The Liability of Classification Societies PDF
Preview The Liability of Classification Societies
InternationalMaxPlanckResearchSchool(IMPRS) forMaritimeAffairs at the University ofHamburg Hamburg Studies on Maritime Affairs Volume 9 Editedby JürgenBasedow PeterEhlers HartmutGraßl Hans-JoachimKoch RainerLagoni GerhardLammel UlrichMagnus PeterMankowski MarianPaschke ThomasPohlmann UweSchneider JürgenSündermann RüdigerWolfrum WilfriedZahel Nicolai Lagoni The Liability of Classification Societies 123 Dr.NicolaiLagoni InternationalMaxPlanckResearchSchool forMaritimeAffairs Max-Planck-Institutfürausländisches undinternationalesPrivatrecht Mittelweg187 20148Hamburg [email protected] Inaugural-DissertationzurErlangungdesGradeseinesDoktors derRechtswissenschaftderFakultätfürRechtswissenschaft derUniversitätHamburg Erstgutachter:ProfessorDr.Dr.h.c.JürgenBasedow,LL.M.(Harvard) Zweitgutachter:ProfessorDr.Dr.h.c.RüdigerWolfrum TagdermündlichenPrüfung:31.Januar2007 LibraryofCongressControlNumber:2007928574 ISBN978-3-540-72915-0SpringerBerlinHeidelbergNewYork Thisworkissubjecttocopyright.Allrightsarereserved,whetherthewholeorpartofthematerialis concerned,specificallytherightsoftranslation,reprinting,reuseofillustrations,recitation,broad- casting,reproductiononmicrofilmorinanyotherway,andstorageindatabanks.Duplicationof thispublicationorpartsthereofispermittedonlyundertheprovisionsoftheGermanCopyright LawofSeptember9,1965,initscurrentversion,andpermissionforusemustalwaysbeobtained fromSpringer.ViolationsareliabletoprosecutionundertheGermanCopyrightLaw. SpringerisapartofSpringerScience+BusinessMedia springer.com ©Springer-VerlagBerlinHeidelberg2007 Theuseofgeneraldescriptivenames,registerednames,trademarks,etc.inthispublicationdoes notimply,evenintheabsenceofaspecificstatement,thatsuchnamesareexemptfromtherelevant protectivelawsandregulationsandthereforefreeforgeneraluse. Production:LE-TEXJelonek,Schmidt&V¨ocklerGbR,Leipzig Cover-design:WMXDesignGmbH,Heidelberg SPIN12072255 64/3180YL-543210 Printedonacid-freepaper To my parents Preface The topic of this study originated in a discussion with my doctoral advisor Profes- sor Dr. Dr. h.c. Jürgen Basedow, Director of the Max Planck Institute for Com- parative and International Private Law in Hamburg. I am most grateful for his in- spiring advice and constant intellectual support which he gave me throughout the two years of my research and writing. I would further like to thank Professor Dr. Dr. h.c. Rüdiger Wolfrum, Director of the Max Planck Institute for Comparative Public Law in Heidelberg for the timely submission of the second opinion on my dissertation. The interdisciplinary discussions in the International Max Planck Research School Maritime Affairs were very helpful and have furthered this study. I feel obliged to the Directors of the Research School. Furthermore the Research School supported my research with a generous scholarship and provided me with a grant for the publication of this book. From February until May 2005, I have been re- searching at Columbia Law School, New York City. This was supported by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD). I owe particular thanks to the Re- search School and to the DAAD for this financial support. In the course of researching and preparing this study, many friends and experts have provided me with information, advice or assistance, I am indebted to all of them. But only a few can be mentioned here: Prof. Dr. Peter Ehlers (Präsident des Bundesamtes für Seeschifffahrt und Hydrographie); Regierungsdirektoren Peter Escherich und Gert-Jürgen Scholz (Bundesministerium für Verkehr, Bau- und Wohnungswesen); William France Jr. (Healy & Baillie); Gesa Heinacher- Lindemann (Germanischer Lloyd); Brian Starer (Holland & Knight). Warmest thanks go to Prof. Dr. Yesim Atamer (Istanbul Bilgi University), Prof. Juan Luis Pulido (Universidad de Cadiz) and Dr. Wolfgang Wurmnest, (Max-Planck Insti- tute for Comparative and International Private Law) for many controversial and encouraging discussions as well as to all friends and colleagues at the Max Planck Institute and at the International Max Planck Research School Maritime Affairs. Last but not least I would like to thank my family. Their continuous support and encouragement have helped to make this book a reality. This Study takes into account literature and documents available until Novem- ber 2006. Hamburg, March 2007 Nicolai Lagoni Outline Table of Contents Table of Contents................................................................................................XI Abbreviations..................................................................................................XVII Introduction...........................................................................................................1 Part 1 [Factual Situation and Legal Foundations].............................................5 A. The Classification of Vessels.......................................................................5 I. The Concept of ‘Classification’..............................................................5 II. The Historical Development of Classification Societies........................8 III. The Relevance of Classification Societies for the Maritime Industry..11 IV. The Relevance of Classification Societies for the International Community...........................................................................................22 V. The International Association of Classification Societies (IACS)........24 VI. Current Challenges for Classification Societies...................................26 B. Private Operations and Public Functions in Detail.....................................43 I. Private Operations................................................................................43 II. Public Functions...................................................................................50 C. Non-Delegable Duty of the Shipowner to Make the Vessel Seaworthy and Presumption of Unseaworthiness........................................................55 Part 2 [Legal Analysis]........................................................................................59 A. Private Functions: The Protection of Contracting Parties..........................59 I. English Law..........................................................................................59 II. United States Law.................................................................................69 III. German Law.........................................................................................99 IV. Conclusion..........................................................................................105 B. Private Functions: Liability Towards Third Parties.................................105 I. English Law........................................................................................105 II. United States Law...............................................................................142 III. German Law.......................................................................................188 IV. Application of the Conclusions to Claims by Different Parties..........230 C. Public Functions.......................................................................................234 I. Liability under English Law...............................................................235 X Outline Table of Contents II. Liability under United States Law......................................................240 III. Liability under German Law..............................................................248 IV. Excursus: Damage Caused by Both a Classification and Statutory Survey.................................................................................................256 Part 3 [A Convention on the Limitation of Liability of Classification Societies].............................................................................................................259 A. The Limitation of Liability in Shipping...................................................259 I. The History of Limitations.................................................................260 II. Cargo Limitations...............................................................................263 III. Global Limitations..............................................................................265 IV. Limitations as Regards Passengers.....................................................269 V. Limitations of Civil Liability for Oil Pollution Damage....................271 B. Limitation of Liability under the Current System of Limitations............277 I. On the Application of Existing Limitation Regulations to Classification Societies.......................................................................277 II. The “Estonia” Case – an Example of the Effects of the Current System................................................................................................300 III. Conclusion..........................................................................................303 C. Justifications of a New Convention on the Limitation of Liability..........304 I. Classification Societies as a Part of the Maritime Safety System.......304 II. Insurance and Compensation..............................................................304 III. Existence of a System of Compensation for Oil Pollution Damage...307 IV. Self-Protection of Classification Societies by Company Law............307 V. Liability and the Control of Old Vessels............................................308 VI. How Should the Interests be Balanced?.............................................308 D. Principles of a Convention on the Limitation of Liability.......................316 I. European or International Law?.........................................................316 II. Strict Liability?...................................................................................318 III. Harmonised Basis of Fault Liability?.................................................320 IV. Reversal of the Burden of Proof?.......................................................322 V. Basis of Limitation: Tonnage or Fees?...............................................322 VI. Level of Limitations...........................................................................323 VII. Interrelation with the Limitation of Liability of the Shipowner.........327 E. The Limitation of Liability for Public Functions.....................................328 F. Conclusion...............................................................................................329 Bibliography......................................................................................................331 Table of Cases....................................................................................................351 Table of International Conventions.................................................................365 Index...................................................................................................................373 Table of Contents Outline Table of Contents..................................................................................IX Table of Contents................................................................................................XI Abbreviations..................................................................................................XVII Introduction...........................................................................................................1 Part 1 [Factual Situation and Legal Foundations].............................................5 A. The Classification of Vessels.......................................................................5 I. The Concept of ‘Classification’..............................................................5 II. The Historical Development of Classification Societies........................8 III. The Relevance of Classification Societies for the Maritime Industry..11 1. The Necessity of a Classification of Vessels......................................11 2. Marine Insurance and Classification Societies...................................13 3. The Norwegian Saleform and a Confirmation of Class......................16 4. Charter Parties and Classification Societies.......................................18 5. The Rules of a Classification Society.................................................19 6. Marine Surveyors...............................................................................21 7. Other Activities..................................................................................21 IV. The Relevance of Classification Societies for the International Community...........................................................................................22 V. The International Association of Classification Societies (IACS)........24 VI. Current Challenges for Classification Societies...................................26 1. The Dual Role of Classification Societies..........................................26 2. Selling Safety in a Competitive Environment....................................29 3. Shipowners/Operators Have to Report Damage.................................34 4. Sub-standard Classification Societies.................................................35 5. Current International Developments: Goal-based Standards..............38 6. Classification Societies in Litigation..................................................40 B. Private Operations and Public Functions in Detail.....................................43 I. Private Operations................................................................................43 1. Contracts and Contracting Parties......................................................43 2. Obligations of the Classification Society...........................................46
The list of books you might like
