The Greek Supreme Court has recently confirmed the principles for determining a limitation of liability
International legal framework for shipowner liability limitation established by 1976 Convention, aiming to harmonize rules among member states.
Contracting states of Convention on Limitation of Liability for Maritime Claims 1976 (LLMC 1976)
On 14 January 2019, the Singapore Parliament passed the Merchant Shipping (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill. The main objectives of the Bill are to amend the Merchant Shipping Act to implement i) the 1996 Protocol to the 1976 LLMC; and ii) the International Convention on Salvage, 1989.
Members will recall that substantial increases in the liability limits set by the 1976 London Convention on Limitation of Liability for Maritime Claims (LLMC) as amended by the 1996 LLMC Protocol, were agreed by the IMO Legal Committee in 2012.
LLMC 1996, 2012 amendment - FAQs
22/05/2015
The Limits of liability under the original LLMC 1996 protocol have been increased by 51% prompted by a number of high profile bunker pollution incidents, notably the Pacific Adventurer incident of Queensland, Australia in 2009.
Amendments to increase the limits of liability in the 1996 Protocol to the Convention on Limitation of Liability for Maritime Claims were adopted by the Legal Committee of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), when the Committee met for its 99th session in London.
The new limits that apply under the LLMC 96 are expected to enter into force 36 months from the date of adoption, on 19 April 2015, under the tacit acceptance procedure.