Date of Award

1999

Document Type

Thesis

Abstract

The multimodal transport of dangerous goods is a high risk enterprise for the participants, the public, and public and private property. This study examines the lack of congruency of safety and environmental protection rules which govern the international transport of dangerous goods, along with the concurrent progressive efforts of the international community to ensure global and inter-modal harmonization of these rules. It discusses their inadequacy and proposes a solution. The analysis of the existing rules, fragmented along modal and geographical fines, shows that they do not sufficiently introduce the safety, environmental protection and liability considerations into the legal regime governing the international multimodal movement of dangerous good. Rather, they cause confusion and ignorance of carriers, shippers, packers, inspecting authorities and others with respect to the applicable preventive requirements and consequent liabilities. This situation also seriously impedes efficiency in the transport of dangerous goods. The thesis argues that such a result is not acceptable when tested against the international community's principles and objectives in this field. The principles of sustainable development call upon international organizations and governments to cooperate, interrelate, coordinate and integrate in their law-making in the field of environmental protection.

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