Learning objective/Course Aim
The course gives an overview of the general law of transportation, with emphasis on carriage of goods and the conditions of maritime law. The general law of transportation is the part concerned with contracts of carriage and treats such topics as the following:
- contracting for carriage
- types of contracts used for transportation
- the use of documents such as charterparties, bills of lading and waybills
- the relationship between carriage and the sale of goods carried
- ancillary transactions such as insurance and banking contracts. Passenger transportation is covered more briefly.
The course also gives glimpses of problems of the special law of transport, i.e. the part dealing mainly with the means and ways of transport. This is considered mainly for maritime law and covers such matters as the following:
- use of waterways in the light of international and domestic law
- legal aspects of vessels, including nationality, sale, ownership and managment
- finance and security aspects, such as building, sale, lease and mortgage
- seamen’s law including master’s role and powers
- shipowner’s liability and its limitations, including liability for oil pollution
- general average, collision and salvage
- marine insurance
From autumn 2017 students are required to write and hand in four papers in connection with the seminars. The papers serves as a preparation for the final exam.