2024/01/18 by Stelzel, Philipp
paper · doi:10.57938/0ba5dbce-e7cd-49de-b95b-557e0dd567fe
The title of this diploma thesis is as follows: CMNI in theory and its practical implementation in <br/>the Danube region. CMNI stands for "Budapest Convention on the Contract for the Carriage of <br/>Goods by Inland Waterway." This convention was adopted in a diplomatic conference in 2000. It <br/>entered into force in the year 2005. So far, it has been ratified by 15 European countries. All <br/>countries with connection to the Danube River, except Austria and the Ukraine, have ratified the <br/>CMNI until January 2011. The goal of this convention is to set up unified regulations for the <br/>carriage of goods by inland waterways. <br/>After a short introduction of some terms concerning inland navigation, the thesis gives a <br/>summary of the convention's content. After these theoretical chapters the thesis analyzes and <br/>evaluates the effect of the CMNI on the market situation of inland navigation companies which <br/>are operating in the Danube region. <br/>The results of the empirical analysis of 16 transportation companies, with place of business in the <br/>EU and operating on the Danube river, show that the CMNI is a convention with a more <br/>symbolic than practical or financial value. However, the CMNI has been past-due for decades. <br/>Thus the CMNI is seen as a seed towards a more unified law on carriage of goods by inland <br/>navigation. As a result of the researched findings, the thesis favors the ratification of the CMNI <br/>by Austria. Nevertheless, it is suggested that the convention can only be fruitful in combination <br/>with numerous measures, such as the modernization of harbors along the Danube, the <br/>elimination of nautical bottlenecks, an increase of subsidies and improved public relation work <br/>by the market participants. (author's abstract)