Arranged thematically and covering the entire breadth of the law of carriage of goods by sea, including bills of lading and charterparties, limitation, admiralty claims, and maritime arbitration, this book discusses the underlying principles of contract, agency, tort, and bailment as well as the business of carriage, and shippers' and carriers' obligations, rights and immunities. The scope and application of the Rotterdam Rules is covered in a dedicated chapter, which guides the reader on this important international instrument which was signed in 2009, but is not yet in force. Coverage of the main provisions and changes to be implemented in accordance with the Rotterdam Rules also feature throughout. The underlying principles to documents of carriage, international regulation, and the responsibilities and obligations of the skipper and carrier are all addressed in this single volume resource.