Exemptions from Maritime Carrier Liability: A Comparative Legal-Doctrinal Analysis Under the Rotterdam Rules and National Laws

This paper undertakes a doctrinal and comparative legal analysis of maritime carrier liability exemptions under the Rotterdam Rules and national laws, with a particular focus on Jordan’s Maritime Trade Law No. 12 of 1972. It evaluates the modern liability framework codified in Article 17 of the Rotterdam Rules, which articulates specific conditions under which carriers may be exempt from liability, including absence of fault, inherent cargo defects, and force majeure. By contrasting these provisions with the more traditional and less detailed exemption regime in Jordanian law, the study exposes significant doctrinal gaps and interpretive inconsistencies. Through comparative case law from the U.S., U.K., and European civil law jurisdictions, the research highlights the challenges of harmonization and the influence of judicial reasoning on liability doctrine. The findings underscore the need for legal reform and ratification of the Rotterdam Rules to enhance commercial predictability, legal certainty, and equitable risk allocation in global maritime transport.