INTRODUCTION

Transport of goods to a customer in an EU country will typically involve a road or rail leg in the country of the exporter; a sea or air leg to deliver the goods to a port or airport in the EU; and then either road, rail or inland waterway transport, or some combination of these, to deliver the goods to the customer's place of business. Each of these legs of transport is likely to be covered by a different legal regime. The reason for this is that over the years different international conventions have been entered into for sea transport, air transport, road transport, rail transport and transport by inland waterway. This means that the extent of liability of the carrier for loss or damage to the goods often depends on the leg of the journey where the loss or damage occurred and the relevant international convention applicable to that leg as well as the terms and conditions of carriage set out in the transport document issued by the carrier.

This chapter begins with an introduction to transport arrangements for goods to and within the EU to provide readers with some understanding of the significance of each form of transport as well as some insight into how each form of transport is likely to develop in coming years.