The article discusses new developments in law controlling carriage of goods by sea, namely — the effect of phenomena such as slot charter or volume contract on drafting carriage contract terms. The analysis of carriage contract definitions as set out in Hague-Visby Rules, Hamburg Rules and Rotterdam Rules is offered in context of carriage contracts by modes other than the sea. The author concludes that present-day maritime trade calls for revision of common views on traditional dichotomies such as charter/booking contract or liner/tramp services in favour of a new, broader concept of a maritime carriage contract.