Rimski pomorski zajam i ugovor o osiguranju

master's thesis

• Title (english): Roman Maritime Loan and the Insurance Contract
• Author: Vernes Delalić
• Mentor: Tomislav Karlović (mentor)
• Committee member: Tomislav Karlović (predsjednik povjerenstva)
• Committee member: Ivan Kosnica (član povjerenstva)
• Committee member: Henrik-Riko Held (član povjerenstva)
• Granter: University of Zagreb; Faculty of Law; (Roman Law); Zagreb
• Defense date and country: 2025-02-17, Croatia
• Scientific / art field, discipline and subdiscipline: SOCIAL SCIENCES; Law

Abstract

Pomorski zajam (fenus nauticum) važan je institut rimskog prava koji je imao ključnu ulogu u financiranju pomorskih pothvata i raspodjeli rizika među trgovcima. Njegova pravna konstrukcija omogućavala je zajmodavcu preuzimanje rizika gubitka broda i tereta, čime se ovaj institut u određenim aspektima približava ugovoru o osiguranju. Pritom su usurae maritimae, odnosno visoke kamatne stope, predstavljale naknadu za preuzeti rizik, što se može smatrati funkcionalnim ekvivalentom suvremene premije osiguranja. Unatoč tim sličnostima, pomorski zajam ostaje prvenstveno ugovor kreditne naravi, dok se ugovor o osiguranju temelji na sustavnoj disperziji rizika među osigurateljima. Ključna razlika između ovih instituta leži u strukturi ugovornog odnosa: kod pomorskog zajma zajmodavac preuzima rizik, ali istovremeno očekuje visoku dobit, dok u osiguranju osiguratelj preuzima rizik kao dio profesionalne djelatnosti uz obračunatu premiju. Nadalje, plaćanje naknade kod pomorskog osiguranja obavlja se po završetku pothvata, a kod osiguranja unaprijed. Povijesna i pravna analiza ukazuje na to da pomorski zajam, iako nije bio osiguranje u formalnopravnom smislu, predstavlja njegovu preteču u pogledu konceptualnog razvoja instituta raspodjele rizika.

Abstract (english)

The maritime loan (fenus nauticum) was a most significant contractual institution in Roman law, playing a crucial role in financing maritime ventures and distributing risk among commercial actors. Its legal structure allowed the lender to assume the risk of loss of the ship and cargo, thus drawing certain parallels with the insurance contract. The usurae maritimae—high interest rates—served as compensation for the assumed risk, functioning similarly to modern insurance premiums. Despite these similarities, the maritime loan primarily remained a credit agreement, whereas an insurance contract relies on systemic risk distribution among insurers. The fundamental distinction lies in the contractual framework: in a maritime loan, the lender assumes the risk but expects a high return, whereas in an insurance contract, the insurer assumes the risk as part of a professional service in exchange for a calculated premium. Moreover, repayment of the loan is completed after the voyage, and premiums are paid in advance. Historical and legal analysis suggests that while the maritime loan was not insurance in a formal legal sense, it served as a conceptual precursor to risk distribution mechanisms that later evolved into insurance law.

• Keywords: pomorski zajam; fenus nauticum; rimsko pravo; osiguranje; usurae maritimae; raspodjela rizika
• Keywords (english): maritime loan; fenus nauticum; Roman law; insurance; usurae maritimae; risk distribution
• Language: croatian
• URN:NBN: urn:nbn:hr:199:149338
• Study programme: Title: Law; Study programme type: university; Study level: integrated undergraduate and graduate; Academic / professional title: sveučilišni magistar/magistrica prava (sveučilišni magistar/magistrica prava)
• Type of resource: Text
• File origin: Born digital
• Access conditions: Open access
• Created on: 2025-02-20 11:32:35