Jurisdiction and Arbitration Clauses in Maritime Transport Documents: A Comparative Analysis (Hamburg Studies on Maritime Affairs Book 19)

Jurisdiction and arbitration clauses are two different mechanisms that help to ensure impartiality and predictability in international dispute resolution. Despite their benefits, these clauses can be inconvenient for parties that are forced to litigate before distant fora. Moreover, particular problems arise in the context of maritime transport documents. Based on a broad comparative approach, this study seeks to explain the existing rules within their legal context and to develop a coherent system for such clauses, which takes into account the underlying interests as well as economic theory. While offering detailed answers to most issues surrounding jurisdiction and arbitration clauses in maritime transport documents, the book confronts the fundamental question of the limits of freedom of contract in an international setting. Front Matter....Pages I-XVIII Introduction....Pages 1-18 The Legal Framework for Choice of Forum Clauses in Maritime Transport Documents....Pages 19-38 Bills of Lading and other Maritime Transport Documents....Pages 39-61 Common Types of Choice of Forum Clauses in Maritime Transport Documents....Pages 63-80 Classification of Choice of Forum Clauses and their Separability from the Main Contract....Pages 81-98 Formal Requirements and the Incorporation of Choice of Forum Agreements....Pages 99-123 Inconvenient and Unfair Choice of Forum Clauses....Pages 125-152 The Effect of Mandatory Liability Rules on the Enforcement of Choice of Forum Clauses....Pages 153-168 The Effect of Choice of Forum Clauses on Third Party Cargo Receivers....Pages 169-188 Future Developments – the Hamburg Rules and Beyond....Pages 189-217 General Observations and Conclusions....Pages 219-224 Back Matter....Pages 225-281