If your business imports goods from China, Israel, the USA, or other countries, you inevitably deal with multimodal transportation: sea freight followed by rail or road, customs clearance at the border, and transit through multiple countries. To make all of this work seamlessly, Ukraine has a legal framework that governs these relationships. Daleth Group, as a logistics operator, works within this legislation every day – and in this article we explain what it means for your cargo in practice.
What Is Multimodal Transportation
Multimodal transportation in Ukraine is an organized process of moving cargo using two or more modes of transport (sea, rail, road, air, or inland waterways) under a single contract and the responsibility of a single operator. It is precisely this unity of contract and liability that distinguishes multimodal transportation from simple transhipment between different carriers.
Multimodality emerged as a response to the business need to simplify the management of complex routes. Instead of separate contracts with a sea carrier, a rail operator, and a trucking company, the shipper interacts with a single operator who coordinates the entire chain. This reduces the administrative burden, speeds up document flow, and minimizes risks at the handover points between different modes of transport.
A multimodal scheme can involve sea and inland waterway transport, rail, road, and air – in any combination depending on the route, cargo type, and economic conditions.
Ukraine’s Law on Multimodal Transportation
The primary specialized law in this field is Law of Ukraine No. 1887-IX “On Multimodal Transportation,” adopted in 2021. The law was the first to establish at the legislative level the concepts of multimodal transportation and the operator, defined requirements for the contract, document flow, and liability of the parties. Before its adoption, the sector was regulated only indirectly – through the Law “On Freight Forwarding Activities,” the Commercial and Civil Codes, and sector-specific transport laws.
The law also takes into account the international conventions to which Ukraine is a party: CMR (road transport), COTIF/CIM (rail), the Hague and Hamburg Rules (maritime transport). Adaptation to EU standards under the Association Agreement is also ongoing in parallel.
What Exactly Does the Law Regulate
The law covers: the definition of multimodal transportation and its operator, conditions for concluding a contract, the procedure for documentation, distribution of liability among participants, rules for handling claims and compensating losses, and general requirements for infrastructure – terminals, container depots, and transit hubs.
Key Provisions of the Law
The core norms of legal regulation of multimodal transportation in Ukraine encompass several fundamental areas.
Definitions and scope. The law defines multimodal transportation as transportation carried out under a single contract using at least two different modes of transport. Overall liability rests with the operator, even if each individual leg is performed by a subcontracted carrier.
The multimodal transport contract. Concluded in writing between the shipper (or consignee) and the operator. It must include: a description of the cargo and packaging conditions, the route and list of transport modes, delivery timelines, freight amount and payment terms, insurance conditions, rights and obligations of the parties, and the claims procedure.
The multimodal transport document is the key instrument for document flow. It can be negotiable or non-negotiable, serve as a security (in the case of the negotiable form), and confirms the operator’s acceptance of the cargo and the obligation to deliver it to the destination.
Parties to a Multimodal Transportation
Who is the operator? The operator is a legal entity or individual – a business entity who, acting in their own name, has concluded a contract with the shipper and bears responsibility for delivery from the point of origin to the point of destination. The operator may independently perform part of the route or engage subcontracted carriers.
In addition to the operator, the parties include: the cargo shipper, the consignee, actual carriers (shipping line, railway, trucking company), customs authorities, insurers, and terminal operators.
The role of the freight forwarder. In a multimodal scheme, a freight forwarder can act as an agent (acting on behalf of the client) or as a principal (assuming the role of operator and direct liability). In the second case, they bear full responsibility for the cargo regardless of who actually performs the transportation on any given leg. This is exactly how Daleth Group works – taking on the operator role and full coordination of the route.
Documents for Multimodal Transportation
Depending on the modes of transport and the route involved, the document package may include:
- Multimodal Transport Document (Combined Transport Bill of Lading) – the principal document confirming the contract between the operator and the shipper.
- Bill of Lading – for the sea leg.
- CMR Consignment Note – for road transport.
- Rail Consignment Note (CIM or SMGS) – for the rail leg.
- Packing list and commercial invoice – for customs clearance at borders.
- Customs declaration – for passing customs control in Ukraine and transit countries.
- Certificate of origin – depending on the trade agreement conditions between the countries involved.
- Insurance policy – confirmation of cargo insurance for the entire route or part of it.
The completeness and accuracy of documents directly affect the speed of customs clearance and the absence of delays at terminals. Daleth Group ensures the preparation and verification of the entire document package before the cargo is dispatched. Read more about our customs brokerage services on our website.
Liability of the Parties
The law establishes the operator’s liability for the safety of cargo throughout the entire route – from the moment of acceptance to the moment of delivery to the consignee. If loss or damage occurs on a specific leg, the operator’s liability is determined according to the legislation governing that mode of transport.
If it is impossible to establish on which leg the damage occurred, a single liability limit for the operator applies in accordance with the contract terms or the applicable international instrument. This provision protects the cargo owner’s interests and eliminates situations where no carrier accepts responsibility for damage occurring at the handover point between different modes of transport.
The shipper is obligated to provide the operator with accurate information about the cargo, its characteristics, weight, and storage conditions. Providing false information releases the operator from liability for related losses.
Benefits for Business
| Benefit | What it means in practice |
| Single operator | No need to negotiate separately with a sea carrier, railway, and trucking company |
| Transparent liability | Clear rules for all participants in the chain |
| Simplified document flow | One set of documents for the entire route |
| Single insurance | Ability to insure the entire route with one policy |
| Simplified claims | The single operator is the party to any claims proceedings |
| Predictable costs | The rate is fixed for the entire route at the time of contracting |
Impact on International Transportation
The law directly affects the conditions for organizing import shipments to Ukraine from key destinations. Daleth Group arranges multimodal freight from China and from Israel, as well as from the USA, Europe, and other regions – from sea or air freight to final customs clearance in Ukraine.
For these destinations, the legal foundation is critical: it defines the conditions for transit through third countries, interaction with foreign customs authorities, and dispute resolution procedures in the event of cargo damage.
Ukraine’s entry into the free trade zone with the EU and the harmonization of transport legislation are opening new opportunities for multimodal corridors passing through Ukraine: Pan-European Corridors and routes within the Three Seas Initiative.
The Role of Multimodal Transportation in Ukraine’s Logistics Development
Multimodal transportation plays a strategic role in shaping the country’s modern transport system. Ukraine has a unique geographical position at the crossroads of routes between Asia and Europe, making the development of multimodal infrastructure a priority direction.
The development of container terminals, modernization of railway hubs, construction of dry ports and logistics hubs near EU borders – all of these projects aim to increase the capacity of transit corridors and reduce delivery costs for businesses.
Regulation of the multimodal market also stimulates investment: international logistics operators are willing to invest in infrastructure only under conditions of a stable legal environment. Daleth Group is actively working in this direction – arranging shipments via proven routes and providing clients with a full range of services from freight to customs clearance. Learn more about our services on the Multimodal Delivery page.
Conclusion
Ukraine’s Law on Multimodal Transportation No. 1887-IX is not simply a legal document – it is a tool for developing the entire transport and logistics industry. It gives businesses legal certainty: clear operator liability, standardized document flow, and protection of cargo owners’ interests.
If you are planning an import shipment from China, Israel, the USA, or any other destination, contact Daleth Group. Our specialists have practical experience in international logistics, customs clearance, and transport law, and will find the optimal solution for your cargo.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What does Ukraine’s Law on Multimodal Transportation regulate?
Law No. 1887-IX regulates relations between participants in multimodal transportation: it defines the concept of the operator, contract conditions, the documentation procedure, liability of the parties, and the rules for handling claims.
What is multimodal transportation under the law?
It is the transportation of cargo under a single contract using two or more modes of transport, under the responsibility of a single operator from the point of origin to the point of destination.
What modes of transport can be used in multimodal transportation?
Sea, inland waterway, rail, road, and air transport – in any combination depending on the route and the cargo owner’s needs.
Who is the multimodal transportation operator?
The operator is a business entity who, acting in their own name, has concluded a contract with the shipper and bears full responsibility for cargo delivery regardless of the number of subcontracted carriers involved.
What documents are required for multimodal cargo transportation?
The main document is the multimodal transport contract or document. Additionally: a bill of lading, CMR consignment note, rail consignment note, commercial invoice, packing list, customs declaration, certificate of origin, and insurance policy.