1974年海上旅客及其行李运输雅典公约(附英文)

1974年海上旅客及其行李运输雅典公约(附英文)

 

            简介

    本公约于１９７４年１２月２日至１２月１３日原政府间海事协商组织在雅典召开的海上旅客及其行李运输国际法律会议上通过，１９８７年４月２８日生效。参加本公约的国家有：阿根廷、巴哈马、比利时、埃及、希腊、利比里亚、卢森堡、波兰、西班牙、瑞典、汤加、原苏联、瓦努阿图、也门、英国等。

            全文

    本公约各缔约国，

认识到通过协议就有关海上运输旅客及其行李制定若干规则的愿望，

决定为此缔结一公约，并达成协议如下：

第１条  定  义

在本公约中，下列用语的含义为：

１．（ａ）“承运人”系指由其或以其名义订立运输合同的人，而不论该运输实际由其履行或由履行承运人履行；

（ｂ）“履行承运人”系指承运人以外的、实际履行全部或部分运输的船舶所有人、承租人或经营人；

２．“运输合同”系指由承运人或以其名义订立的海上运输旅客或旅客及其行李的合同；

３．“船舶”仅指海船，不包括气垫船；

４．“旅客”系指船舶上运输的下列任何人：

（ａ）根据运输合同运输的人，或

（ｂ）经承运人同意，伴随由不受本公约制约的货物运输合同规定的车辆或活动物的人；

５．“行李”系指承运人根据运输合同运输的任何物品或车辆，但不包括：

（ａ）根据租船合同、提单或主要与货物运输有关的其他合同所运输的物品和车辆，和

（ｂ）活动物；

６．“自带行李”系指旅客在其客舱内的行李，或其他由其携带、保管或控制的行李。

除适用本条第８款和第８条者外，自带行李包括旅客在其车内或车上的行李；

７．“行李灭失或损坏”包括在运输或本应运输行李的船舶到达后的合理时间内，未能将该行李交还旅客而引起的经济损失，但不包括劳资纠纷引起的延误；

８．“运输”包括下列期间：

（ａ）对旅客及其自带行李而言，旅客和（或）其自带行李在船上期间，或上下船期间，以及旅客及其自带行李从岸上经水路运输至船上或从船上经水路运输至岸上的期间，但以该运输的费用已包括在客票价之内，或用于此种辅助运输的船舶已由承运人交旅客支配为条件。但对旅客而言，“运输”不包括旅客在海运港站或码头上，或在其他港口设施之中或之上的期间；

９．“国际运输”系指按照运输合同，起运地和目的地位于两个不同的国家之内，或虽位于同一国家之内，但根据运输合同或船期表，中途停靠港在另一国家之内的任何运输；

１０．“本组织”系指政府间海事协商组织。

第２条  适  用

１．本公约适用于下列条件下的任何国际运输：

（ａ）船舶悬挂本公约某一缔约国的国旗，或在本公约某一缔约国内登记，或

（ｂ）运输合同在本公约某一缔约国内订立，或

（ｃ）按照运输合同，起运地或目的地位于本公约某一缔约国内。

２．虽有本条第１款的规定，如根据有关以另一种运输方式运输旅客或行李的任何其他国际公约的规定，而运输受该公约规定的某种民事责任制度的制约，则在这些规定强制适用于海上运输的范围内，本公约不适用。

第３条  承运人的责任

１．对因旅客死亡或人身伤害和行李的灭失或损坏造成的损失，如造成此种损失的事故发生在运输期间，并且是因承运人或其在受雇范围内行事的雇佣人或代理人的过失或疏忽所致，则承运人应负赔偿责任。

２．对于造成灭失或损坏的事故发生在运输期间及灭失或损坏的程度，索赔人应负责举证。

３．如果旅客的死亡或人身伤害或自带行李的灭失或损坏，系因船舶沉没、碰撞、搁浅、爆炸或火灾，或船舶的缺陷所致，或与此有关，则除非提出反证，否则应推定承运人或其在受雇范围内行事的雇佣人或代理人有过失或疏忽。对于其他行李的灭失或损坏，不论造成灭失或损坏事故的性质如何，除非提出反证，否则应推定有此种过失或疏忽。在所有其他情况下，索赔人应对过失或疏忽负责举证。

第４条  履行承运人

１．承运人将全部或部分运输委托履行承运人履行时，仍应依照本公约的规定对全部运输负责。此外，履行承运人对其履行的那部分运输，应受本公约的约束，并享有本公约规定的权利。

２．对由履行承运人履行的运输，承运人应对履行承运人及其在受雇范围内行事的雇佣人和代理人的行为和不为负责。

３．任何使承运人承担非由本公约所加予的义务或放弃本公约所赋予的权利的特别协议，只有经履行承运人书面明文同意，才能对履行承运人产生影响。

４．如果承运人和履行承运人均负有责任，则在此范围内，他们应负连带责任。

５．本条规定不妨害承运人和履行承运人之间的任何追偿权利。

第５条  贵重物品

承运人对货币、可流通证券、黄金、银器、珠宝、装饰品、艺术品或其他贵重物品的灭失或损坏不负责任，除非出于双方同意的安全保管目的，此种贵重物品已交由承运人保管。在此情况下，除已按第１０条第１款商定更高限额外，承运人的责任以第８条第３款规定的限额为限。

第６条  自身过失

如经承运人证明，旅客的死亡或人身伤害或其行李的灭失或损坏，系该旅客的过失或疏忽所造成或促成，则受案法院可按该法院地的法律规定，全部或部分地免除承运人的责任。

第７条  人身伤亡的责任限额

１．承运人对每一旅客的死亡或人身伤害所承担的责任，在任何情况下，每次运输不得超过７０００００法郎。如依照受案法院地的法律损害赔偿金以分期付款方式支付，则这些付款额相应的本金价值不得超过上述限额。

２．虽有本条第１款的规定，本公约任何缔约国的国内法仍可为作为该国国民的承运人规定对每一旅客的更高责任限额。

第８条  行李灭失或损坏的责任限额

１．承运人对自带行李的灭失或损坏的责任，在任何情况下每位旅客每次运输不得超过１２５００法郎。

２．承运人对车辆，包括车内或车上所有行李的灭失或损坏所承担的责任，在任何情况下每一车辆每次运输不得超过５００００法郎。

３．承运人对本条第１款和第２款所述者外的其他行李的灭失或损坏的责任，在任何情况下每位旅客每次运输不得超过１８０００法郎。

４．承运人和旅客可以商定承运人的免赔额，但对每一车辆的损坏的免赔额不超过１７５０法郎，对其他行李的灭失或损坏的免赔额，每位旅客不超过２００法郎。上述免赔额应从灭失或损坏中扣除。

第９条  货币单位和折算

１．本公约中所指的法郎，应视为一个由纯度为千分之九百的黄金６５．５毫克构成的单位。

２．第７条和第８条所述金额，应按判决之日或双方同意之日受案法院地国家货币的官方价值，参照本条第１款规定的单位，折算成该国货币。如无此种官方价值，有关国家主管当局应确定本公约所指的官方价值。

第１０条  责任限额的补充规定

１．承运人和旅客可以书面明文商定高于第７条和第８条规定的责任限额。

２．第７条和第８条规定的责任限额，不应包括损害赔偿金的利息和诉讼费。

第１１条  承运人的雇佣人的抗辩和责任限制

如就本公约规定的损失向承运人或履行承运人的雇佣人或代理人提起诉讼，这些雇佣人或代理人如证明是在其受雇范围内行事，便有权援引承运人或履行承运人依照本公约享有的抗辩和责任限制的权利。

第１２条  赔偿总额

１．在第７条和第８条规定的责任限制有效时，这些限制应适用于任何一名旅客的死亡或人身伤害或其行李的灭失或损坏所引起的所有索赔中应得的赔偿总额。

２．对由履行承运人履行的运输，从承运人、履行承运人和其在受雇范围内行事的雇佣人和代理人所取得的赔偿总额，不得超过按本公约规定可从承运人或履行承运人取得的最高金额，但上述任何人都不应对超过适用于他的责任限制的金额负责。

３．在承运人或履行承运人的雇佣人或代理人根据本公约第１１条有权援引第７条和第８条规定的责任限制的任何情况下，从承运人或履行承运人以及从该雇佣人或代理人取得的赔偿总额，不得超过这些责任限制。

第１３条  责任限制权利的丧失

１．如经证明，损失系承运人故意造成，或明知可能造成此种损失而轻率地采取的行为或不为所致，承运人便无权享有第７条和第８条以及第１０条第１款规定的责任限制的利益。

２．如经证明，损失系承运人或履行承运人的雇佣人或代理人故意造成，或明知可能造成此种损失而轻率地采取的行为或不为所致，该雇佣人或代理人便无权享有此种责任限制的利益。

第１４条  索赔的根据

除根据本公约外，不得就旅客死亡或人身伤害或行李灭失或损坏向承运人或履行承运人提起损失赔偿的诉讼。

第１５条  行李灭失或损坏的通知

１．旅客应按下述时间向承运人或其代理人提交书面通知：

（ａ）行李有明显损坏时，

（ｉ）对自带行李，应在旅客离船前或离船时；

（ｉｉ）对所有其他行李，应在行李交还前或交还时；

（ｂ）行李的损坏不明显或行李灭失时，应在离船之日或交还之日或本应交还之日起１５日内。

２．如果旅客未按本条办理，则除非提出反证，否则应推定他已收到完整无损的行李。

３．如在行李收取时，已对行李状况进行联合检验或检查，则无需提交书面通知。

第１６条  诉讼时效

１．经过两年后，就旅客的死亡或人身伤害或行李的灭失或损坏所引起的损失赔偿诉讼，时效即届满。

２．上述期限应按下述方式计算：

（ａ）对人身伤害，自旅客离船之日起算；

（ｂ）对发生在运输中的旅客死亡，自该旅客本应离船之日起算；对发生在运输中的旅客人身伤害并导致旅客在离船后死亡，自死亡之日起算，但此期限不得超过自离船之日起三年；

（ｃ）对行李灭失或损坏，自离船之日或本应离船之日起算，以迟者为准。

３．有关期限中止和中断的事由，应受受案法院地的法律的约束，但在任何情况下，在旅客离船之日或本应离船之日起三年后（以迟者为准），不得根据本公约提起诉讼。

４．虽有本条第１、２和３款的规定，在诉因产生后，经承运人声明或当事各方协议，期限可以延长。该声明或协议应以书面作出。

第１７条  管辖权

１．根据本公约产生的诉讼，经原告选择，应向下列某一法院提起，但该法院应在本公约缔约国内：

（ａ）被告永久居住地或主要营业地的法院，或

（ｂ）运输合同规定的起运地或目的地的法院，或

（ｃ）原告户籍地或永久居住地国的法院，但被告须在该国有营业所并受其管辖，或

（ｄ）运输合同订立地国的法院，但被告须在该国有营业所并受其管辖。

２．在造成损失的事故发生后，当事各方可商定将损失索赔提交任何法院管辖或交付仲裁。

第１８条  合同条款的无效

在造成旅客死亡或人身伤害或其行李灭失或损坏的事故发生之前达成的任何合同条款，如旨在解除承运人对旅客承担的责任，或规定低于本公约确定的责任限制（第８条第４款规定者除外），以及旨在推卸承运人的举证责任，或限制第１７条第１款规定的选择权，均属无效。但这种条款的无效不应使运输合同无效，运输合同仍应受本公约规定的约束。

第１９条  其他责任限制公约

本公约不改变有关海船所有人责任限制的国际公约规定的承运人、履行承运人及其雇佣人或代理人的权利和义务。

第２０条  核损害

在下列情况下，对核事故造成的损害，不得根据本公约产生任何责任。

（ａ）如果按１９６４年１月２８日补充议定书修正的１９６０年７月２９日核能方面第三方责任巴黎公约，或１９６３年５月２１日核损害民事责任维也纳公约的规定，核设施的经营人对此种损害负责，或

（ｂ）根据约束此种损害责任的国内法，核设施的经营人应对此种损害负责，但此种国内法应在各方面和巴黎公约或维也纳公约一样有利于可能遭受损害的人。

第２１条  公共当局的商业运输

本公约适用于国家或公共当局根据第１条含义中的运输合同从事的商业运输。

第２２条  不适用本公约的声明

１．任何缔约国可以在签署、批准、接受、核准或加入本公约时书面声明，当承运人和旅客同属该国国民时，不实施本公约。

２．根据本条第１款所作的任何声明，可通过向本组织秘书长提交一书面通知，随时予以撤销。

第２３条  签署、批准和加入

１．本公约于１９７５年１２月３１日前在本组织总部开放供签署，并在其后继续开放供加入。

２．各国可以下列方式成为本公约的缔约国：

（ａ）签署并对批准、接受或核准无保留；

（ｂ）签署而有待批准、接受或核准，随后再予以批准、接受或核准；或

（ｃ）加入。

３．批准、接受、核准或加入本公约，应向本组织秘书长交存一份相应的正式文件。

第２４条  生  效

１．本公约应在十个国家已在公约上签署并对批准、接受或核准无保留，或者已经交存所需批准、接受、核准或加入书之日后第９０天生效。

２．对此后签署本公约并对批准、接受或核准无保留，或交存批准、接受、核准或加入文件的国家，本公约应在此种签署或文件交存之日后第９０天生效。

第２５条  退  出

１．任何缔约国可在本公约对其生效以后，随时退出本公约。

２．退出本公约，应向本组织秘书长交存一份文件，秘书长应将退出文件收到和交存日期通知所有其他缔约国。

３．退出本公约，应在交存退出通知后一年或该文件中所指明的较此更长的期限后生效。

第２６条  修订和修正

１．修订或修正本公约的会议，可由本组织召开。

２．经不少于三分之一缔约国要求，本组织应召开本公约缔约国会议，修订或修正本公约。

３．在依照本条召开的会议所通过的修正案生效后成为本公约的缔约国的任何国家应受经修正的本公约的约束。

第２７条  保存人

１．本公约应由本组织秘书长保存。

２．本组织秘书长应当：

（ａ）将下列情况通知已签署或加入本公约的所有国家：

（ｉ）每一新的签署和每一文件的交存及其日期；

（ｉｉ）本公约的生效日期；

（ｉｉｉ）对本公约的任何退出及其生效日期；

（ｂ）将本公约核证无误的副本分送给所有签署国和所有已加入本公约的国家。

３．本公约一经生效，本组织秘书长便应依照联合国宪章第１０２条，将一份核证无误的本公约副本，送交联合国秘书处供登记和公布。

第２８条  文  字

本公约正本一份，用英文和法文写成，两种文本具有同等效力。本组织秘书长应准备俄文和西班牙文正式译本，与经签署的正本一同保存。

以下署名者，经正式授权，特签署本公约，以昭信守。

１９７４年１２月１３日订于雅典。

 

ATHENS CONVENTION RELATING TO THE CARRIAGE OF PASSENGERS AND THEIRLUGGAGE BY SEA, 1974

 

Whole document

 

THE STATES PARTIES TO THIS CONVENTION,

HAVING RECOGNIZED the desirability of determining by agreement certain

rules relating to the carriage of passengers and their luggage by sea;

HAVE DECIDED to conclude a Convention for this purpose and have

thereto agreed as follows:

 

Article 1 Definitions

In this Convention the following expressions have the meaning hereby

assigned to them:

1. (a) “carrier” means a person by or on behalf of whom a contract of

carriage has been concluded, whether the carriage is actually performed by

him or by a performing carrier;

(b) “performing carrier” means a person other than the carrier,

being the owner,  charterer or operator of a ship, who actually performs

the whole or a part of the carriage;

2. “contract of carriage” means a contract made by or on behalf of a

carrier for the carriage by sea of a passenger or of a passenger and his

luggage, as the case may be;

3. “ship” means only a seagoing vessel, excluding an air-cushion

vehicle;

4. “passenger” means any person carried in a ship.

(a) under a contract of carriage, or

(b) who, with the consent of the carrier, is accompanying a

vehicle or live animals which are covered by a contract for the carriage

of goods not governed by this Convention;

5. “luggage” means any article or vehicle carried by the carrier under

a contract of carriage,  excluding:

(a) articles and vehicles carried under a charter party, bill of

lading or other contract primarily concerned with the carriage of goods,

and

(b) live animals;

6. “cabin luggage” means luggage which the passenger has in his cabin

or is otherwise in his possession, custody or control. Except for the

application of paragraph 8 of this Article and Article 8, cabin luggage

includes luggage which the passenger has in or on his vehicle;

 

7. “loss of or damage to luggage” includes pecuniary loss resulting

from the luggage not having been re-delivered to the passenger within a

reasonable time after the arrival of the ship on which the luggage has

been or should have been carried, but does not include delays resulting

from labour disputes;

8. “carriage” covers the following periods:

(a) with regard to the passenger and his cabin luggage, the period

during which the passenger and/or his cabin luggage are on board the ship

or in the course of embarkation or disembarkation, and the period during

which the passenger and his cabin luggage are transported by water from

land to the ship or vice-versa, if the cost of such transport is included

in the fare or if the vessel used for this purpose of auxiliary transport

has been put at the disposal of the passenger by the carrier. However,

with regard to the passenger, carriage does not include the period during

which he is in a marine terminal or station or on a quay or in or on any

other port installation;

(b) with regard to cabin luggage, also the period during which the

passenger is in a marine terminal or station or on a quay or in or on any

other port installation if that luggage has been taken over by the carrier

or his servant or agent and has not been redelivered to the passenger;

(c) with regard to other luggage which is not cabin luggage, the

period from the time of its taking over by the carrier or his servant or

agent on shore or on board until the time of its re-delivery by the

carrier or his servant or agent;

9. “international carriage” means any carriage in which, according to

the contract of carriage,  the place of departure and the place of

destination are situated in two different States, or in a single State if,

according to the contract of carriage or the scheduled itinerary, there is

an intermediate port of call in another State;

10. “Organization” means the Inter-Governmental Maritime Consultative

Organization.

Article 2 Application

1. This Convention shall apply to any international carriage if:

(a) the ship is flying the flag of or is registered in a State

Party to this Convention, or

(b) the contract of carriage has been made in a State Party to

this Convention, or

(c) the place of departure or destination, according to the

contract of carriage, is in a State Party to this Convention.

2. Notwithstanding paragraph 1 of this Article, this Convention shall

not apply when the carriage is subject, under any other international

convention concerning the carriage of passengers or luggage by another

mode of transport, to a civil liability regime under the provisions of

such convention, in so far as those provisions have mandatory application

to carriage by sea.

 

Article 3 Liability of the carrier

1. The carrier shall be liable for the damage suffered as a result of

the death of or personal injury to a passenger and the loss of or damage

to luggage if the incident which caused the damage so suffered occurred in

the course of the carriage and was due to the fault or neglect of the

carrier or of his servants or agents acting within the scope of their

employment.

2. The burden of proving that the incident which caused the loss or

damage occurred in the course of the carriage, and the extent of the loss

or damage, shall lie with the claimant.

3. Fault or neglect of the carrier or of his servants or agents acting

within the scope of their employment shall be presumed, unless the

contrary is proved, if the death of or personal injury to the passenger or

the loss of or damage to cabin luggage arose from or in connexion with the

shipwreck, collision, stranding, explosion or fire, or defect in the ship.

In respect of loss of or damage to other luggage, such fault or neglect

shall be presumed, unless the contrary is proved, irrespective of the

nature of the incident which caused the loss of damage. In all other cases

the burden of proving fault or neglect shall lie with the claimant.

Article 4 Performing carrier

1. If the performance of the carriage or part thereof has been

entrusted to a performing carrier, the carrier shall nevertheless remain

liable for the entire carriage according to the provisions of this

Convention. In addition, the performing carrier shall be subject and

entitled to the provisions of this Convention for the part of the carriage

performed by him.

2. The carrier shall, in relation to the carriage performed by the

performing carrier, be liable for the acts and omissions of the performing

carrier and of his servants and agents acting within the scope of their

employment.

3. Any special agreement under which the carrier assumes obligations

not imposed by this Convention or any waiver of rights conferred by this

Convention shall affect the performing carrier only if agreed by him

expressly and in writing.

4. Where and to the extent that both the carrier and the performing

carrier are liable,  their liability shall be joint and several.

5. Nothing in this Article shall prejudice any right of recourse as

between the carrier and the performing carrier.

Article 5 Valuables

The carrier shall not be liable for the loss of or damage to moneys,

negotiable securities,  gold, silverware, jewellery, ornaments, works of

art, or other valuables, except where such valuables have been deposited

with the carrier for the agreed purpose of safe-keeping in which case the

carrier shall be liable up to the limit provided for in paragraph 3 of

Article 8 unless a higher limit is agreed upon in accordance with

paragraph 1 of Article 10.

 

Article 6 Contributory fault

If the carrier proves that the death of or personal injury to a

passenger or the loss of or damage to his luggage was caused or

contributed to by the fault or neglect of the passenger,  the court seized

of the case may exonerate the carrier wholly or partly from his liability

in accordance with the provisions of the law of that court.

Article 7 Limit of Liability for personal injury

1. The liability of the carrier for the death of or personal injury to

a passenger shall in no case exceed 700,000 francs per carriage. Where in

accordance with the law of the court seized of the case damages are

awarded in the form of periodical income payments, the equivalent capital

value of those payments shall not exceed the said limit.

2. Notwithstanding paragraph 1 of this Article, the national law of

any State Party to this Convention may fix, as far as carriers who are

nationals of such State are concerned, a higher per capita limit of

liability.

Article 8 Limit of liability for loss of or damage to luggage

1. The liability of the carrier for the loss of or damage to cabin

luggage shall in no case exceed 12,500 francs per passenger, per carriage.

2. The liability of the carrier for the loss of or damage to vehicles

including all luggage carried in or on the vehicle shall in no case exceed

50,000 francs per vehicle, per carriage.

3. The liability of the carrier for the loss of or damage to luggage

other than that mentioned in paragraphs 1 and 2 of this Article shall in

no case exceed 18,000 francs per passenger,  per carriage.

4. The carrier and the passenger may agree that the liability of the

carrier shall be subject to a deductible not exceeding 1,750 francs in the

case of damage to a vehicle and not exceeding 200 francs per passenger in

the case of loss of or damage to other luggage, such sum to be deducted

from the loss or damage.

Article 9 Monetary unit and conversion

1. The franc mentioned in this Convention shall be deemed to refer to

a unit consisting of 65.5 milligrams of gold of millesimal fineness 900.

2. The amounts referred to in Articles 7 and 8 shall be converted into

the national currency of the State of the court seized of the case on the

basis of the official value of that currency,  by reference to the unit

defined in paragraph 1 of this Article, on the date of the judgment or the

date agreed upon by the parties. If there is no such official value, the

competent authority of the State concerned shall determine what shall be

considered as the official value for the purpose of this Convention.

 

Article 10 Supplementary provisions on limits of liability

1. The carrier and the passenger may agree, expressly and in writing,

to higher limits of liability than those prescribed in Articles 7 and 8.

2. Interest on damages and legal costs shall not be included in the

limits of liability prescribed in Article 7 and 8.

Article 11 Defences and limits for carriers’ servants

If an action is brought against a servant or agent of the carrier or

of the performing carrier arising out of damage covered by this

Convention, such servant or agent, if he proves that he acted within the

scope of his employment, shall be entitled to avail himself of the

defences and limits of liability which the carrier or the performing

carrier is entitled to invoke under this Convention.

Article 12 Aggregation of claims

1. Where the limits of liability prescribed in Articles 7 and 8 take

effect, they shall apply to the aggregate of the amounts recoverable in

all claims arising out of the death of or personal injury to any one

passenger or the loss of or damage to his luggage.

2. In relation to the carriage performed by a performing carrier, the

aggregate of the amounts recoverable from the carrier and the performing

carrier and from their servants and agents acting within the scope of

their employment shall not exceed the highest amount which could be

awarded against either the carrier or the performing carrier under this

Convention,  but none of the persons mentioned shall be liable for a sum

in excess of the limit applicable to him.

3. In any case where a servant or agent of the carrier or of the

performing carrier is entitled under Article 11 of this Convention to

avail himself of the limits of liability prescribed in Articles 7 and 8,

the aggregate of the amounts recoverable from the carrier, or the

performing carrier as the case may be, and from that servant or agent,

shall not exceed those limits.

Article 13 Loss of right to limit liability

1. The carrier shall not be entitled to the benefit of the limits of

liability prescribed in Articles 7 and 8 and paragraph 1 of Article 10, if

it is proved that the damage resulted from an act or omission of the

carrier done with the intent to cause such damage, or recklessly and with

knowledge that such damage would probably result.

2. The servant or agent of the carrier or of the performing carrier

shall not be entitled to the benefit of those limits if it is proved that

the damage resulted from an act or omission of that servant or agent done

with the intent to cause such damage, or recklessly and with knowledge

that such damage would probably result.

 

Article 14 Basis for claims

No action for damages for the death of or personal injury to a

passenger, or for the loss of or damage to luggage, shall be brought

against a carrier or performing carrier otherwise than in accordance with

this Convention.

Article 15 Notice of loss or damage to luggage

1. The passenger shall give written notice to the carrier or his

agent:

(a) in the case of apparent damage to luggage:

(i) for cabin luggage, before or at the time of disembarkation

of the passenger;

(ii) for all other luggage, before or at the time of its

re-delivery;

(b) in the case of damage to luggage which is not apparent, or

loss of luggage, within fifteen days from the date of disembarkation or

redelivery or from the time when such re-delivery should have taken place.

2. If the passenger fails to comply with this Article, he shall be

presumed, unless the contrary is proved, to have received the luggage

undamaged.

3. The notice in writing need not be given if the condition of the

luggage has at the time of its receipt been the subject of joint survey or

inspection.

 

Article 16 Time-bar for actions

1. Any action for damages arising out of the death of or personal

injury to a passenger or for the loss of or damage to luggage shall be

time-barred after a period of two years.

2. The limitation period shall be calculated as follows:

(a) in the case of personal injury, from the date of

disembarkation of the passenger;

(b) in the case of death occurring during carriage, from the date

when the passenger should have disembarked, and in the case of personal

injury occurring during carriage and resulting in the death of the

passenger after disembarkation, from the date of death, provided that this

period shall not exceed three years from the date of disembarkation;

(c) in the case of loss of or damage to luggage, from the date of

disembarkation or from the date when disembarkation should have taken

place, whichever is later.

3. The law of the court seized of the case shall govern the grounds of

suspension and interruption of limitation periods, but in no case shall an

action under this Convention be brought after the expiration of a period

of three years from the date of disembarkation of the passenger or from

the date when disembarkation should have taken place, whichever is later.

4. Notwithstanding paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 of this Article, the period

of limitation may be extended by a declaration of the carrier or by

agreement of the parties after the cause of action has arisen. The

declaration or agreement shall be in writing.

Article 17 Competent jurisdiction

1. An action arising under this Convention shall, at the option of the

claimant, be brought before one of the courts listed below, provided that

the court is located in a State Party to this Convention:

(a) the court of the place of permanent residence or principal

place of business of the defendant,  or

(b) the court of the place of departure or that of the destination

according to the contract of carriage, or

(c) a court of the State of the domicile or permanent residence of

the claimant, if the defendant has a place of business and is subject to

jurisdiction in that State, or

(d) a court of the State where the contract of carriage was made,

if the defendant has a place of business and is subject to jurisdiction in

that State.

2. After the occurrence of the incident which has caused the damage,

the parties may agree that the claim for damages shall be submitted to any

jurisdiction or to arbitration.

 

Article 18 Invalidity of contractual provisions

Any contractual provision concluded before the occurrence of the

incident which has caused the death of or personal injury to a passenger

or the loss of or damage to his luggage,  purporting to relieve the

carrier of his liability towards the passenger or to prescribe a lower

limit of liability than that fixed in this Convention except as provided

in paragraph 4 of Article 8, and any such provision purporting to shift

the burden of proof which rests on the carrier, or having the effect of

restricting the option specified in paragraph 1 of Article 17, shall be

null and void, but the nullity of that provision shall not render void the

contract of carriage which shall remain subject to the provisions of this

Convention.

Article 19 Other conventions on limitation of liability

This Convention shall not modify the rights or duties of the carrier,

the performing carrier,  and their servants or agents provided for in

international convention relating to the limitation of liability of owners

of seagoing ships.

Article 20 Nuclear damage

No liability shall arise under this Convention for damage caused by a

nuclear incident:

(a) if the operator of a nuclear installation is liable for such

damage under either the Paris Convention of July 29, 1960 on Third Party

Liability in the Field of Nuclear Energy as amended by its Additional

Protocol of January 28, 1964, or the Vienna Convention of May 21, 1963 on

Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage, or

(b) if the operator of a nuclear installation is liable for such

damage by virtue of a national law governing the liability for such

damage, provided that such law is in all respects as favourable to persons

who may suffer damage as either the Paris or the Vienna Conventions.

Article 21 Commercial carriage by public authorities

This Convention shall apply to commercial carriage undertaken by

States or Public Authorities under contracts of carriage within the

meaning of Article 1.

Article 22 Declaration of non-application

1. Any Party may at the time of signing, ratifying, accepting,

approving or acceding to this Convention, declare in writing that it will

not give effect to this Convention when the passenger and the carrier are

subjects or nationals of that Party.

2. Any declaration made under paragraph 1 of this Article may be

withdrawn at any time by a notification in writing to the

Secretary-General of the Organization.

 

Article 23 Signature, ratification and accession

1. This Convention shall be open for signature at the Headquarters of

the Organization until December 31, 1975 and shall thereafter remain open

for accession.

2. States may become Parties to this Convention by:

(a) signature without reservation as to ratification, acceptance

or approval;

(b) signature subject to ratification, acceptance or approval

followed by ratification, acceptance or approval; or

(c) accession.

3. Ratification, acceptance, approval or accession shall be effected

by the deposit of a formal instrument to that effect with the

Secretary-General of the Organization.

Article 24 Entry into force

1. This Convention shall enter into force on the ninetieth day

following the date on which ten States have either signed it without

reservation as to ratification, acceptance or approval or have deposited

the requisite instruments of ratification, acceptance, approval or

accession.

2. For any State which subsequently signs this Convention without

reservation as to ratification,  acceptance or approval, or deposits its

instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession, the

Convention shall come into force on the ninetieth day after the date of

such signature or deposit.

Article 25 Denunciation

1. This Convention may be denounced by a Party at any time after the

date on which the Convention entered into force for that Party.

2. Denunciation shall be effected by the deposit of an instrument with

the Secretary-General of the Organization who shall inform all other

Parties of the receipt of the instrument of denunciation and of the date

of its deposit.

3. A denunciation shall take effect one year after the deposit of an

instrument of denunciation,  or after such longer period as may be

specified in the instrument.

Article 26 Revision and amendment

1. A Conference for the purpose of revising or amending this

Convention may be convened by the Organization.

2. The Organization shall convene a Conference of the Parties to this

Convention for revising or amending it at the request of not less than

one-third of the Parties.

3. Any State becoming a Party to this Convention after the entry into

force of an amendment adopted by a conference convened in accordance with

this Article should be bound by the Convention as amended.

 

Article 27 Depositary

1. This Convention shall be deposited with the Secretary-General of

the Organization.

2. The Secretary-General of the Organization shall:

(a) inform all States which have signed or acceded to this

Convention of:

(i) each new signature and each deposit of an instrument

together with the date thereof;

(ii) the date of entry into force of this Convention;

(iii) any denunciation of this Convention and the date on

which it takes effect;

(b) transmit certified true copies of this Convention to all

signatory States and to all State which have acceded to this Convention.

3. Upon entry into force of this Convention, a certified true copy

thereof shall be transmitted by the Secretary-General of the Organization

to the Secretariat of the United Nations for registration and publication

in accordance with Article 102 of the Charter of the United Nations.

Article 28 Languages

This Convention is established in a single original in the English and

French languages,  both texts being equally authentic. Official

translations in the Russian and Spanish languages shall be prepared by the

Secretary-General of the Organization and deposited with the signed

original.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned being duly authorized for that

purpose have signed this Convention.

DONE AT ATHENS this thirteenth day of December one thousand nine

hundred and seventy-four.