Convention on Limitation of Liability for Maritime Claims

Document type: Multilateral
Field of application: Global
Date: Nov 19, 1976
Source: IUCN (ID: TRE-000117)

Title abbreviation: LLMC 1976
Title (French): Convention sur la limitation de la responsabilité en matière de créances maritimes
Title (Other): Übereinkommen über die Beschränkung der Haftung für Seeforderungen
Place of adoption: London
Depository: IMO International Maritime Organization
Language: English, French, Russian, Spanish
Entry into force: Dec 1, 1986
Subject: Sea
Keyword: Maritime zone Liability/compensation Law reform/harmonization/deregulation Navigation Special fund Jurisdictional competence Transport/storage

Abstract: Objectives: To determine certain uniform rules relating to the limitation of liability for maritime claims. Summary of provisions: This Convention was adopted in the framework of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO). Chapter I defines persons entitled to limit liability, claims subject to limitation and claims excepted from it, conduct barring limitation, and counter claims. Chapter II sets the general financial limits of liability, provides a special limit for passenger claims, and deals with aggregation of claims. Chapter III concerns the limitation fund which may be constituted by any person liable under the Convention. Chapter IV defines the scope of application of the Convention, providing an option for Parties to exclude wholly or partially persons liable under the Convention from its application if certain conditions are met.
Full text: English French Spanish
Website: www.imo.org

Country/Territory/Participant

Countries	Entry into force	Ratification *	Simple signature	Withdrawal
Albania	Oct 1, 2004	Jun 7, 2004 [2]	-	-
Algeria	Dec 1, 2004	Aug 4, 2004 [2]	-	-
Antigua and Barbuda	Feb 1, 2010	Oct 12, 2009 [2]	-	-
Australia	Jun 1, 1991	Feb 20, 1991 [2]	-	Jun 1, 2014
Azerbaijan	Nov 1, 2004	Jul 16, 2004 [2]	-	-
Bahamas	Dec 1, 1986	Jun 7, 1983 [2]	-	-
Barbados	Sep 1, 1994	May 6, 1994 [2]	-	-
Belgium	Oct 1, 1989	Jun 15, 1989 [2]	-	Oct 9, 2009
Benin	Dec 1, 1986	Nov 1, 1985 [2]	-	-
Bulgaria	Nov 1, 2005	Jul 4, 2005 [2]	-	-
China	Jul 1, 1997	-	-	-
Congo	Jan 1, 2005	Sep 7, 2004 [2]	-	-
Cook Islands (New Zealand)	Jul 1, 2007	Mar 12, 2007 [2]	-	-
Croatia	Jun 1, 1993	Mar 2, 1993 [2]	-	-
Cyprus	Apr 1, 2006	Dec 23, 2005 [2]	-	-
Denmark	Dec 1, 1986	May 30, 1984 [1]	Dec 22, 1977	Apr 1, 2005
Dominica	Dec 1, 2001	Aug 31, 2001 [2]	-	-
Egypt	Jul 1, 1988	Mar 30, 1988 [2]	-	-
Equatorial Guinea	Aug 1, 1996	Apr 24, 1996 [2]	-	-
Estonia	Feb 1, 2003	Oct 23, 2002 [2]	-	-
Finland	Dec 1, 1986	May 8, 1984 [1]	Dec 30, 1977	May 13, 2004
France	Dec 1, 1986	Jul 1, 1981 [3]	Dec 21, 1977	-
Georgia	Jun 1, 1996	Feb 20, 1996 [2]	-	-
Germany	Sep 1, 1987	May 12, 1987 [1]	Dec 16, 1977	May 13, 2004
Greece	Nov 1, 1991	Jul 3, 1991 [2]	-	-
Guyana	Apr 1, 1998	Dec 10, 1997 [2]	-	-
Hungary	Nov 1, 2008	Jul 4, 2008 [2]	-	-
India	Dec 1, 2002	Aug 20, 2002 [2]	-	-
Iran, Islamic Republic of	Dec 1, 2015	Sep 1, 2015 [2]	-	-
Ireland	Jun 1, 1998	Feb 24, 1998 [2]	-	-
Jamaica	Dec 1, 2005	Aug 17, 2005 [2]	-	-
Japan	Dec 1, 1986	Jun 4, 1982 [2]	-	Aug 1, 2006
Kiribati	May 5, 2007	Feb 5, 2007 [2]	-	-
Latvia	Nov 1, 1999	Jul 13, 1999 [2]	-	-
Liberia	Dec 1, 1986	Feb 17, 1981 [2]	-	-
Lithuania	Jul 1, 2004	Mar 3, 2004 [2]	-	-
Luxembourg	Mar 1, 2006	Nov 21, 2005 [2]	-	-
Marshall Islands	Mar 1, 1995	Nov 29, 1994 [2]	-	-
Mauritius	Apr 1, 2003	Dec 17, 2002 [2]	-	-
Mexico	Sep 1, 1994	May 13, 1994 [2]	-	-
Mongolia	Jan 1, 2012	Sep 28, 2011 [2]	-	-
Netherlands	Sep 1, 1990	May 15, 1990 [2]	-	Jan 1, 2012
New Zealand	Jun 1, 1994	Feb 14, 1994 [2]	-	Oct 1, 2017
Nigeria	Jun 1, 2004	Feb 24, 2004 [2]	-	-
Niue (New Zealand)	Sep 27, 2012	Jun 27, 2012 [2]	-	-
Norway	Dec 1, 1986	Mar 30, 1984 [1]	Dec 21, 1977	Nov 1, 2006
Poland	Dec 1, 1986	Apr 28, 1986 [2]	-	-
Romania	Jul 1, 2007	Mar 12, 2007 [2]	-	-
Saint Lucia	Sep 1, 2004	May 20, 2004 [2]	-	-
Samoa	Sep 1, 2004	May 18, 2004 [2]	-	-
Serbia	Jul 1, 2013	Mar 19, 2013 [2]	-	-
Sierra Leone	Nov 1, 2001	Jul 26, 2001 [2]	-	-
Singapore	May 1, 2005	Jan 24, 2005 [2]	-	-
Spain	Dec 1, 1986	Nov 13, 1981 [1]	Oct 12, 1977	Nov 1, 2007
Sweden	Dec 1, 1986	Mar 30, 1984 [1]	Dec 19, 1977	Aug 1, 2005
Switzerland	Apr 1, 1988	Dec 15, 1987 [2]	-	-
Syrian Arab Republic	Jan 1, 2006	Sep 2, 2005 [2]	-	-
Tonga	Jan 1, 2004	Sep 18, 2003 [2]	-	-
Trinidad and Tobago	Jul 1, 2000	Mar 6, 2000 [2]	-	-
Turkey	Jul 1, 1998	Mar 6, 1998 [2]	-	-
Tuvalu	May 1, 2009	Jan 12, 2009 [2]	-	-
United Arab Emirates	Mar 1, 1998	Nov 19, 1997 [2]	-	-
United Kingdom	Dec 1, 1986	Jan 31, 1980 [1]	Feb 1, 1977	May 13, 2004
Vanuatu	Jan 1, 1993	Sep 14, 1992 [2]	-	-
Yemen	Dec 1, 1986	Mar 6, 1979 [2]	-	-

* [1] Ratification [2] Accession/approbation [3] Acceptance/approval [4] Succession [5] Consent to be bound [6] Definite signature

References - Treaties

Amended by: Protocol of 1996 to amend the Convention on Limitation of Liability for Maritime Claims, 1976

Treaty | Multilateral | London | May 2, 1996

Keyword: Transport/storage, Law reform/harmonization/deregulation, Legal proceedings/administrative proceedings, Special fund, Navigation, Jurisdictional competence, Liability/compensation, Maritime zone

Source: IUCN (ID: TRE-001248)

Cited by: Nairobi International Convention on the Removal of Wrecks

Treaty | Multilateral | Nairobi | May 18, 2007

Keyword: Oil pollution, High seas, Wild fauna, Marine area, Marine fisheries, Marine pollution (ship-based sources), Wild flora, Hazardous substances, Marine pollution, Navigation

Source: IUCN (ID: TRE-160031); International Convention on Civil Liability for Bunker Oil Pollution Damage, 2001

Treaty | Multilateral | London | Mar 23, 2001

Keyword: Jurisdictional competence, Enforcement/compliance, Registration, Certification, Marine pollution, Liability/compensation, Oil pollution, Vessel ownership

Source: IUCN (ID: TRE-001377)

Other references

Literature: 1 record related to this treaty. View literature

Country/Territory/Participant

References - Treaties

Protocol of 1996 to amend the Convention on Limitation of Liability for Maritime Claims, 1976

Nairobi International Convention on the Removal of Wrecks

International Convention on Civil Liability for Bunker Oil Pollution Damage, 2001

Other references