The Rotterdam Rules: Between Hope and Disappointment

In September 2009, the UN Convention on Contracts for International Carriage of Goods Wholly or Partly by Sea —known as the Rotterdam Rules— was opened for signature. When it formally enters into force, the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) will have a single, uniform text which governs all international sea cargo transport as well as multimodal transport contracts that include a sea leg. The present study analyses the challenges and problems which might arise in the application of the Rotterdam Rules, especially with regard to carrier liability