Abstract Purpose: is to identify the challenges of multimodal transport service of ESLSE in the Europe trade routes operation from origin up to destination and to analyze the contribution of network partners to ESLSE solving these challenges.   Design\Data collection\Approach: This thesis relied on qualitative research design in order to identify the key challenges of multimodal transport services and to show how the network partners contribute to solving these challenges. Moreover, to achieve the objective of the study, semi structure interviews were used, and the responses from 14 experts were analyzed.   Theoretical framework: The theoretical base and concepts are used to determine the theoretical boundaries of the research. It provides an overview of the literature that exists in the challenges of multimodal transport services. The theoretical framework firstly encompassed the logistics performance and personnel, followed by the description of multimodal transport services, customs facilitation, ICT, infrastructure, network partner integration and port administration. Lastly, theoretical synthesis is developed that are identified from the theory to demonstrate the interrelationship between individual concepts.   Findings: The findings of this study revealed that multimodal transport service was impacted by a number of challenges even if the network partners contributed some solutions. The results of the study showed that the lack of skilled logistics personnel; poor ICT system; lack of integration between network partners; lack of effective infrastructure; inadequate and ineffective capacity of trucks; material theft; corruption; security risk; lack of prompt response in the operation between network partners; monopoly of the operation by ESLSE; and lack of quality of transported cargo are the main challenges for multimodal transport services. Managerial implication: For managers of network partners, it is recommended that they should be aware that the challenge of multimodal transport service is the result of poor ICT systems; lack of integration between network partners; lack of effective infrastructure; lack of skilled logistic personnel; inadequate and ineffective capacity of trucks; material theft; corruption; security risk; lack of quality of transported cargo; and lack of prompt response in the operation between the network partners Hence, they should take action to solve the problems by integrating with shipping agents and steering committees such as customers office, transport minister, and maritime authority. Moreover, the shipping agents managers can use the results of the study to enhance their contribution in order to solve the challenges of multimodal transport services by communicating with the ESLSE.   Limitations: The small sample size without adequately diverse geographical spread and sample of shipping agents and dry ports since the study is only limited to Europe trade routes and it did not take in to consideration other continents like Africa and Asia which could have given additional information on the topic. The sample of shipping agent and dry ports was limited with 3 out of 11 and 3 out of 7 respectively.   Originality\Value: This thesis is one of the first to analyze the challenges of multimodal transport in the case of Ethiopia to Europe trade operation by interviewing both the ESLSE and shipping agents.

多式運送所生之種種法律問題，其複雜程度往往不下於單式運送所面臨者，然而，與單式運送相較，多式運送之國際統一立法運動之命運卻未免多舛，舉例而言，針對多式運送所制定之1980年公約，即使係經過冗長之討論及折衝後始通過，但是望穿秋水仍等不到生效的到來，而多式運送統一國際規範之需求，在現代運送貨櫃化以及第三方物流興起之推波助瀾下，仍不斷地節節升高。 在這樣的大環境氛圍下，使得工作小組於UNCITRAL草案之討論過程中，不得不面對此一現實：大多數之海上貨物運送多係戶對戶運送，而戶對戶運送，又多以多式運送為之。因此，就UNCITRAL草案之適用範圍是否擴張至包括戶對戶運送，而其利弊得失為何，與會者就此紛紛各抒己見，表達自己之看法，工作小組最後乃決定：UNCITRAL草案應適用於涉及海上運送之戶對戶運送。 工作小組此一決定，事實上對於多式運送國際統一規範之實現，可說是邁出了一大步，但此結果，可說是「無心差柳柳成蔭」，蓋UNCITRAL草案之定位本旨，係在取代海牙、海牙威士比規則，成為一個全新之海上貨物運送公約，但工作小組決定將草案適用範圍擴張至戶對戶運送之結果，使得UNCITRAL草案對於絕大多數之多式運送亦將有所規範，因此，稱UNCITRAL草案為多式運送之新統一規範，亦不為過。當然，UNCITRAL草案本質上既係一海上貨物運送公約，則受草案規範之多式運送，亦必須有一部運送途程為海上運送，方符合UNCITRAL草案第1條規定之運送契約定義。 涉及海上運送之多式運送既有UNCITRAL草案之適用，此時MTO亦被視為運送人，而應負擔UNCITRAL草案中運送人之注意義務、賠償責任及舉證責任等；而UNCITRAL草案為解決與其他國際公約之衝突問題，採行了「最低限度網狀責任制」，但是，該最低限度網狀責任制卻抹煞了需要多式運送國際統一規範之根本理由：為多式運送法律關係帶來確定性。UNCITRAL草案不但未達成該目標，反而進一步導致多式運送法律關係趨於不穩定且無法預測，也因此，UNCITRAL草案就對多式運送之規範而言，仍有值得改進之處。