Convention on Limitation of Liability for Maritime Claims

General Detail

General Information

  1. Type: Convention
  2. Date of signature:
  3. Place of signature: London, United Kingdom
  4. Depositary:
  5. Date of entry into force: 01/12/1986

Category

Transport and telecommunications

Sub category

Maritime shipping and load lines

Groups

IMO

What is it about?

This Convention deals with the liability of owners of seagoing vessels, establishing two types of maritime claims: (i) claims for loss of life or personal injury, and (ii) property claims (such as damage to other ships, property or harbour works).

Why is it relevant?

It replaces the International Convention Relating to the Limitation of the Liability of Owners of Seagoing Ships (Brussels, 10/10/1957), raising considerably the limit of liability for maritime claims. Regarding ships not exceeding 500 tons, it limits liability to 330,000 Special Drawing Rights (approximately 422,000 USD) to personal claims. For other claims, the limit of liability is established at 167,000 SDRs (approximately 214,000 USD). For larger vessels the liability amount increases accordingly to their weight. However, the owner will not be able to limit liability if it is proved the loss resulted from his personal act or omission, committed with the intent to cause such a loss, or recklessly and with knowledge that such loss would probably result.

Additional Information

This Convention is followed by a Protocol (London, 03/05/1996), which is not yet in force. This Protocol will result in the substantial increase of the amount of compensation payable in the event of an incident. For instance, for ships not exceeding 2,000 gt, liability is limited to 2 million SDR (approximately 2.56 million USD) for loss of life or personal injury and 1 million SDR (approximately 1.28 million USD) for other claims.

  • Convention on the International Maritime Organization (Geneva, 06/03/1948)
  • Protocol to the Convention on Limitation of Liability for Maritime Claims (London, 03/05/1996)

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Country ratifications
CountryRatification date
Albania07/06/2004
Algeria04/08/2004
Antigua and Barbuda12/10/2009
Azerbaijan16/07/2004
Bahamas07/06/1983
Barbados06/05/1994
Benin01/11/1985
Bulgaria04/07/2005
China01/07/1997
Congo07/09/2004
Croatia02/03/1993
Cyprus23/12/2005
Dominica31/08/2001
Egypt30/03/1988
Equatorial Guinea24/04/1996
Estonia23/10/2002
France01/07/1981
Georgia20/02/1996
Greece03/07/1991
Guyana10/12/1997
Hungary04/07/2008
India20/08/2002
Iran01/09/2015
Ireland24/02/1998
Jamaica17/08/2005
Kiribati05/02/2007
Latvia13/07/1999
Liberia17/02/1981
Lithuania03/03/2004
Luxembourg21/11/2005
Marshall Islands29/11/1994
Mauritius17/12/2002
Mexico13/05/1994
Mongolia28/09/2011
New Zealand14/02/1994
Nigeria24/02/2004
Poland28/04/1986
Romania12/03/2007
Saint Lucia20/05/2004
Samoa18/05/2004
Serbia19/03/2013
Sierra Leone26/07/2001
Singapore24/01/2005
Switzerland15/12/1987
Syrian Arab Republic02/09/2005
Tonga18/09/2003
Trinidad and Tobago06/03/2000
Turkey06/03/1998
Tuvalu12/01/2009
United Arab Emirates19/11/1997
Vanuatu14/09/1992
Yemen06/03/1979
Treaties analysis
YearRatifications
19791
19812
19831
19841
19851
19861
19871
19881
19911
19921
19931
19944
19962
19975
19982
19991
20001
20012
20023
20031
20048
20056
20072
20081
20092
20111
20131
20151
Total55
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