1、International Multimodal TransportI.Freight Forwarder-Agent or Principal The freight forwarder.sometimes called also road transport operator.air cargo agent and multimodal transport operator,assumes a number of different roles.1.Ideally,the transport document issued by the forwarder should expressly
2、 indicate capacity:that is,whether he is acting as agent for the consignor or as principal.The question is resolved by looking to other factors such as:(a)The type of transport document.(b)The charges.(c)The language used by the consignor and the forwarder.(d)The extent and frequency of communicatio
3、n between the consignor and the forwarder.2.I.Freight Forwarder-Agent or Principal (e)Past course of dealings between the forwarder and the consignor.(e)Past course of dealings between the forwarder and the consignor.2.In the event of the forwarder acting as agent,the consignor is in a direct contra
4、ctual relationship with the carrier performing the different segments of the multimodal transport operation.The issue of whom to sue in the event of loss or damage is dependent on the kind of transport document issued by the contracting carrier:(a)The contracting carrier may issue a FIATA Bill or a
5、multimodal transport document that incorporates the UNCTAD ICC Rules 1992.(b)The contracting carrier may issue a through bill of lading.3.I.Freight Forwarder-Agent or Principal As an agent,the forwarder will be expected to act in accordance within the express or implied authority given to him.He mus
6、t also exercise reasonable skill and care in the performance of his duties.1.Where the forwarder has acted negligently,the principal will be able to sue him for damages.In the event of fraud,the principal can sue him for fraud and conspiracy or sue to recover the profit made by him.2.A.Responsibilit
7、ies and Liabilities of an Agent I.Freight Forwarder-Agent or Principal As an agent,the forwarder is not liable(personally)to the carrier for freight charges,customs duties,etc.unless there is an established custom.The agent has the right to be indemnified for the expenses heincurs in carrying out hi
8、s principals instructions.The agreed remuneration must be paid by the principal to the agent.Where he is not paid,the agent can sue the principal for the sum due.1.B.Agents Rights I.Freight Forwarder-Agent or Principal As an agent,the forwarder is not liable(personally)to the carrier for freight cha
9、rges,customs duties,etc.unless there is an established custom.The agent has the right to be indemnified for the expenses heincurs in carrying out his principals instructions.The agreed remuneration must be paid by the principal to the agent.Where he is not paid,the agent can sue the principal for th
10、e sum due.1.B.Agents Rights II.Unification Efforts by the Industry Applicability of the ConditionsThe Conditions for use by members,need to be incorporated into the contract.Express incorporation is the ideal method.However,they may be incorporated impliedly or otherwise.1.A.BIFA Standard Trading Co
11、nditions Responsibilities and Liabilities of the ForwarderThe forwarder in his capacity of principal is responsible for the goods from the time of taking charge of them to the time of delivery.In other words,he remains responsible for the goods while they are in his2.II.Unification Efforts by the In
12、dustry control.The forwarder is required to perform his duties with a reasonable degree of care,diligence.skill and judgment.In other words.he should not be negligent in performing his duties in relation to the goods from the point of receipt to the point of delivery.2.A.BIFA Standard Trading Condit
13、ions Forwarders RightsThe contract will normally specify the charges to be paid by the consignor to the for warder.The Conditions require the customer to pay all sums as and when they are due in cash or as otherwise3.II.Unification Efforts by the Industry agreed.Where this is not paid,the Conditions
14、 create a general lien on goods and documents in his possession.In other words,the forwarder can hold on to the goods and documents till the sums due are paid by the customer or owner.The forwarder has the right to sell the goods on 28 days notice in writing.Right of sale is also imparted under the
15、Conditions in a number of situations,that is:(a)where the cargo has perished or is in danger of perishing and likely to cause damage to third parties or contravene regulations;and(b)where goods are not collected or the person supposed to take delivery is not traceable.3.A.BIFA Standard Trading Condi
16、tions II.Unification Efforts by the Industry Responsibilities and Liabilities of the ConsignorThe consignor is responsible for providing accurate and adequate descriptions of the goods and must pack the goods adequately,mark and label them properly.4.A.BIFA Standard Trading Conditions II.Unification
17、 Efforts by the Industry Where the Conditions apply,the cargo owner must institute proceedings within nine months of the event giving rise to a cause of action.The argo owner is also required to make his claim in writing to the forwarder within 14 days of the date on which the cargo owner became awa
18、re of the event giving rise to the claim.unless he can show that it was not possible for him to do so within the time limit.1.B.Time Limit,Jurisdiction and Applicable Law III.FIATA Negotiable Multimodal Bill of Lading The provisions of the FIATA Bill apply when parties agree to contract on these ter
19、ms.The terms assume that the freight forwarder(defined as multimodal transport operator who issues the bill.is named on the face of the document and assumes liability for the multimodal transport contract as a carrier)is the principal.They govern carriage of all types of cargo,including live animals
20、.They apply equally where one mode of transport is used to carry the cargo.1.A.Applicability of FIATA Bill Terms III.FIATA Negotiable Multimodal Bill of Lading The freight forwarder is responsible for the cargo from the moment he takes the goods in his charge to the time of delivery.He does.however.
21、have the right to choose the method of transportation,the route and the procedure of handling and storage of the goods.1.B.Responsibilities,Liabilities and Rights of the Freight Forwarder However,where there is carriage by sea or inland waters,the forwarder is allowed two more defences:(a)act,neglec
22、t,or default of the master,mariner,pilot or the servants of the carrier in the navigation or in2.III.FIATA Negotiable Multimodal Bill of Lading the management of the ship;(b)fire,unless caused by the actual fault or privity of the carrier,however,always provided that whenever loss or damage has resu
23、lted from unseaworthiness of the ship,the freight forwarder can prove that due diligence has been exercised to make the ship seaworthy at the commencement of the voyage.2.B.Responsibilities,Liabilities and Rights of the Freight Forwarder The consignor is responsible for the accurate description ,mar
24、ks ,quantity weight,etc,of the goods and the consignor remains liable to the freight forwarder for any loss of damage he may have suffered even though the document is transferred to the consignee.1.C.Consignors Responsibilities III.FIATA Negotiable Multimodal Bill of Lading An action would be time b
25、arred if it is not brought within nine months after the delivery of the goods or the date when the goods should have been delivered or the date when the goods could be treated as lost.2.C.Consignors Responsibilities The Multimodal Convention is designed to introduce a uniform liability scheme.The li
26、ability of the multimodal transport operator is therefore not dependant on establishing during which mode of transport the loss or1.D.The United Nations Convention on International Multimodal Transport 1980 III.FIATA Negotiable Multimodal Bill of Lading damage occurred.It adopts a simple scheme:The
27、multimodal transport operator is responsible for loss,damage or delay in delivery while the goods are in his control-that is,from the time he takes them in his charge to the time of delivery.The basis of the multimodal transport operators liability is one of presumed faults or neglect.1.D.The United
28、 Nations Convention on International Multimodal Transport 1980 The above simplicity in respect of liability does not mean that the Multimodal Convention is the perfect solution to a complex situation.It has its fair share of problems,some of which are highlighted here.It adopts2.III.FIATA Negotiable
29、 Multimodal Bill of Lading a complex network scheme for compensation by drawing a distinction between multimodal transport involving a sea trajectory and multimodal transport not involving a sea trajectory.2.D.The United Nations Convention on International Multimodal Transport 1980 The Multimodal Co
30、nvention also innocently assumes that transport documents clearly state whether the freight forwarder acts in the capacity of principal to bring him within the definition of multimodal transport operator provided in Article 1(2).3.III.FIATA Negotiable Multimodal Bill of Lading Another surprising feature of the convention is the lack of a precise definition of international multimodal transport.4.D.The United Nations Convention on International Multimodal Transport 1980 Thanks for Watching
