Personal injury
What is the Athens Convention?
Setting out the framework of liability for damage, loss or injury suffered by passengers at sea, the Athens Convention provides invaluable protection for those travelling on a seafaring vessel. But what does it actually mean?
What is the Athens Convention?
Officially titled the ‘Convention relating to the Carriage of Passengers and their Luggage by Sea’, the Athens Convention is an international treaty which sets out a framework of liability for damage, loss or injury suffered by passengers while at sea.
Introduced in 1974, the Convention was designed to consolidate two previous Brussels conventions, one of which concerned passengers (1961) and the other which concerned their luggage (1967).
The Athens Convention will apply regardless of the vessel you are travelling on, such as cruise ships and ferries. This includes cruises that visit international ports, but both start and end in the UK.
What is the purpose of the Athens Convention?
Under the Athens Convention, a passenger travelling on a seafaring vessel may be eligible to claim compensation if they have been injured or suffered a loss during embarkation, the carriage itself, or disembarkation.
It must be proved, however, that the passenger’s loss or injury was caused by negligence or malicious intent by the carrier (operator of the ship or vessel) or their agents.
Importantly, the Convention does not apply for any periods in which the passenger is not boarding, on board, or alighting from the vessel. For example, it would not apply if the passenger was in a marine terminal or port installation at the time of the incident.
What countries are part of the Athens Convention?
Though the Convention was first introduced in December 1974, it wasn’t until April 1987 that it entered into force after it was accepted by ten countries.
In 2002, the Convention was updated by the 2002 Protocol, which introduced compulsory insurance to cover passengers travelling by ship and raise the limits of liability. Once again, this only entered into force after ten countries accepted the Protocol, in April 2014.
As of 2025, the Athens Convention has been ratified by significant number of countries, including (but not limited to):
- Albania
- Belgium
- Croatia
- Denmark
- European Union
- Finland
- Greece
- Ireland
- Latvia
- Malta
- Netherlands
- Palau
- Romania
- Serbia
- United Kingdom
How long do I have to start a claim under the Athens Convention?
As with many different types of claims, there is a time limit for which you can bring a claim under the Athens Convention.
Normally, you have two years from the date of disembarkation (getting off the ship) to start a claim.
Crucially, the discretion to extend the time under the Limitation Act 1980 does not apply to the Athens Convention, so it is vital that you seek legal advice on bringing your claim as soon as possible.
If you are unsure whether you have a claim, or would like further information, you can speak to a member of our travel injury team today on 0330 041 5869 or get in touch online to request a call back.
How can we help
At Slater and Gordon, our holiday accident team are made up of specialist legal minds who have worked within the travel sector for several years. Members of our travel litigation team have previously worked for some of the largest tour operators in the UK within their in-house legal departments, which provides us with the expert knowledge and experience needed to achieve the best settlements for our clients.
When you've suffered an accident on holiday or at sea, you need experts you can talk to and trust. Contact our solicitors on 0330 041 5869 or get in touch online and we’ll provide you with a sympathetic ear and help you with the legal process.
