Efectos frente a terceros de las cláusulas de elección de tribunal contenidas en conocimientos de embarque, a propósito de las cuestiones prejudiciales planteadas por la Audiencia Provincial de Pontevedra en 2022

The High Court of Pontevedra (Audiencia Provincial) has referred for a
preliminary ruling three cases to the Court of Luxembourg on the interpretation
of art. 25 of Regulation 1215/2012. These preliminary rulings will allow the
Court of Justice to rule on the relationship between this Regulation and the
Maritime Navigation Act (Ley de Navegación Marítima) and, specifically, whether
a jurisdiction clause incorporated in a bill of lading can be pleaded against a third party holding the bill of lading. In our opinion, the Court of Justice will probably confirm that the choice of forum clauses included in a bill of lading can be opposed to a third party, when this party succeeds to the shipper’s rights and
obligations, without being necessary an individual negotiation of the clause
between the third party and the carrier. This individual negotiation, that is
compulsory according with arts. 251 and 468 of the Spanish Maritime Navigation
Act; is not compatible with art. 25 of the Regulation 1215/2012, as it was
interpreted by the case law of the Luxembourg Court.