플랫 랙 컨테이너화물이 해상운송과정에서 멸실 또는 손상이 발생하면 그 원인이 포장불량인지 또는 적부불량인지에 따라 매도인, 매수인, 계약운송인, 실제운송인 중에서 누가 책임을 져야 되는지 책임의 당사자가 결정된다. 따라서 본 연구는 법원의 법리적 해석이 타당한지 규명 하였다. 본 연구 결과는 다음과 같다. 첫째, 플랫 랙 컨테이너화물의 포장은 갑판안에 또는 갑판위에 배치되는 것과 관계없이 해상운송에 견될 수 있도록 포장되어야 한다. 둘째, 해상운송인은 운송화물을 적절하고도 주의깊게 선적, 처리, 적부, 운송, 보관, 관리, 양륙할 의무가 있는데 플랫 랙 컨테이너화물을 갑판위에 배치하는 것은 해상운송인의 의무에 해당하는 적부로 간주하지 않는다. 셋째, 플랫 랙 컨테이너화물이 갑판위에 배치되어 해상운송되는 과정에서 발생한 멸실 또는 손상의 원인은 적부불량이 아니라 포장불량으로 보아 계약운송인은 책임을 지지 않는다. 넷째, 플랫 랙 컨테이너화물이 갑판위에 배치되어 해상운송되는 과정에서 발생한 멸실 또는 손상의 원인은 포장불량이기 때문에 매수인은 매도인에게 이에 대한 손해배상을 청구하여야 한다.
Purpose : This study examines the judicial precedents of the Seoul Central District Court and the Seoul High Court based on the legal relationship between the seller and the buyer, the contract carrier, and the actual carrier in relation to the packaging, loading, stowage, and transportation of flat-rack container cargo. By analyzing the judicial precedents of the Seoul Central District Court and the Seoul High Court between the contract carrier and the actual carrier in relation to the packaging and shipping of flat rack container cargo, the study identifies the responsible party and presents the problem of legal interpretation.
Results : The results of this study are as follows. First, the packaging of flat-rack container cargo must be packed to withstand sea transportation regardless of whether it is placed inside the deck or above the deck. Second, ocean carriers are obliged to properly and carefully load, handle, stow, transport, store, manage, and land cargo, but placing flat-rack container cargo on deck is not regarded as conformity to the obligations of the ocean carrier. Third, the contract carrier is not responsible for the loss or damage caused by the flat rack container cargo being placed on deck and transported by sea as it is due to poor packaging, not poor loading. Fourth, since the cause of loss or damage occurring in the process of shipping flat rack container cargo on deck is due to poor packaging, the buyer must claim damages from the seller.
Conclusions : The seller must, at its own cost, package the goods, unless it is usual for particular trade to transport the type of goods sold unpackaged. The seller must package and mark the goods in the manner appropriate for their transport, unless the parties have agreed on specific packaging or making requirements. In free on board, the seller must deliver the goods either by placing them on board the vessel nominated by the buyer at the loading point, if any, indicated by the buyer at the named port of shipment. Based on the results of this study, flat-rack container cargo should be packed so that it withstands the shipping process regardless of whether it is placed below deck or above deck, and the seller is responsible for damages caused by poor packaging. The stowage for which the ocean carrier is responsible means securing the flat-rack container so that it does not move and placing the container on the ship does not fall under the stowage for which the ocean carrier is responsible. Therefore, the ocean carrier is only liable for damage caused by improperly securing the container and is not liable for damages incurred in arranging the flat-rack container on the ship and transporting it by sea since it is a packaging defect, not a loading defect.