International Trade and Carriage of Goods by Sea
Texts, Cases, and Materials
"I am pleased to have been invited to write the Foreword to the book International Trade and Carriage of Goods by Sea: Texts, Cases and Materials, not only because of the importance of the subject matter to the Nigerian economy but also because of the intellectual capacity and rich experience of the author in this field.
As observed by the author, there are diverse laws, domestic and international, as well as international conventions and procedures governing the various stages of a contract for the international carriage of goods by sea.
Surprisingly, notwithstanding the universality of such contracts, there is a dearth of local literature that compiles these laws and comprehensively analyses them and their application in various circumstances, to serve as a guide to not only legal practitioners and judicial officers but all other stakeholders in the industry.
The book, consisting of over 600 pages, is well organised into 9 chapters covering the most common areas of interest. The chapters are further subdivided for better elucidation. It contains extensive research and in-depth analysis of the applicable laws, rules, conventions and standard forms governing the subject matter as well as attendant risks. It explains the common terms associated with cross-border international maritime transactions and examines the rights and obligations of the parties and available remedies in the event of loss or damage. It relies primarily on case law with illustrations and diagrams for easy understanding. An entire chapter is dedicated to the fundamental issue of jurisdiction.
The comprehensiveness of this work is a clear manifestation of the knowledge and experience of the author, Mfon Ekong Usoro, a shipping lawyer and maritime administrator with many years of practice in the maritime sector. Having delivered papers at numerous domestic and international conferences, she knows where the shoe pinches. The book reflects her deep understanding of the subject and provides a most valuable resource for judicial officers, legal practitioners and other stakeholders interested in this specialised area of law.
I commend the industry exhibited by the author in the painstaking research that has culminated in a textbook that I have no hesitation in recommending to all who seek knowledge on the intricacies of International Trade and Carriage of Goods by Sea. I predict that it will become a much sought-after reference book on the subject. I encourage all to enrich their libraries with this exceptional work."
HON. JUSTICE KUDIRAT M.O. KEKERE-EKUN, GCON.
Chief Justice of Nigeria
Meet The Author
Mfon Ekong Usoro has extensive experience as a shipping lawyer and a maritime administrator with an avid interest in research, trade law, supply chain and transport, and speaking at international and domestic conferences. She is the pioneer and past Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency and the immediate past Secretary General of the Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control for West and Central Africa. She was, for several years, an officer of the Nigerian Maritime Law Association (a national chapter of the Comite Maritime International).
Usoro is a member of the Governing Board of the International Maritime Institute of Nigeria, set up by the Nigerian Navy, and is an Independent Non-Executive Director of First City Monument Bank and The Infrastructure Bank. Mfon Usoro is the Vice-Chair of the International Bar Association Bar Issues Committee on International Trade in Legal Services.
In “International Trade & Carriage of Goods by Sea”, highly respected corporate lawyer and maritime law expert, Barrister Mfon Usoro takes readers on an enlightening journey through the intricate world of maritime law. With a focus on the international sale and transportation of goods, this comprehensive guide is an indispensable resource for professionals seeking to understand and navigate the complexities of this specialized field. Harnessing her extensive knowledge of the subject, garnered through decades of experience as a legal practitioner, national regulator, and international thought leader, the author delves chapter by chapter into text, cases and materials relevant to the legal, commercial, and operational issues related to international carriage of goods. The author has covered the subject matter from both a Nigerian and international perspective. She does her nation great credit by ensuring that Nigerian peculiarities have been given scholarly attention. Mfon’s dedicated service to the maritime sector is matched by only a few. This book, being her latest contribution, will cement her legacy as true leader of maritime law.
Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, CFR
Chairman, Access Holdings Plc
“I have had the privilege of witnessing firsthand, for well over 30 years, the exceptional expertise and dedication of the author, my dear friend and colleague, to the law and practice of international maritime law. This book is, in part, the culmination of her extensive experience and knowledge, offering a comprehensive and insightful guide that navigates the complex landscape of international trade and the carriage of goods by sea. I say, “in part” because I know this will not be her last book. With its meticulous analysis and lucid language garnished with a plethora of Nigerian cases, this work is an invaluable resource for anyone involved in international trade, from practitioners and academics to students and shipping professionals. Mfon Usoro’s mastery of the subject matter is evident in the way she has deftly broken down complex legal concepts into understandable segments. The first three chapters alone provide a thorough foundation in international sales and transportation of goods by sea, the role of documentary credits in financing international trade, and the implied obligations in the carriage of goods by sea contracts. She has distilled intricate legal ideas into clear and concise language, making this book a veritable treasure trove of knowledge that will benefit readers. I wholeheartedly commend Mfon for her remarkable contribution to the growth of Nigerian jurisprudence in international trade and the carriage of goods by sea. This reference book will undoubtedly have a lasting impact on the development of maritime law in Nigeria and beyond, serving as a go-to reference for legal practitioners, shipping professionals, and anyone involved in international trade.”
Funke Agbor, SAN, FCIArb
Partner, Dentons ACAS-Law
President, Nigerian Maritime Law Association
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