International shipping has experienced revolutionary changes since Singapore became an independent country in 1965. However, the legal regimes governing international carriage of goods have not kept pace with developments in international trade, transport and logistics. The Rotterdam Rules provide a modern regime for twenty-first century shipping. Singapore has in the past shown its willingness to take the lead in maritime law conventions. It is ideally positioned once again to provide leadership in the efforts to ratify the Rotterdam Rules and bring the law governing the carriage of goods by sea into the twenty-first century.