United Nations (UN) Convention on Contracts for the International Carriage of Goods Wholly or Partly by Sea (the “Rotterdam Rules”)
The UN Convention on Contracts for the International Carriage of Goods Wholly or Partly by Sea (Rotterdam Rules) provides mandatory liability standards for maritime transport and modernizes earlier conventions (Hague Rules 1924, Hague-Visby Rules 1968, Hamburg Rules 1978). The Convention recognizes technological and commercial developments in maritime transport, particularly regarding electronic transport documents.
Key paperless trade provisions are found in:
Chapter 3 (Electronic transport records):
- Legal recognition of electronic transport records
- Electronic documentation procedures
- Digital equivalence standards
- Electronic authentication methods
- Digital record management
Chapter 8 (Transport documents and electronic transport records):
- Electronic transport document issuance
- Digital signature protocols
- Electronic data exchange systems
- Digital verification procedures
- Cross-border electronic record transfer
Note: While not yet in force (requires ratification by 20 countries per Article 94 - source). ), the Convention establishes a comprehensive framework for electronic transport documentation in maritime trade.