貨損單位責任限制及其於鹿特丹規則之分析

Package Limitation of Liability in Marine Cargo Claims and Analysis of Its Application in the Rotterdam Rules

於海上貨物運送過程中，若發生貨損或將產生單位責任限制的賠償問題。於航運發展與各國利益權衡下，海運貨損單位責任限制之規範，國際間並未統一。聯合國貿法會（UNCITRAL）決議通過「聯合國全部或部分海上國際貨物運送公約」，於2009年9月23日荷蘭鹿特丹舉行簽署，簡稱2009年鹿特丹規則（The Rotterdam Rules），主要目的係為了因應現代航運發展趨勢，並圖統一國際海運公約之準則。於鹿特丹規則第59條第1項，明文規範單位責任限制。本文主要探討單位責任限制之演進，比較國際海運公約之規範，透過歸納分析紛爭解決之道，及鹿特丹規則之規範，探討單位責任限制最新發展趨勢，並針對國內貨損單位責任限制提出具體修正建議。

During the process of marine cargo transportation, when cargo claims occurred in transit, it may trigger the legal issue of the package limitation of liability. The clear substance of the package limitation of liability has not reached common consensus due to the different balance of interests between the development of shipping industries and national concerns. Thus, the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) decided to enact the "Convention on Contracts Jar the International Carriage of Goods Wholly or Partly by Sea", and held the ratification ceremony in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, on September 23rd in 2009. Therefore, the Convention is also called "The Rotterdam Rules". The purpose of the Convention was to respond to the current trend of development in the shipping industry, and also unify the different rules for the international maritime conventions. The package limitation of liability was regulated under Article 59(1) of this Convention. This paper is primarily to discuss the evolution of the idea for package limitation of liability, and compare the different regulations among international societies. By analyzing the legal cases and theories related to such an issue, this paper summarized and explored the developing trend for regulating the issue of the package limitation of liability. In addition, this paper also discussed the regulations of the package limitation of liability under the Rotterdam Rules. This paper emphasizes such latest regulations with regard to the Rotterdam Rules. Finally, this paper concludes these observations and suggests the possible revision of corresponding regulations in Taiwan.