Tulane Maritime Law Journal

Limitation of liability for maritime claims is an important system for the shipping industry. The original rationale for such a system was to encourage the shipping enterprise. However, in our today's much changed world, the system has been under severe attack and has been described as `hopelessly anachronistic'. Yet, the debate over repeal or retention of the system is far from settled. This book traces the history and development of limitation law around the world. It compares various limitation laws in operation under different legal regimes. In particular, it analytically scrutinizes the limitation systems under U.S. law, Chinese law and international conventions. It explores the possibility of international uniformity of maritime limitation law and points out that complete uniformity will not be achieved unless the United States joins the international community. It concludes that although there is a need for reform of the system, limitation of liability for maritime claims is here to stay. This book also thoroughly examines the limitation system under the Chinese legal regime through comparison with U.S. law and in the context of international conventions. Both practitioners and academic scholars will find this book helpful in understanding Chinese law in general and Chinese maritime limitation of liability in particular.

This book covers the pressing issues of cross-border cases involving admiralty and bankruptcy law. For example, what should happen when a shipowner files an insolvency proceeding in one country, while at the same time facing an in rem action against its vessel in another country? Should the in rem action arising in one country be stayed or dismissed because of the existence of insolvency proceedings in another country? The book discusses the relevant issues regarding the treatment of maritime creditors throughout insolvency proceedings, the determination of the 'centre of main interest' of an offshore shipping company, and the scope of a debtor's assets. The author uses a comparative law analysis, selecting four leading shipping countries – Australia, the UK, the US, and Singapore – and examines their approaches to the above three problems when applying the UNCITRAL Model Law regime. The book also proposes a solution to help eliminate the ambiguity arising from maritime cross-border insolvency cases under the UNCITRAL Model Law regime, with a view to enhancing the development of the shipping industry.

This book is the first of its kind to explore the problems inherent in the unification of maritime law. Featuring contributions from leading experts at European maritime law research centres, it considers international conventions, current maritime practice, standard forms and recently adopted or drafted national codifications of maritime law from the codification point of view. The book is divided into four parts which represent different views on the main topic. Part I gathers chapters dedicated to different aspects and methods of unification of maritime law on a global scale, as well as several specific issues of maritime law from the regulatory point of view. Part II of the book consists of those papers that centre around the issue of transport of goods. Part III is dedicated to codifications of carriage of passengers, cruise law and leisure navigation. Finally, Part IV addresses national codifications of maritime law. Codification of Maritime Law: Challenges, Possibilities and Experience seeks to provide common ground for future unification of maritime law, which makes the book useful both for private and public maritime lawyers and states’ maritime administrations worldwide.

This monograph introduces federal judges to admiralty and maritime law, including both general maritime and statutory law. The author examines the rules relating to jurisdiction and procedure that are peculiar to this field. Topics include areas relating to commercial law, such as charter parties, carriage of goods, and marine insurance. The Carriage of Goods by Sea Act, the Pomerene Act, and the Harter Act receive extensive treatment. The monograph explains the body of law dealing with maritime personal injury and death, including damages and seamen's remedies, the Jones Act, and the Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act. Collision, towage, pilotage, salvage, limitation of liability, maritime liens, and general average are also covered.

This book provides valuable insights into various contemporary issues in public and private maritime law, including interdisciplinary aspects. The public law topics addressed include public international law and law of the sea, while a variety of private law topics are explored, e.g. commercial maritime law, conflict of laws, and new developments in the application of advanced technologies to maritime law issues. In addition, the book highlights current and topical discussions at international maritime forums such as the International Maritime Organization on regulatory and private law matters within the domain of marine environmental law, the law respecting seafarers’ affairs and maritime pedagogics, maritime security, comparative law in the maritime field, trade law, recent case law analysis, taxation law in the maritime context, maritime arbitration, carriage of passengers, port law, and limitation of liability.