Spain ratifies The Rotterdam Rules

Spain ratifies the United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Carriage of Goods Wholly or Partly by Sea.

With its ratification (VIENNA, 24 January, UN Information Service) of  the Rotterdam Rules, Spain becomes the first State Party to the Convention.

The Rotterdam Rules were adopted by the General Assembly on 11 December 2008 to establish a uniform and modern global legal regime governing the rights and obligations of stakeholders in the maritime transport industry under a single contract for door-to-door carriage. The Rules build upon earlier conventions governing the international carriage of goods by sea and codify important industry practice, thus providing a modern alternative to those earlier conventions. The Rules provide a legal framework that accounts for the many technological and commercial developments that have taken place in maritime transport since the adoption of the earlier conventions, including the growth of containerization, the need for door-to-door transport under a single contract of carriage and the development of electronic commerce.

The Rotterdam Rules have already been signed by 23 States. The Rules will enter into force on the first day of the month following the expiration of one year after the date of deposit of the twentieth instrument of ratification or accession. Further information on the Rules is available on the UNCITRAL website.