The provisions regarding the carrier's liability under the Hamburg Rules

After a brief history of drafting and adoption of the UN Convention on the Carriage of Goods by Sea (1978), commonly known as the Hamburg Rules, the author outlines the main differences between the Hamburg Rules and the Hague Rules, and elaborates in detail the meaning and importance of some of the provisions of the Hamburg Rules and in particular of Art.4, 5, 6, 7 and 8. The article aims to assist evaluation of the changes that would result to the commercial community worldwide if the Hamburg Rules were substituted for the system of liability as structured by the Hague-Visby Rules. The author concludes with the statement that would be in general detrimental of the world to move towards the adoption of two different systems of liability concurrently. Nevertheless, he stresses also that once Hamburg Rules come into force, a quick departure from the Hagues Rules and the Hague-Visby Rules will be imminent.