THE LIABILITY INSURANCE OF MARITIME CARRIERS IN THE EVENT OF NAUTICAL FAULTS: Croatian Solutions and European Trends

Abstract

Prijevoz robe morem ima niz karakteristika koje rezultiraju sustavom raspodjele rizika koji se ne može pronaći u legislativi drugih prometnih grana (zrak, cesta, željeznica i rijeke). U tom pogledu institut nautičke pogreške, kao razlog za ekskulpaciju prijevoznika od odgovornosti za štete, ima dugu povijest u pomorstvu gdje je stvoren ne radi favoriziranja prijevoznika, kao što se možda čini na prvi pogled nekome tko nije upoznat s pomorskim pravom, već s ciljem raspodjele rizika između prijevoznika i korisnika prijevoza. Cilj je autora ispitati obilježja navedenog instituta i čitateljima pružiti sistematično razumijevanje materije s posebnim osvrtom na osiguranja od odgovornosti pomorskog prijevoznika u slučaju nautičke pogreške. U prvom dijelu rada daje se odgovor na pitanje je li povijesna svrha instituta i danas održiva te što o tome promišljaju teoretičari pomorskog prava i osigurateljske industrije? Nadalje će se analizirati vrste, polje primjene i priroda navedenog pojma u hrvatskom pomorskom pravu te njegov položaj u ugovorima o osiguranju od odgovornosti prijevoznika. Iako je hrvatsko zakonodavstvo u fokusu, nemoguće je, i bilo bi loše za analitički prikaz instituta, da ne ilustriramo međunarodni aspekt primjene nautičke pogreške. U zaključku, kroz analizu studije slučaja pomorske nesreće uzrokovane nautičkom pogreškom zapovjednika broda ukazuje se na nužnost daljnjeg promišljanja tako željenog, a opet osporavnog instituta nautičke pogreške kao razloga za oslobađanja od odgovornosti pomorskog prijevoznika. Je li konačno sazrelo vrijeme da se prijevoz tereta morem izjednači s drugim vrstama prijevoza u kojima prijevoznik odgovara za radnje i propuste osoba kojima se služi u poslovanju kao za svoje osobne?The transport of goods by sea has a number of characteristics resulting in a system of risk allocation that cannot be found in the legislation applicable to other models of transportation (air, road, rail and river). In this regard, the notion of nautical fault appears as the basis for the exculpation of carrier from liability for damages. It has a long history in shipping, although it has not been devised to favour the carrier, as it may be inferred by someone less acquainted with the complexities of maritime law. Instead, its aim has been risk distribution between carriers and transport users. It is the goal of this paper to examine the characteristics of the specified legal construct, and on that basis provide the reader with a systematic understanding of the subject matter, with a special focus on the liability insurance of carrier in case of nautical fault. The first part of the paper looks at whether the historical purpose of the notion is still viable today. In this respect, the standpoints of maritime law scholars and insurance industry professionals are considered. Secondly, the type, scope and nature of the specified term in the Croatian maritime law is analysed, including its placement in the contracts of carrier liability insurance. A caveat: although the Croatian legislation is in focus, it is impossible to ignore the application of its international aspects. Indeed, a failure to illustrate its role would restrict the usefulness of the analytic view this paper seeks to provide. The concluding segment of the paper focuses on a case study of marine accidents brought about by nautical faults of shipmasters. These indicate the need for further reflection on the popular but yet contested notion of nautical fault as the basis for the exemption of carrier from liability in maritime transportation. Has the time finally come for the carriage of goods by sea to be placed on an equal footing with other models of transport, where the carriers are responsible for their own acts and omissions as well as for those of their agents