- 03-Jul-2025
- public international law
The Hague-Visby Rules are a set of international maritime conventions designed to regulate the rights, duties, and liabilities of carriers and shippers involved in the transportation of goods by sea. These rules are primarily concerned with defining the carrier's responsibility for the cargo and limiting the amount of compensation the carrier can be liable for in the event of damage or loss of cargo. The Hague-Visby Rules have been adopted globally to provide uniformity and predictability in the shipping industry, ensuring fair trade practices across international shipping.
The carrier is responsible for providing a seaworthy vessel, properly manned, equipped, and maintained, to carry goods from the port of loading to the port of discharge. The carrier must also take adequate care of the cargo during the journey.
Under the Hague-Visby Rules, cargo claims must be filed within one year of the goods being discharged from the vessel. If the claim is not made within this time frame, the right to sue is forfeited.
The carrier’s liability for cargo loss or damage is limited under the Hague-Visby Rules. The amount the carrier can be held liable for is based on the weight of the damaged or lost cargo, with a maximum limit (usually around 666.67 SDR per package or unit, or 2 SDR per kilogram of gross weight).
The carrier can be exempted from liability for certain types of damage, such as those caused by unseaworthiness of the ship, inherent defects of the cargo, or force majeure events like storms, piracy, or war.
Carriers may avoid liability by proving that the damage or loss was caused by certain events outside their control, such as negligence by the shipper, faulty packaging, or conditions inherent to the nature of the goods.
The rules stipulate that the bill of lading serves as a receipt for goods and evidence of the contract between the carrier and the shipper. It outlines the carrier's responsibilities and can be used in legal proceedings to claim damages.
The liability limits set by the Hague-Visby Rules may be considered inadequate in modern shipping, especially for high-value cargo. Some critics argue that these limits do not reflect the increased value of goods being transported by sea today.
Carriers often have more bargaining power than shippers, leading to issues where the carrier’s liability is limited while shippers may be unable to negotiate better terms.
Although the Hague-Visby Rules were established in the 1920s, they still form the basis for most international maritime shipping agreements. However, countries have introduced amendments and supplementary rules (e.g., the Rotterdam Rules) to address the evolving demands of the industry. The Hague-Visby Rules remain essential in balancing the interests of shippers and carriers in the transportation of goods by sea.
Suppose a company in the UK ships electronics to India via sea transport. During the journey, the cargo is damaged due to the vessel encountering severe weather conditions. The company has shipped the electronics under a Bill of Lading governed by the Hague-Visby Rules.
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