difference between general agency, specific agency, and agents of necessity.

Understand the duties and rights of an agent or broker under each type of agency. 

Understand the two different forms of authority; express and implied.

Understand the responsibilities of the principal to the agent. Understand the agent's right to remuneration and the procedures avaiIable to ensure payment.

Understand the authority of an agent in concluding contracts with 3rd parties on behalf of the principal, including the importance of ensuring that the agent's role is clearly defined.

Thoroughly understand the consequences of breach of warranty of authority. 

Be aware of the procedures for terminating an agency.

TORT
Thoroughly understand the precise nature of tort.

Understand the specific situations related to shipping including failure of a duty of care, i.e. negligence and contributory negligence, misrepresentation and vicarious IiabiIity outside a contractual situation.

Understand the tort of conversion, including delivery of cargo to the wrong party and the tort of defamation.

Be aware of the differences between Iibel and slander.

Understand the remedy against tortfeasors and the limitations of compensation which may be obtained.

LAW OF CARRIAGE
Thoroughly understand the need for an internationally agreed framework of law governing carriage of goods by sea

Understand the differences between the law involved in private carriage i.e. charterparti es and common carriage i.e. liner bills of lading.

Understand the essential legal difference between voyage charter including subsequent voyages and contracts of affreightment, time charters and demise (bareboat) charters.

Thoroughly understand the importance of "time" in charters, particularly including the "arrived ship" and laytime.

Thoroughly understand speed and consumption and "off-hire" in time charter,

Be aware of the possibiIity of disputes over final voyage under time charters

Thoroughly understand the role and functions of bills of lading, namely as a receipt (quantity and condition), evidence of a contract (not the contract itself) and as a document of title.

Understand the principal customary clauses in bills of lading including identity of carrier, Himalaya Clause, protection clauses and clause paramount incorporating one of the international conventions for cargo liability.

Be aware of the customary clauses in bills of lading in respect of carrier's and merchant's rights and responsibilities.

Thoroughly understand the legal differences between combined transport bills of lading, through bills of lading and port-to-port bills of lading and difference and role of waybills.

Be aware of electronic alternatives to paper bills of lading.

Thoroughly understand the role and function of international conventions relating to cargo liability.

Thoroughly understand the principle rights, liabilities and exclusion of liability contained in Hague Rules, Hague/Visby Rules and Hamburg Rules and the differences between the three conventions.

Understand the impact of the principle clauses relating to seaworthiness and limitations of liability.

Be aware of other additional rules i.e. UNCTAD / ICC Combined Transport Rules. 

Be aware of current discussion to revise or replace these conventions.

Thoroughly understand the role of bills of lading acts relating to the endorsement and negotiability of the bill of lading as a document of title e.g. in Carriage of Goods by Sea Act (COGSA) 1992 under English law.

Be aware of the main areas from which bill of lading disputes arise; title; clean and claused documents; negotiability and liability.

Be aware of bills of lading problems relating to multi-modal transport arising from differing liability regimes applying to individual modes of transport.

Understand the carrier's right to be paid freight for the carriage of cargo and his liens for non-payment.

Understand the right of the owner to receive hire for his vessel and remedies in the event of non-payment.

GENERAL AVERAGE
Thoroughly understand the precise nature of General Average and the particular circumstances leading to the declaration of General Average.

Understand the voluntary nature of the actual sacrifice being fundamental to the declaration of General Average.

Understand the manner in which all parties involved are obliged to contribute to losses suffered by any of the parties.

INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS
Be aware how international conventions are agreed and the process of ratification, their coming into force and incorporation into national legal systems.

Understand that international maritime conventions have a major impact upon day-to-day shipping business.

Be aware of the key elements of the following conventions: 
     SOLAS
          Safety construction
          Fire protection & prevention
          Safety equipment & life-saving appliances 
          Radio communication
          Safety of navigation
          Carriage of dangerous goods (IMDG Code) 
          Safety management (ISM Code)
     MARPOL
          Prevention of operational pollution.
          Prevention of oil cargo pollution
          Limitation of pollution following an incident

     STCW
          Standards of Training, Certification & Watchkeeping

     Port State Control Convention

     International Convention of Arrest of Sea-going Vessels

     Hague Rules    (see Law of Carriage section)
     Hague/Visby Rules (see Law of Carriage section) 
     Hamburg Rules  (see Law of Carriage section)