The European Shippers' Council (ESC) has submitted a position paper to delegates of the 19th Session of the UN Working Group on the UNCITRAL draft convention on maritime cargo liability, outlining the risks facing European shippers as a result of the on-going discussions.
The ESC states its members may be faced with new obligations and that the draft convention will weaken shipper protections.
Said ESC secretary general Nicolette van der Jagt: "Maritime liability issues are notoriously complex, often ignored and frequently misunderstood. Whilst ESC believes that adoption of an instrument which reflects modern shipping practices would be beneficial, we have found only thin potential improvements which do not outweigh the very real risks." She explained that European shippers were on the brink of liberation from the conference system.
"As liner shipping will be brought under the normal EU competition rules shippers will have greater opportunities to negotiate contract terms in relation to their traffic flows than has been the case until now."
The ESC states its members may be faced with new obligations and that the draft convention will weaken shipper protections.
Said ESC secretary general Nicolette van der Jagt: "Maritime liability issues are notoriously complex, often ignored and frequently misunderstood. Whilst ESC believes that adoption of an instrument which reflects modern shipping practices would be beneficial, we have found only thin potential improvements which do not outweigh the very real risks." She explained that European shippers were on the brink of liberation from the conference system.
"As liner shipping will be brought under the normal EU competition rules shippers will have greater opportunities to negotiate contract terms in relation to their traffic flows than has been the case until now."