Merchant Shipping (Liability of Shipowners and Others) Act, 1996

Merchant Shipping (Liability of Shipowners and Others) Act, 1996 Skip to content Disclaimer Feedback Helpdesk Gaeilge Léim go dtí an t-ábhar Séanadh Aiseolas Deasc chabhrach English Gaeilge English Produced by the Office of the Attorney General Táirgthe ag Oifig an Ard-Aighne Home Legislation Acts of the Oireachtas Statutory Instruments Pre-1922 Legislation Constitution External Resources Bills (Houses of the Oireachtas) Iris Oifigiúil / Official Gazette Revised Acts (LRC) Classified List of Legislation (LRC) Translations (acts.ie) Translations (Houses of the Oireachtas) Government Publications for Sale EU Law (EUR-Lex) FAQ Disclaimer Feedback Helpdesk Search Baile Reachtaíocht Achtanna an Oireachtais Ionstraimí Reachtúla Reachtaíocht Réamh-1922 Bunreacht Acmhainní Seachtracha Billí (Tithe an Oireachtais) Iris Oifigiúil Achtanna Athbhreithnithe (CAD) (An Coimisiún um Athchóiriú an Dlí) Liosta Rangaithe Reachtaíochta Aistriúcháin (achtanna.ie) Aistriúcháin (Tithe an Oireachtais) Foilseacháin Rialtais ar Díol Dlí AE (EUR-Lex) CCanna (Ceisteanna Coitianta) Séanadh Aiseolas Deasc chabhrach Cuardach TitleTeideal Year(s) or rangeBliain nó blianta nó raon TypeCineál All Legislation Acts Statutory Instruments Advanced SearchCuardach Casta HomeBaile ActsAchtanna 1996 Merchant Shipping (Liability of Shipowners and Others) Act, 1996 Merchant Shipping (Liability of Shipowners and Others) Act, 1996 Permanent Page URL View by SectionAmharc de réir Ailt View Full ActAmharc ar an Acht Iomlán Bill History Stair Bille Commencement, Amendments, SIs made under the Act Tosach Feidhme, Leasuithe, IRí arna ndéanamh faoin Acht Open PDFOscail PDF Print Full ActPriontáil an tAcht Iomlán Number 35 of 1996 MERCHANT SHIPPING (LIABILITY OF SHIPOWNERS AND OTHERS) ACT, 1996 ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS PART I Preliminary and General Section 1. Short title, commencement, collective citation and construction. 2. Interpretation generally. 3. Repeals. 4. Orders. 5. Expenses. PART II Convention on Limitation of Liability for Maritime Claims, 1976 6. Interpretation (Part II). 7. 1976 Convention to have the force of law. 8. Declarations as respects states which are parties to the 1976 Convention. 9. Construction of references to ship in 1976 Convention. 10. Right to limit liability extends to non-seagoing ships. 11. Restriction on right to limit liability. 12. Construction of reference to nuclear ship in Article 3 of 1976 Convention. 13. Conversion of amounts in units of account into currency of the State for the purposes of 1976 Convention. 14. Rate of interest to be applied for purposes of Article 11 of 1976 Convention. 15. Power of court to stay proceedings where fund is constituted. 16. Provision with respect to liens or other rights in respect of ship or property. 17. Submission to jurisdiction of court deemed in certain circumstances. PART III Convention Relating to the Carriage of Passengers and Their Luggage by Sea, 1974 18. Interpretation (Part III). 19. 1974 Convention and 1976 Protocol to have the force of law. 20. Declarations as respects states which are parties to 1974 Convention and 1976 Protocol. 21. Provision as respects non-application of 1974 Convention by Article 2 (2) thereof. 22. Construction of reference in 1974 Convention to law of the court. 23. Monetary limit under Article 7 of the 1974 Convention: power to increase as against certain carriers. 24. Conversion of amounts in units of account into currency of the State for purposes of 1974 Convention. 25. Application of 1974 Convention where defendant a national of non-Protocol state. 26. Construction of reference in 1974 Convention to contract of carriage. 27. Powers of court where liability limited under 1974 Convention. 28. Action for damages under 1974 Convention deemed to be action founded on tort. 29. Saving as respects operation of Part II. PART IV Carriage of Goods by Sea 30. Interpretation (Part IV). 31. Rules to have the force of law. 32. Declarations as respects states which are Contracting States. 33. Bills of lading and application of Rules. 34. Application of Rules where port of shipment is a port in the State. 35. Absolute warranty of seaworthiness not to be implied in contracts to which Rules apply. 36. Conversion of amounts in units of account into currency of the State for purposes of Rules. 37. Further saving as respects operation of Part II. PART V Miscellaneous 38. Exclusion of liability in certain cases. 39. Adaptation of certain references. FIRST SCHEDULE Convention on Limitation of Liability for Maritime Claims, 1976 SECOND SCHEDULE Convention Relating to the Carriage of Passengers and Their Luggage by Sea, 1974 and Protocol thereto PART I Convention Relating to the Carriage of Passengers and Their Luggage by Sea, 1974 PART II Protocol to the Convention Relating to the Carriage of Passengers and their Luggage by Sea, 1974 THIRD SCHEDULE Articles ito xof the International Convention for the Unification of Certain Rules of Law Relating to Bills of Lading as Amended by the 1968 and 1979 Protocols FOURTH SCHEDULE Enactments Repealed Number 35 of 1996 MERCHANT SHIPPING (LIABILITY OF SHIPOWNERS AND OTHERS) ACT, 1996 AN ACT TO GIVE THE FORCE OF LAW TO THE CONVENTION ON LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR MARITIME CLAIMS, 1976, DONE AT LONDON ON THE 19th DAY OF NOVEMBER, 1976, THE CONVENTION RELATING TO THE CARRIAGE OF PASSENGERS AND THEIR LUGGAGE BY SEA, 1974, DONE AT ATHENS ON THE 13th DAY OF DECEMBER, 1974, AS AMENDED BY THE PROTOCOL THERETO DONE AT LONDON ON THE 19th DAY OF NOVEMBER, 1976, THE INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION FOR THE UNIFICATION OF CERTAIN RULES OF LAW RELATING TO BILLS OF LADING DONE AT BRUSSELS ON THE 25th DAY OF AUGUST, 1924, AS AMENDED BY THE PROTOCOLS THERETO DONE AT BRUSSELS ON THE 23rd DAY OF FEBRUARY, 1968, AND THE 21st DAY OF DECEMBER, 1979, RESPECTIVELY, AND TO PROVIDE FOR RELATED MATTERS. [14th December, 1996] BE IT ENACTED BY THE OIREACHTAS AS FOLLOWS: PART I Preliminary and General Short title, commencement, collective citation and construction. 1.—(1) This Act may be cited as the Merchant Shipping (Liability of Shipowners and Others) Act, 1996. (2) This Act shall come into operation on such day or days as by order or orders made by the Minister under this section may be fixed therefor, either generally or with reference to a particular purpose or provision and different days may be fixed for different purposes and different provisions. (3) The Merchant Shipping Acts, 1894 to 1993, and this Act may be cited together as the Merchant Shipping Acts, 1894 to 1996, and shall be construed together as one. Interpretation generally. 2.—(1) In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires— “the Central Bank” means the Central Bank of Ireland; “the Minister” means the Minister for the Marine. (2) (a) In this Act a reference to a section or Schedule is a reference to a section of, or a Schedule to, this Act unless it is indicated that reference to some other enactment is intended. (b) In this Act a reference to a subsection or paragraph is a reference to a subsection or paragraph of the provision in which the reference occurs, unless it is indicated that reference to some other provision is intended. (c) In this Act a reference to any other enactment is a reference to that enactment as amended, extended or adapted by or under any subsequent enactment. Repeals. 3.—Each enactment mentioned in column (2) of the Fourth Schedule is hereby repealed to the extent specified in column (3) of that Schedule. Orders. 4.—(1) The Minister may by order amend or revoke an order made by him or her under this Act (other than an order under section 1 (2) but including an order under this subsection). (2) An order under subsection (1) shall be made in the like manner and its making shall be subject to the like (if any) consents and conditions as the order that it is amending or revoking. (3) A reference in this Act to an order in force shall, as respects such an order that is amended by an order in force under this section, be construed as a reference to the first-mentioned order as so amended. (4) An order under this Act (other than an order under section 1 (2)) shall be laid before each House of the Oireachtas as soon as may be after it is made and, if a resolution annulling such order is passed by either such House within the next twenty-one days on which that House has sat after the order is laid before it, the order shall be annulled accordingly but without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done thereunder. Expenses. 5.—The expenses incurred by the Minister in the administration of this Act shall, to such extent as may be sanctioned by the Minister for Finance, be paid out of moneys provided by the Oireachtas. PART II Convention on Limitation of Liability for Maritime Claims, 1976 Interpretation ( Part II ). 6.—In this Part— “Contracting State” means a state that is a party to the 1976 Convention; “the 1976 Convention” means the Convention on Limitation of Liability for Maritime Claims, 1976, done at London on the 19th day of November, 1976. 1976 Convention to have the force of law. 7.—(1) Subject to the provisions of this Part, the 1976 Convention shall have the force of law in the State and judicial notice shall be taken thereof. (2) For convenience of reference there is set out in the First Schedule the text in the English language of the 1976 Convention. Declarations as respects states which are parties to the 1976 Convention. 8.—The Minister may by order declare that any state specified in the order is a Contracting State and such an order that is in force shall be evidence that that state is a Contracting State. Construction of references to ship in 1976 Convention. 9.—References in the 1976 Convention to a ship shall be construed as including references to any structure (whether completed or in the course of completion) launched and intended for use in navigation as a ship or a part of a ship. Right to limit liability extends to non-seagoing ships. 10.—The right to limit liability under the 1976 Convention shall apply in relation to any ship whether seagoing or not and the definition of “shipowner” in paragraph 2 of Article 1 of that Convention shall be construed accordingly. Restriction on right to limit liability. 11.—(1) Notwithstanding paragraph 1 (d) or 1 (e) of Article 2 of the 1976 Convention, the right to limit liability under that Convention shall not apply to claims (including claims under Part IV of the Act of 1993) in respect of the raising, removal, destruction or the rendering harmless of a ship which is sunk, wrecked, stranded or abandoned, including anything that is or has been on board such a ship and Article 3 (claims excepted from limitation) of that Convention shall be construed accordingly. (2) Subsection (1) shall have effect in lieu of section 53 of the Act of 1993. (3) In this section “the Act of 1993” means the Merchant Shipping (Salvage and Wreck) Act, 1993 . Construction of reference to nuclear ship in Article 3 of 1976 Convention. 12.—The reference in Article 3 of the 1976 Convention to a nuclear ship includes a reference to a ship carrying nuclear material (whether or not the ship is powered by such material). Conversion of amounts in units of account into currency of the State for the purposes of 1976 Convention. 13.—(1) For the purpose of the limits of liability specified in Articles 6 and 7 of the 1976 Convention, the value in the currency of the State of the unit of account specified in that Convention shall be taken to be the value, ascertained in accordance with Article 8 of that Convention, in that currency of such a unit of account on the relevant day specified in the said Article or, if its value on that day cannot be so ascertained, its value in that currency on the latest day before such day on which it can be so ascertained. (2) For the purposes of this section a certificate purporting to be signed by an officer of the Central Bank and stating that— (a) a specified amount in the currency of the State is the value of such a unit of account on a specified day, or (b) the value in the currency of the State of such a unit of account on a specified day cannot be ascertained in accordance with the 1976 Convention and that a specified amount in the currency of the State is the value, calculated in accordance with that Convention, of such a unit of account on a specified day (being the latest day before the first-mentioned specified day on which such value can be ascertained as aforesaid), shall be admissible as evidence of the facts stated in the certificate. Rate of interest to be applied for purposes of Article 11 of 1976 Convention. 14.—The Minister may, with the consent of the Minister for Finance, prescribe by order the rate of interest to be applied for the purposes of paragraph 1 of Article 11 of the 1976 Convention. Power of court to stay proceedings where fund is constituted. 15.—Where a fund is constituted with a court in accordance with Article 11 of the 1976 Convention for the payment of claims arising out of any occurrence, the court may stay any proceedings relating to any claim arising out of that occurrence which are pending in that court, or any court of lower jurisdiction to that court, against the person by whom the fund has been constituted. Provision with respect to liens or other rights in respect of ship or property. 16.—No lien or other right in respect of any ship or property shall affect the proportions in which under Article 12 of the 1976 Convention the fund mentioned in that Article is distributed among the several claimants concerned. Submission to jurisdiction of court deemed in certain circumstances. 17.—Where the release of a ship or other property is ordered under paragraph 2 of Article 13 of the 1976 Convention the person on whose application it is ordered to be released shall be deemed to have submitted to the jurisdiction of the court to adjudicate on the claim for which the ship or property was arrested or attached. PART III Convention Relating to the Carriage of Passengers and Their Luggage by Sea, 1974 Interpretation ( Part III ). 18.—In this Part— “the 1974 Convention” means the Convention relating to the Carriage of Passengers and their Luggage by Sea, 1974, done at Athens on the 13th day of December, 1974, and references to that Convention shall, unless the context otherwise requires, be construed as references to that Convention as amended by the 1976 Protocol; “the 1976 Protocol” means the Protocol to the 1974 Convention done at London on the 19th day of November, 1976. 1974 Convention and 1976 Protocol to have the force of law. 19.—(1) Subject to the provisions of this Part, the 1974 Convention and the 1976 Protocol shall have the force of law in the State and judicial notice shall be taken thereof. (2) For convenience of reference there are set out in Parts I and II , respectively, of the Second Schedule , the texts in the English language of the 1974 Convention and the 1976 Protocol. Declarations as respects states which are parties to 1974 Convention and 1976 Protocol. 20.—The Minister may by order declare that any state specified in the order is a party to— (a) the 1974 Convention, or (b) both that Convention and the 1976 Protocol, and such an order that is in force shall be evidence that that state is such a party. Provision as respects non-application of 1974 Convention by Article 2 (2) thereof. 21.—For the purposes of paragraph 2 of Article 2 of the 1974 Convention, provisions of such an international convention as is mentioned in that paragraph which, apart from this section, do not have mandatory application to carriage by sea shall be treated as having mandatory application to carriage by sea if it is stated in the contract of carriage for the carriage in question that those provisions are to apply in connection with the carriage. Construction of reference in 1974 Convention to law of the court. 22.—The reference to the law of the court in Article 6 of the 1974 Convention shall be construed as a reference to the Civil Liability Act, 1961 . Monetary limit under Article 7 of the 1974 Convention: power to increase as against certain carriers. 23.—The Minister may by order provide that, in relation to a carrier whose principal place of business is in the State, paragraph 1 (inserted by the 1976 Protocol) of Article 7 of the 1974 Convention shall have effect with the substitution for the monetary limit specified in that paragraph of a higher monetary limit specified in the order (which shall not be lower than the monetary limit specified in paragraph 1 of Article 7 of the Convention referred to in section 7 ). Conversion of amounts in units of account into currency of the State for purposes of 1974 Convention. 24.—(1) For the purpose of determining the amount of damages that may be awarded pursuant to the 1974 Convention by any court or other tribunal in proceedings in which the provisions of Article 7 or 8 of that Convention fall to be applied, the value in the currency of the State of a unit of account specified in that Convention shall be taken to be the value, ascertained in accordance with that Convention, in that currency of such of a unit of account on the day of the award or, if its value on that day cannot be so ascertained, its value in that currency on the latest day before such day on which it can be so ascertained. (2) For the purposes of this section, a certificate purporting to be signed by an officer of the Central Bank and stating that— (a) a specified amount in the currency of the State is the value of such a unit of account on a specified day, or (b) the value in the currency of the State of such a unit of account on a specified day cannot be ascertained in accordance with the 1974 Convention and that a specified amount in the currency of the State is the value, calculated in accordance with that Convention, of such a unit of account on a specified day (being the latest day before the first-mentioned specified day on which such value can be ascertained as aforesaid), shall be admissible as evidence of the facts stated in the certificate. Application of 1974 Convention where defendant a national of non-Protocol state. 25.—(1) If, as respects the application, by virtue of Article 2 of the 1974 Convention, of the provisions of that Convention in particular proceedings, any state referred to in that Article is not a party to the 1976 Protocol, the provisions of that Convention, without the amendments thereof effected by the said Protocol, shall apply in relation to any defendant in those proceedings who is a national of the said state. (2) For the purposes of such application of the provisions of the 1974 Convention in relation to a defendant aforesaid, the official value in the currency of the State of a franc referred to in Article 9 of that Convention (“the gold franc”) shall be taken to be the official value in that currency of the gold franc on the day of the award concerned or, if its value on that day cannot be ascertained, on the latest day before such day on which it can be ascertained. (3) For the purposes of subsection (2), a certificate purporting to be signed by an officer of the Central Bank and stating that— (a) a specified amount in the currency of the State is the value of a gold franc on a specified day, or (b) the value in the currency of the State of a gold franc on a specified day cannot be ascertained and that a specified amount in the currency of the State is the value of a gold franc on a specified day (being the latest day before the first mentioned specified day on which such value can be ascertained), shall be admissible as evidence of the facts stated in the certificate. Construction of reference in 1974 Convention to contract of carriage. 26.—A reference in the 1974 Convention to a contract of carriage does not include a reference to a contract of carriage which is not for reward. Powers of court where liability limited under 1974 Convention. 27.—A court before which proceedings are brought in pursuance of Article 17 of the 1974 Convention to enforce a liability which is limited by virtue of Article 12 of that Convention may at any stage of the proceedings make such order as appears to the court to be just and equitable having regard to the provisions of the said Article 12 and to any other proceedings which have been or are likely to be begun in the State or elsewhere to enforce the liability in whole or in part; without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing such a court shall, where the liability is or may be partly enforceable in other proceedings in the State or elsewhere, have jurisdiction to award an amount less than the court would have awarded if the limitation applied solely to the proceedings before the court or to make any part of its award conditional on the results of any other proceedings. Action for damages under 1974 Convention deemed to be action founded on tort. 28.—(1) An action for damages under the 1974 Convention (“a 1974 Convention action”) shall be deemed for the purposes of every enactment and rule of law to be an action founded on tort. (2) Subsection (1) shall not have the effect of applying to a 1974 Convention action a provision of an enactment or a rule of law that is inconsistent with a provision of the 1974 Convention. Saving as respects operation of Part II . 29.—Nothing in this Part shall prejudice the operation of Part II of this Act (which limits a shipowner's liability in certain cases of loss of life, injury or damage). PART IV Carriage of Goods by Sea Interpretation ( Part IV ). 30.—(1) In this Part— “the 1924 Convention” means the International Convention for the unification of certain rules of law relating to bills of lading done at Brussels on the 25th day of August, 1924, and references to that Convention shall be construed, other than in paragraph (a) of subsection (2), as references to that Convention as amended by the 1968 and 1979 Protocols; “the 1968 Protocol” means the Protocol to the 1924 Convention done at Brussels on the 23rd day of February, 1968; “the 1979 Protocol” means the Protocol to the 1924 Convention done at Brussels on the 21st day of December, 1979; “the Rules” means Articles I to X of the 1924 Convention. (2) In this Part and Article X of the Rules, “Contracting State” means a state that is a party to any of the following— (a) the 1924 Convention, (b) the 1968 Protocol, (c) the 1979 Protocol, whether generally as respects its territory or as respects any place or territory specified in an order under section 32 , and shall, where it is such a party only in respect of a place or territory aforesaid, be construed so that this Part and the Rules shall have effect only in relation to that place or territory. Rules to have the force of law. 31.—(1) Subject to the provisions of this Part, the Rules shall have the force of law in the State and judicial notice shall be taken thereof. (2) For convenience of reference there is set out in the Third Schedule the text in the English language of the Rules. Declarations as respects states which are Contracting States. 32.—The Minister may by order declare that any state specified in the order is a Contracting State, whether generally as respects its territory or as respects any place or territory specified in the order, and such an order that is in force shall be evidence that that state is a Contracting State as aforesaid. Bills of lading and application of Rules. 33.—(1) Without prejudice to Article X (c) of the Rules, the Rules shall have the force of law in relation to— (a) any bill of lading if the contract contained in or evidenced by it expressly provides that the Rules shall govern the contract, and (b) any receipt which is a non-negotiable document marked as such if the contract contained in or evidenced by it is a contract for the carriage of goods by sea which expressly provides that the Rules are to govern the contract as if the receipt were a bill of lading, but subject, in a case where paragraph (b) applies, to any necessary modifications and, in particular, with the omission in Article III of the Rules of the second sentence of paragraph 4 and of paragraph 7. (2) If and so far as the contract contained in or evidenced by a bill of lading or receipt referred to in paragraph (a) or (b) of subsection (1) applies to deck cargo or live animals, the Rules shall, so far as they have the force of law by virtue of that subsection, have effect as if Article I (c) of the Rules did not exclude deck cargo and live animals. (3) Subject to the provisions of this section, nothing in this Part shall be taken as applying anything in the Rules to any contract for the carriage of goods by sea, unless the contract expressly or by implication provides for the issue of a bill of lading or any similar document of title. (4) In this section “deck cargo” means cargo which by the contract of carriage concerned is stated as being carried on deck and is so carried. Application of Rules where port of shipment is a port in the State. 34.—Without prejudice to section 31 , the Rules shall have the force of law in relation to and in connection with the carriage of goods by sea in ships where the port of shipment is a port in the State, whether or not the carriage is between ports in two different states within the meaning of Article X of the Rules. Absolute warranty of seaworthiness not to be implied in contracts to which Rules apply. 35.—There shall not be implied in any contract for the carriage of goods by sea to which the Rules apply any absolute undertaking by the carrier of the goods to provide a seaworthy ship. Conversion of amounts in units of account into currency of the State for purposes of Rules. 36.—(1) For the purposes of the limit of liability specified in Article IV of the Rules, the value in the currency of the State of a unit of account specified in that Article shall be taken to be the value, ascertained in accordance with that Article, in that currency of such a unit of account on the relevant day specified in that Article, or if its value on that day cannot be so ascertained, its value in that currency on the latest day before such day on which it can be so ascertained. (2) For the purposes of this section a certificate purporting to be signed by an officer of the Central Bank and stating that— (a) a specified amount in the currency of the State is the value of such a unit of account on a specified day, or (b) the value in the currency of the State of such a unit of account on a specified day cannot be ascertained in accordance with the Rules and that a specified amount in the currency of the State is the value, calculated in accordance with the Rules, of such a unit of account on a specified day (being the latest day before the first-mentioned specified day on which such value can be ascertained as aforesaid), shall be admissible as evidence of the facts stated in the certificate. Further saving as respects operation of Part II . 37.—Nothing in this Part shall prejudice the operation of Part II of this Act. PART V Miscellaneous Exclusion of liability in certain cases. 38.—(1) Subject to subsection (3), the owner of a ship shall not be liable for any loss or damage in the following cases, namely— (a) where any property on board the ship is lost or damaged by reason of fire on board the ship; or (b) where any gold, silver, watches, jewels or precious stones on board the ship are lost or damaged by reason of larceny, robbery or other dishonest conduct and their nature and value were not at the time of shipment declared by their owner or shipper to the owner or master of the ship in the bill of lading or otherwise in writing. (2) Subject to subsection (3), where the loss or damage referred to in a case aforesaid arises from anything done or omitted to be done by any person in his or her capacity as master or member of the crew of the ship or (otherwise than in that capacity) in the course of employment as a servant of the owner of the ship, subsection (1) shall also relieve of liability for such loss or damage— (a) that person, and (b) where that person is a servant of a person whom subsection (1) would not, apart from this paragraph, relieve of liability for such loss or damage, that other person. (3) This section shall not relieve a person of any liability— (a) for loss or damage resulting from any such personal act or omission of the person as is mentioned in Article 4 of the Convention referred to in section 7 , (b) that is imposed on the person by the Convention referred to in section 19 . (4) In this section— “master” means, in relation to a ship, the person having, for the time being, the command or charge of the ship; “owner” includes, in relation to a ship, any part owner and any charterer, manager or operator of the ship. Adaptation of certain references. 39.—A reference in any enactment to a provision of the Merchant Shipping Acts, 1894 to 1993, being a provision that is repealed by this Act and which corresponds to a provision of this Act, shall, unless the context otherwise requires, be construed as a reference to the said provision of this Act. FIRST SCHEDULE Convention on Limitation of Liability for Maritime Claims, 1976 Section 7 (2). THE STATES PARTIES TO THIS CONVENTION, HAVING RECOGNIZED the desirability of determining by agreement certain uniform rules relating to the limitation of liability for maritime claims, HAVE DECIDED to conclude a Convention for this purpose and have thereto agreed as follows: CHAPTER I. THE RIGHT OF LIMITATION Article 1 Persons entitled to limit liability 1. Shipowners and salvors, as hereinafter defined, may limit their liability in accordance with the rules of this Convention for claims set out in Article 2. 2. The term “shipowner” shall mean the owner, charterer, manager and operator of a seagoing ship. 3. Salvor shall mean any person rendering services in direct connexion with salvage operations. Salvage operations shall also include operations referred to in Article 2, paragraph 1 (d), (e) and (f). 4. If any claims set out in Article 2 are made against any person for whose act, neglect or default the shipowner or salvor is responsible, such person shall be entitled to avail himself of the limitation of liability provided for in this Convention. 5. In this Convention the liability of a shipowner shall include liability in an action brought against the vessel herself. 6. An insurer of liability for claims subject to limitation in accordance with the rules of this Convention shall be entitled to the benefits of this Convention to the same extent as the assured himself. 7. The act of invoking limitation of liability shall not constitute an admission of liability. Article 2 Claims subject to limitation 1. Subject to Articles 3 and 4 the following claims, whatever the basis of liability may be, shall be subject to limitation of liability: (a) claims in respect of loss of life or personal injury or loss of or damage to property (including damage to harbour works, basins and waterways and aids to navigation), occurring on board or in direct connexion with the operation of the ship or with salvage operations, and consequential loss resulting therefrom; (b) claims in respect of loss resulting from delay in the carriage by sea of cargo, passengers or their luggage; (c) claims in respect of other loss resulting from infringement of rights other than contractual rights, occurring in direct connexion with the operation of the ship or salvage operations; (d) claims in respect of the raising, removal, destruction or the rendering harmless of a ship which is sunk, wrecked, stranded or abandoned, including anything that is or has been on board such ship; (e) claims in respect of the removal, destruction or the rendering harmless of the cargo of the ship; (f) claims of a person other than the person liable in respect of measures taken in order to avert or minimize loss for which the person liable may limit his liability in accordance with this Convention, and further loss caused by such measures. 2. Claims set out in paragraph 1 shall be subject to limitation of liability even if brought by way of recourse or for indemnity under a contract or otherwise. However, claims set out under paragraph 1 (d), (e) and (f) shall not be subject to limitation of liability to the extent that they relate to remuneration under a contract with the person liable. Article 3 Claims excepted from limitation The rules of this Convention shall not apply to: (a) claims for salvage or contribution in general average; (b) claims for oil pollution damage within the meaning of the International Convention on Civil Liability for Oil Pollution Damage, dated 29 November 1969 or of any amendment or Protocol thereto which is in force; (c) claims subject to any international convention or national legislation governing or prohibiting limitation of liability for nuclear damage; (d) claims against the shipowner of a nuclear ship for nuclear damage; (e) claims by servants of the shipowner or salvor whose duties are connected with the ship or the salvage operations, including claims of their heirs, dependants or other persons entitled to make such claims, if under the law governing the contract of service between the shipowner or salvor and such servants the shipowner or salvor is not entitled to limit his liability in respect of such claims, or if he is by such law only permitted to limit his liability to an amount greater than that provided for in Article 6. Article 4 Conduct barring limitation A person liable shall not be entitled to limit his liability if it is proved that the loss resulted from his personal act or omission, committed with the intent to cause such loss, or recklessly and with knowledge that such loss would probably result. Article 5 Counterclaims Where a person entitled to limitation of liability under the rules of this Convention has a claim against the claimant arising out of the same occurrence, their respective claims shall be set off against each other and the provisions of this Convention shall only apply to the balance, if any. CHAPTER II. LIMITS OF LIABILITY Article 6 The general limits 1. The limits of liability for claims other than those mentioned in Article 7, arising on any distinct occasion, shall be calculated as follows: (a) in respect of claims for loss of life or personal injury, (i) 333,000 Units of Account for a ship with a tonnage not exceeding 500 tons, (ii) for a ship with a tonnage in excess thereof, the following amount in addition to that mentioned in (i): for each ton from 501 to 3,000 tons, 500 Units of Account; for each ton from 3,001 to 30,000 tons, 333 Units of Account; for each ton from 30,001 to 70,000 tons, 250 Units of Account; and for each ton in excess of 70,000 tons 167 Units of Account; (b) in respect of any other claims, (i) 167,000 Units of Account for a ship with a tonnage not exceeding 500 tons, (ii) for a ship with a tonnage in excess thereof the following amount in addition to that mentioned in (i): for each ton from 501 to 30,000 tons, 167 Units of Account; for each ton from 30,001 to 70,000 tons, 125 Units of Account; and for each ton in excess of 70,000 tons, 83 Units of Account. 2. Where the amount calculated in accordance with paragraph 1 (a) is insufficient to pay the claims mentioned therein in full, the amount calculated in accordance with paragraph 1 (b) shall be available for payment of the unpaid balance of claims under paragraph 1 (a) and such unpaid balance shall rank rateably with claims mentioned under paragraph 1 (b). 3. However, without prejudice to the right of claims for loss of life or personal injury according to paragraph 2, a State Party may provide in its national law that claims in respect of damage to harbour works, basins and waterways and aids to navigation shall have such priority over other claims under paragraph 1 (b) as is provided by that law. 4. The limits of liability for any salvor not operating from any ship or for any salvor operating solely on the ship to, or in respect of which he is rendering salvage services, shall be calculated according to a tonnage of 1,500 tons. 5. For the purpose of this Convention the ship's tonnage shall be the gross tonnage calculated in accordance with the tonnage measurement rules contained in Annex 1 of the International Convention on Tonnage Measurement of Ships, 1969. Article 7 The limit for passenger claims 1. In respect of claims arising on any distinct occasion for loss of life or personal injury to passengers of a ship, the limit of liability of the shipowner thereof shall be an amount of 46,666 Units of Account multiplied by the number of passsengers which the ship is authorized to carry according to the ship's certificate, but not exceeding 25 million Units of Account. 2. For the purpose of this Article “claims for loss of life or personal injury to passengers of a ship” shall mean any such claims brought by or on behalf of any person carried in that ship: (a) under a contract of passenger carriage, or (b) who, with the consent of the carrier, is accompanying a vehicle or live animals which are covered by a contract for the carriage of goods. Article 8 Unit of Account 1. The Unit of Account referred to in Articles 6 and 7 is the Special Drawing Right as defined by the International Monetary Fund. The amounts mentioned in Articles 6 and 7 shall be converted into the national currency of the State in which limitation is sought, according to the value of that currency at the date the limitation fund shall have been constituted, payment is made, or security is given which under the law of that State is equivalent to such payment. The value of a national currency in terms of the Special Drawing Right, of a State Party which is a member of the International Monetary Fund, shall be calculated in accordance with the method of valuation applied by the International Monetary Fund in effect at the date in question for its operations and transactions. The value of a national currency in terms of the Special Drawing Right, of a State Party which is not a member of the International Monetary Fund, shall be calculated in a manner determined by that State Party. 2. Nevertheless, those States which are not members of the International Monetary Fund and whose law does not permit the application of the provisions of paragraph 1 may, at the time of signature without reservation as to ratification, acceptance or approval or at the time of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession or at any time thereafter, declare that the limits of liability provided for in this Convention to be applied in their territories shall be fixed as follows: (a) in respect of Article 6, paragraph 1 (a) at an amount of: (i) 5 million monetary units for a ship with a tonnage not exceeding 500 tons; (ii) for a ship with a tonnage in excess thereof, the following amount in addition to that mentioned in (i): for each ton from 501 to 3,000 tons, 7,500 monetary units; for each ton from 3,001 to 30,000 tons, 5,000 monetary units; for each ton from 30,001 to 70,000 tons, 3,750 monetary units; and for each ton in excess of 70,000 tons, 2,500 monetary units; and (b) in respect of Article 6, paragraph 1 (b), at an amount of: (i) 2.5 million monetary units for a ship with a tonnage not exceeding 500 tons; (ii) for a ship with a tonnage in excess thereof, the following amount in addition to that mentioned in (i): for each ton from 501 to 30,000 tons, 2,500 monetary units; for each ton from 30,001 to 70,000 tons, 1,850 monetary units; and for each ton in excess of 70,000 tons, 1,250 monetary units; and (c) in respect of Article 7, paragraph 1, at an amount of 700,000 monetary units multiplied by the number of passengers which the ship is authorized to carry according to its certificate, but not exceeding 375 million monetary units. Paragraphs 2 and 3 of Article 6 apply correspondingly to sub-paragraphs (a) and (b) of this paragraph. 3. The monetary unit referred to in paragraph 2 corresponds to sixty-five and a half milligrammes of gold of millesimal fineness nine hundred. The conversion of the amounts referred to in paragraph 2 into the national currency shall be made according to the law of the State concerned. 4. The calculation mentioned in the last sentence of paragraph 1 and the conversion mentioned in paragraph 3 shall be made in such a manner as to express in the national currency of the State Party as far as possible the same real value for the amounts in Articles 6 and 7 as is expressed there in units of account. States Parties shall communicate to the depositary the manner of calculation pursuant to paragraph 1, or the result of the conversion in paragraph 3, as the case may be, at the time of the signature without reservation as to ratification, acceptance or approval, or when depositing an instrument referred to in Article 16 and whenever there is a change in either. Article 9 Aggregation of claims 1. The limits of liability determined in accordance with Article 6 shall apply to the aggregate of all claims which arise on any distinct occasion: (a) against the person or persons mentioned in paragraph 2 of Article 1 and any person for whose act, neglect or default he or they are responsible; or (b) against the shipowner of a ship rendering salvage services from that ship and the salvor or salvors operating from such ship and any person for whose act, neglect or default he or they are responsible; or (c) against the salvor or salvors who are not operating from a ship or who are operating solely on the ship to, or in respect of which, the salvage services are rendered and any person for whose act, neglect or default he or they are responsible. 2. The limits of liability determined in accordance with Article 7 shall apply to the aggregate of all claims subject thereto which may arise on any distinct occasion against the person or persons mentioned in paragraph 2 of Article 1 in respect of the ship referred to in Article 7 and any person for whose act, neglect or default he or they are responsible. Article 10 Limitation of liability without constitution of a limitation fund 1. Limitation of liability may be invoked notwithstanding that a limitation fund as mentioned in Article 11 has not been constituted. However, a State Party may provide in its national law that, where an action is brought in its Courts to enforce a claim subject to limitation, a person liable may only invoke the right to limit liability if a limitation fund has been constituted in accordance with the provisions of this Convention or is constituted when the right to limit liability is invoked. 2. If limitation of liability is invoked without the constitution of a limitation fund, the provisions of Article 12 shall apply correspondingly. 3. Questions of procedure arising under the rules of this Article shall be decided in accordance with the national law of the State Party in which action is brought. CHAPTER III. THE LIMITATION FUND Article 11 Constitution of the fund 1. Any person alleged to be liable may constitute a fund with the Court or other competent authority in any State Party in which legal proceedings are instituted in respect of claims subject to limitation. The fund shall be constituted in the sum of such of the amounts set out in Articles 6 and 7 as are applicable to claims for which that person may be liable, together with interest thereon from the date of the occurrence giving rise to the liability until the date of the constitution of the fund. Any fund thus constituted shall be available only for the payment of claims in respect of which limitation of liability can be invoked. 2. A fund may be constituted, either by depositing the sum, or by producing a guarantee acceptable under the legislation of the State Party where the fund is constituted and considered to be adequate by the Court or other competent authority. 3. A fund constituted by one of the persons mentioned in paragraph 1 (a), (b) or (c) or paragraph 2 of Article 9 or his insurer shall be deemed constituted by all persons mentioned in paragraph 1 (a), (b) or (c) or paragraph 2, respectively. Article 12 Distribution of the fund 1. Subject to the provisions of paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 of Article 6 and of Article 7, the fund shall be distributed among the claimants in proportion to their established claims against the fund. 2. If, before the fund is distributed, the person liable, or his insurer, has settled a claim against the fund such person shall, up to the amount he has paid, acquire by subrogation the rights which the person so compensated would have enjoyed under this Convention. 3. The right of subrogation provided for in paragraph 2 may also be exercised by persons other than those therein mentioned in respect of any amount of compensation which they may have paid, but only to the extent that such subrogation is permitted under the applicable national law. 4. Where the person liable or any other person establishes that he may be compelled to pay, at a later date, in whole or in part any such amount of compensation with regard to which such person would have enjoyed a right of subrogation pursuant to paragraphs 2 and 3 had the compensation been paid before the fund was distributed, the Court or other competent authority of the State where the fund has been constituted may order that a sufficient sum shall be provisionally set aside to enable such person at such later date to enforce his claim against the fund. Article 13 Bar to other actions 1. Where a limitation fund has been constituted in accordance with Article 11, any person having made a claim against the fund shall be barred from exercising any right in respect of such claim against any other assets of a person by or on behalf of whom the fund has been constituted. 2. After a limitation fund has been constituted in accordance with Article 11, any ship or other property, belonging to a person on behalf of whom the fund has been constituted, which has been arrested or attached within the jurisdiction of a State Party for a claim which may be raised against the fund, or any security given, may be released by order of the Court or other competent authority of such State. However, such release shall always be ordered if the limitation fund has been constituted: (a) at the port where the occurrence took place, or, if it took place out of port, at the first port of call thereafter; or (b) at the port of disembarkation in respect of claims for loss of life or personal injury; or (c) at the port of discharge in respect of damage to cargo; or (d) in the State where the arrest is made. 3. The rules of paragraphs 1 and 2 shall apply only if the claimant may bring a claim against the limitation fund before the Court administering that fund and the fund is actually available and freely transferable in respect of that claim. Article 14 Governing law Subject to the provisions of this Chapter the rules relating to the constitution and distribution of a limitation fund, and all rules of procedure in connexion therewith, shall be governed by the law of the State Party in which the fund is constituted. CHAPTER IV. SCOPE OF APPLICATION Article 15 1. This Convention shall apply whenever any person referred to in Article 1 seeks to limit his liability before the Court of a State Party or seeks to procure the release of a ship or other property or the discharge of any security given within the jurisdiction of any such State. Nevertheless, each State Party may exclude wholly or partially from the application of this Convention any person referred to in Article 1 who at the time when the rules of this Convention are invoked before the Courts of that State does not have his habitual residence in a State Party or does not have his principal place of business in a State Party or any ship in relation to which the right of limitation is invoked or whose release is sought and which does not at the time specified above fly the flag of a State Party. 2. A State Party may regulate by specific provisions of national law the system of limitation of liability to be applied to vessels which are: (a) according to the law of that State, ships intended for navigation on inland waterways; (b) ships of less than 300 tons. A State Party which makes use of the option provided for in this paragraph shall inform the depositary of the limits of liability adopted in its national legislation or of the fact that there are none. 3. A State Party may regulate by specific provisions of national law the system of limitation of liability to be applied to claims arising in cases in which interests of persons who are nationals of other States Parties are in no way involved. 4. The Courts of a State Party shall not apply this Convention to ships constructed for, or adapted to, and engaged in, drilling: (a) when that State has established under its national legislation a higher limit of liability than that otherwise provided for in Article 6; or (b) when that State has become party to an international convention regulating the system of liability in respect of such ships. In a case to which subparagraph (a) applies that State Party shall inform the depositary accordingly. 5. This Convention shall not apply to: (a) air-cushion vehicles; (b) floating platforms constructed for the purpose of exploring or exploiting the natural resources of the sea-bed or the subsoil thereof. CHAPTER V. FINAL CLAUSES Article 16 Signature, ratification and accession 1. This Convention shall be open for signature by all States at the Headquarters of the Inter-Governmental Maritime Consultative Organization (hereinafter referred to as “the Organization”) from 1 February 1977 until 31 December 1977 and shall thereafter remain open for accession. 2. All States may become parties to this Convention by: (a) signature without reservation as to ratification, acceptance or approval; or (b) signature subject to ratification, acceptance or approval followed by ratification, acceptance or approval; or (c) accession. 3. Ratification, acceptance, approval or accession shall be effected by the deposit of a formal instrument to that effect with the Secretary-General of the Organization (hereinafter referred to as “the Secretary-General”). Article 17 Entry into force 1. This Convention shall enter into force on the first day of the month following one year after the date on which twelve States have either signed it without reservation as to ratification, acceptance or approval or have deposited the requisite instruments of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession. 2. For a State which deposits an instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession, or signs without reservation as to ratification, acceptance or approval, in respect of this Convention after the requirements for entry into force have been met but prior to the date of entry into force, the ratification, acceptance, approval or accession or the signature without reservation as to ratification, acceptance or approval, shall take effect on the date of entry into force of the Convention or on the first day of the month following the ninetieth day after the date of the signature or the deposit of the instrument, whichever is the later date. 3. For any State which subsequently becomes a Party to this Convention, the Convention shall enter into force on the first day of the month following the expiration of ninety days after the date when such State deposited its instrument. 4. In respect of the relations between States which ratify, accept, or approve this Convention or accede to it, this Convention shall replace and abrogate the International Convention relating to the Limitation of the Liability of Owners of Sea-going Ships, done at Brussels on 10 October 1957, and the International Convention for the Unification of certain Rules relating to the Limitation of Liability of the Owners of Sea-going Vessels, signed at Brussels on 25 August 1924. Article 18 Reservations 1. Any State may, at the time of signature, ratification, acceptance, approval or accession, reserve the right to exclude the application of Article 2 paragraph 1 (d) and (e). No other reservations shall be admissible to the substantive provisions of this Convention. 2. Reservations made at the time of signature are subject to confirmation upon ratification, acceptance or approval. 3. Any State which has made a reservation to this Convention may withdraw it at any time by means of a notification addressed to the Secretary-General. Such withdrawal shall take effect on the date the notification is received. If the notification states that the withdrawal of a reservation is to take effect on a date specified therein, and such date is later than the date the notification is received by the Secretary-General, the withdrawal shall take effect on such later date. Article 19 Denunciation 1. This Convention may be denounced by a State Party at any time after one year from the date on which the Convention entered into force for that Party. 2. Denunciation shall be effected by the deposit of an instrument with the Secretary-General. 3. Denunciation shall take effect on the first day of the month following the expiration of one year after the date of deposit of the instrument, or after such longer period as may be specified in the instrument. Article 20 Revision and amendment 1. A Conference for the purpose of revising or amending this Convention may be convened by the Organization. 2. The Organization shall convene a Conference of the States Parties to this Convention for revising or amending it at the request of not less than one-third of the Parties. 3. After the date of the entry into force of an amendment to this Convention, any instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession deposited shall be deemed to apply to the Convention as amended, unless a contrary intention is expressed in the instrument. Article 21 Revision of the limitation amounts and of Unit of Account or monetary unit 1. Notwithstanding the provisions of Article 20, a Conference only for the purposes of altering the amounts specified in Articles 6 and 7 and in Article 8, paragraph 2, or of substituting either or both of the Units defined in Article 8, paragraphs 1 and 2, by other units shall be convened by the Organization in accordance with paragraphs 2 and 3 of this Article. An alteration of the amounts shall be made only because of a significant change in their real value. 2. The Organization shall convene such a Conference at the request of not less than one-fourth of the States Parties. 3. A decision to alter the amounts or to substitute the Units by other units of account shall be taken by a two-thirds majority of the States Parties present and voting in such Conference. 4. Any State depositing its instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession to the Convention, after entry into force of an amendment, shall apply the Convention as amended. Article 22 Depositary 1. This Convention shall be deposited with the Secretary-General. 2. The Secretary-General shall: (a) transmit certified true copies of this Convention to all States which were invited to attend the Conference on Limitation of Liability for Maritime Claims and to any other States which accede to this Convention. (b) inform all States which have signed or acceded to this Convention of: (i) each new signature and each deposit of an instrument and any reservation thereto together with the date thereof; (ii) the date of entry into force of this Convention or any amendment thereto; (iii) any denunciation of this Convention and the date on which it takes effect; (iv) any amendment adopted in conformity with Articles 20 or 21; (v) any communication called for by any Article of this Convention. 3. Upon entry into force of this Convention, a certified true copy thereof shall be transmitted by the Secretary-General to the Secretariat of the United Nations for registration and publication in accordance with Article 102 of the Charter of the United Nations. Article 23 Languages This Convention is established in a single original in the English, French, Russian and Spanish languages, each text being equally authentic. DONE AT LONDON this nineteenth day of November one thousand nine hundred and seventy-six. IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned being duly authorized for that purpose have signed this Convention. (Here follow signatures on behalf of certain States). SECOND SCHEDULE Convention Relating to the Carriage of Passengers and Their Luggage by Sea, 1974 and Protocol Thereto Section 19 (2). PART I Convention Relating to the Carriage of Passengers and their Luggage by Sea, 1974 The States Parties to this Convention, HAVING RECOGNIZED the desirability of determining by agreement certain rules relating to the carriage of passengers and their luggage by sea; HAVE DECIDED to conclude a Convention for this purpose and have thereto agreed as follows: Article 1 Definitions In this Convention the following expressions have the meaning assigned to them: 1. (a) “carrier” means a person by or on behalf of whom a contract of carriage has been concluded, whether the carriage is actually performed by him or by a performing carrier; (b) “performing carrier” means a person other than the carrier, being the owner, charterer or operator of a ship, who actually performs the whole or a part of the carriage; 2. “contract of carriage” means a contract made by or on behalf of a carrier for the carriage by sea of a passenger or of a passenger and his luggage, as the case may be; 3. “ship” means only a seagoing vessel, excluding an air-cushion vehicle; 4. “passenger” means any person carried in a ship, (a) under a contract of carriage, or (b) who, with the consent of the carrier, is accompanying a vehicle or live animals which are covered by a contract for the carriage of goods not governed by this Convention; 5. “luggage” means any article or vehicle carried by the carrier under a contract of carriage, excluding: (a) articles and vehicles carried under a charter party, bill of lading or other contract primarily concerned with the carriage of goods; and (b) live animals; 6. “cabin luggage” means luggage which the passenger has in his cabin or is otherwise in his possession, custody or control. Except for the application of paragraph 8 of this Article and Article 8, cabin luggage includes luggage which the passenger has in or on his vehicle; 7. “loss of or damage to luggage” includes pecuniary loss resulting from the luggage not having been re-delivered to the passenger within a reasonable time after the arrival of the ship on which the luggage has been or should have been carried, but does not include delays resulting from labour disputes; 8. “carriage” covers the following periods: (a) with regard to the passenger and his cabin luggage, the period during which the passenger and/or his cabin luggage are on board the ship or in the course of embarkation or disembarkation, and the period during which the passenger and his cabin luggage are transported by water from land to the ship or vice-versa, if the cost of such transport is included in the fare or if the vessel used for this purpose of auxiliary transport has been put at the disposal of the passenger by the carrier. However, with regard to the passenger, carriage does not include the period during which he is in a marine terminal or station or on a quay or in or on any other port installation; (b) with regard to cabin luggage, also the period during which the passenger is in a marine terminal or station or on a quay or in or on any other port installation if that luggage has been taken over by the carrier or his servant or agent …