Rotterdam Rules — carriage of goods by sea

Frequently asked questions

What are the Rotterdam Rules?

The Rotterdam Rules are a UNCITRAL convention governing contracts for the international carriage of goods that takes place wholly or partly by sea. They were developed to modernise and replace the older Hague-Visby and Hamburg regimes, reflecting current shipping and logistics practices.

When do the Rotterdam Rules apply?

They apply to international contracts of carriage involving a sea leg, including transport arrangements that extend door-to-door across multiple modes. This makes them relevant beyond pure sea carriage, covering combined transport where sea is only part of the journey.

What do the Rotterdam Rules regulate specifically?

The convention sets rules for door-to-door carriage of goods and recognises electronic transport records as valid alternatives to paper documents. This addresses gaps left by earlier maritime conventions that did not account for multimodal transport or digital documentation.

How do the Rotterdam Rules relate to Hague-Visby and Hamburg, and are they in force?

The Rotterdam Rules are meant to modernise and eventually replace the Hague-Visby and Hamburg regimes. However, they are not yet widely in force, so many countries and contracts still operate under the older frameworks pending broader ratification.

Official sources

• Official source ↗ · uncitral.un.org