In multi-modal transport, what typically governs liability for each leg?

In multi-modal transport, what typically governs liability for each leg?

• A. The governing contract forms and international conventions applicable to each mode.
• B. A single international convention that covers all modes.
• C. Only the law of the origin country applies.
• D. The carrier's discretion governs every leg.

Answer: (A)

In multi-modal transport, liability is determined by the rules that govern each leg of the journey. There isn’t one universal rule for all modes. The contract of carriage for a given leg points to the applicable regime, and the international conventions that apply to that mode provide the framework for liability, limits, defenses, and procedures. So the sea leg would be governed by the relevant maritime convention (like Hague-Visby or Rotterdam, as incorporated by the contract), the road leg by the road transport regime (such as CMR), the rail leg by the rail regime (CIM/SMGS), and the air leg by the aviation regime (Montreal Convention). A multimodal contract often references these conventions leg by leg, even if a single document covers multiple legs. This explains why the correct approach is that liability for each leg is governed by the governing contract forms and the international conventions applicable to that mode. The other options don’t fit because there is no single convention for all modes, origin-country law isn’t universal across legs, and the carrier’s discretion cannot override the statutory regimes that apply per mode.

In multi-modal transport, liability is determined by the rules that govern each leg of the journey. There isn’t one universal rule for all modes. The contract of carriage for a given leg points to the applicable regime, and the international conventions that apply to that mode provide the framework for liability, limits, defenses, and procedures.

So the sea leg would be governed by the relevant maritime convention (like Hague-Visby or Rotterdam, as incorporated by the contract), the road leg by the road transport regime (such as CMR), the rail leg by the rail regime (CIM/SMGS), and the air leg by the aviation regime (Montreal Convention). A multimodal contract often references these conventions leg by leg, even if a single document covers multiple legs.

This explains why the correct approach is that liability for each leg is governed by the governing contract forms and the international conventions applicable to that mode. The other options don’t fit because there is no single convention for all modes, origin-country law isn’t universal across legs, and the carrier’s discretion cannot override the statutory regimes that apply per mode.