TheHagueVisbyRules

TheHagueRulesasAmendedbytheBrusselsProtocol1968
ArticleI
ArticleII
ArticleIII
ArticleIV
ArticleIVbis
ArticleV
ArticleVI
ArticleVII
ArticleVIII
ArticleIX
ArticleX
[WordMap(index)]
{1}

TheHagueVisbyRules
TheHagueRulesasAmendedbytheBrusselsProtocol1968

{2}

ArticleI
{3}

IntheseRulesthefollowingwordsareemployed,withthe
meaningssetoutbelow:
{4}

(a)'Carrier'includestheownerorthechartererwhoentersintoa
contractofcarriagewithashipper.
{5}

(b)'Contractofcarriage'appliesonlytocontractsofcarriage
coveredbyabillofladingoranysimilardocumentoftitle,insofar
assuchdocumentrelatestothecarriageofgoodsbysea,including
anybillofladingoranysimilardocumentasaforesaidissuedunder
orpursuanttoacharterpartyfromthemomentatwhichsuchbillof
ladingorsimilardocumentoftitleregulatestherelationsbetweena
carrierandaholderofthesame.
{6}

(c)'Goods'includesgoods,wares,merchandise,andarticlesof
everykindwhatsoeverexceptliveanimalsandcargowhichbythe
contractofcarriageisstatedasbeingcarriedondeckandisso
carried.
{7}

(d)'Ship'meansanyvesselusedforthecarriageofgoodsbysea.
{8}

(e)'Carriageofgoods'coverstheperiodfromthetimewhenthe
goodsareloadedontothetimetheyaredischargedfromtheship.

{9}

ArticleII
{ 10 }

SubjecttotheprovisionsofArticleVI,undereverycontractof
carriageofgoodsbyseathecarrier,inrelationtotheloading,
handling,stowage,carriage,custody,careanddischargeofsuch
goods,shallbesubjecttotheresponsibilitiesandliabilitiesand
entitledtotherightsandimmunitieshereinaftersetforth.

{ 11 }

ArticleIII
{ 12 }

1.Thecarriershallbeboundbeforeandatthebeginningofthe
voyagetoexerciseduediligenceto:
{ 13 }

(a)Maketheshipseaworthy;
{ 14 }

(b)Properlyman,equipandsupplytheship;
{ 15 }

(c)Maketheholds,refrigeratingandcoolchambers,andallother
partsoftheshipinwhichgoodsarecarried,fitandsafefortheir
reception,carriageandpreservation.
{ 16 }

2.SubjecttotheprovisionsofArticleIV,thecarriershallproperly
andcarefullyload,handle,stow,carry,keep,carefor,and
dischargethegoodscarried.
{ 17 }

3.Afterreceivingthegoodsintohischargethecarrierorthe
masteroragentofthecarriershall,ondemandoftheshipper,issue
totheshipperabillofladingshowingamongotherthings:
{ 18 }

(a)Theleadingmarksnecessaryforidentificationofthegoodsas
thesamearefurnishedinwritingbytheshipperbeforetheloading
ofsuchgoodsstarts,providedsuchmarksarestampedor
otherwiseshownclearlyuponthegoodsifuncovered,oronthe
casesorcoveringsinwhichsuchgoodsarecontained,insucha
mannerasshouldordinarilyremainlegibleuntiltheendofthe
voyage.
{ 19 }

(b)Eitherthenumberofpackagesorpieces,orthequantity,or
weight,asthecasemaybe,asfurnishedinwritingbytheshipper.
{ 20 }

(c)Theapparentorderandconditionofthegoods.
{ 21 }

Providedthatnocarrier,masteroragentofthecarriershallbe
boundtostateorshowinthebillofladinganymarks,number,
quantityorweightwhichhehasreasonablegroundforsuspecting
notaccuratelytorepresentthegoodsactuallyreceived,orwhichhe
hashadnoreasonablemeansofchecking.
{ 22 }

4.Suchabillofladingshallbeprimafacieevidenceofthereceipt
bythecarrierofthegoodsasthereindescribedinaccordancewith
paragraph3(a),(b)and(c).However,prooftothecontraryshall
notbeadmissiblewhenthebillofladinghasbeentransferredtoa
thirdpartyactingingoodfaith.
{ 23 }

5.Theshippershallbedeemedtohaveguaranteedtothecarrier
theaccuracyatthetimeofshipmentofthemarks,number,
quantityandweight,asfurnishedbyhim,andtheshippershall
indemnifythecarrieragainstallloss,damagesandexpenses
arisingorresultingfrominaccuraciesinsuchparticulars.Theright
ofthecarriertosuchindemnityshallinnowaylimithis
responsibilityandliabilityunderthecontractofcarriagetoany
personotherthantheshipper.
{ 24 }

6.Unlessnoticeoflossordamageandthegeneralnatureofsuch
lossordamagebegiveninwritingtothecarrierorhisagentatthe
portofdischargebeforeoratthetimeoftheremovalofthegoods
intothecustodyofthepersonentitledtodeliverythereofunderthe
contractofcarriage,or,ifthelossordamagebenotapparent,
withinthreedays,suchremovalshallbeprimafacieevidenceof
thedeliverybythecarrierofthegoodsasdescribedinthebillof
lading.
{ 25 }

Thenoticeinwritingneednotbegivenifthestateofthegoods
has,atthetimeoftheirreceipt,beenthesubjectofjointsurveyor
inspection.
{ 26 }

Subjecttoparagraph6bisthecarrierandtheshipshallinanyevent
bedischargedfromallliabilitywhatsoeverinrespectofthegoods,
unlesssuitisbroughtwithinoneyearoftheirdeliveryorofthe
datewhentheyshouldhavebeendelivered.Thisperiod,may
however,beextendedifthepartiessoagreeafterthecauseof
actionhasarisen.
{ 27 }

Inthecaseofanyactualorapprehendedlossordamagethecarrier
andthereceivershallgiveallreasonablefacilitiestoeachotherfor
inspectingandtallyingthegoods.
{ 28 }

6bis.Anactionforindemnityagainstathirdpersonmaybe
broughtevenaftertheexpirationoftheyearprovidedforinthe
precedingparagraphifbroughtwithinthetimeallowedbythelaw
oftheCourtseizedofthecase.However,thetimeallowedshallbe
notlessthanthreemonths,commencingfromthedaywhenthe
personbringingsuchactionforindemnityhassettledtheclaimor
hasbeenservedwithprocessintheactionagainsthimself.
{ 29 }

7,Afterthegoodsareloadedthebillofladingtobeissuedbythe
carrier,master,oragentofthecarrier,totheshippershall,ifthe
shippersodemandsbea'shipped'billoflading,providedthatif
theshippershallhavepreviouslytakenupanydocumentoftitleto
suchgoods,heshallsurrenderthesameasagainsttheissueofthe
'shipped'billoflading,butattheoptionofthecarriersuch
documentoftitlemaybenotedattheportofshipmentbythe
carrier,master,oragentwiththenameornamesoftheshipor
shipsuponwhichthegoodshavebeenshippedandthedateor
datesofshipment,andwhensonoted,ifitshowstheparticulars
mentionedinparagraph3ofArticleIII,shallforthepurposeof
thisarticlebedeemedtoconstitutea'shipped'billoflading.
{ 30 }

8.Anyclause,covenant,oragreementinacontractofcarriage
relievingthecarrierortheshipfromliabilityforlossordamageto,
orinconnectionwith,goodsarisingfromnegligence,fault,or
failureinthedutiesandobligationsprovidedinthisarticleor
lesseningsuchliabilityotherwisethanasprovidedintheseRules,
shallbenullandvoidandofnoeffect.Abenefitofinsurancein
favourofthecarrierorsimilarclauseshallbedeemedtobea
clauserelievingthecarrierfromliability.

{ 31 }

ArticleIV
{ 32 }

1.Neitherthecarriernortheshipshallbeliableforlossordamage
arisingorresultingfromunseaworthinessunlesscausedbywantof
duediligenceonthepartofthecarriertomaketheshipseaworthy,
andtosecurethattheshipisproperlymanned,equippedand
supplied,andtomaketheholds,refrigeratingandcoolchambers
andallotherpartsoftheshipinwhichgoodsarecarriedfitand
safefortheirreception,carriageandpreservationinaccordance
withtheprovisionsofparagraph1ofArticleIII.Wheneverlossor
damagehasresultedfromunseaworthinesstheburdenofproving
theexerciseofduediligenceshallbeonthecarrierorotherperson
claimingexemptionunderthisarticle.
{ 33 }

2.Neitherthecarriernortheshipshallberesponsibleforlossor
damagearisingorresultingfrom:
{ 34 }

(a)Act,neglect,ordefaultofthemaster,mariner,pilot,orthe
servantsofthecarrierinthenavigationorinthemanagementof
theship.
{ 35 }

(b)Fire,unlesscausedbytheactualfaultorprivityofthecarrier.
{ 36 }

(c)Perils,dangersandaccidentsoftheseaorothernavigable
waters.
{ 37 }

(d)ActofGod.
{ 38 }

(e)Actofwar.
{ 39 }

(f)Actofpublicenemies.
{ 40 }

(g)Arrestorrestraintofprinces,rulersorpeople,orseizureunder
legalprocess.
{ 41 }

(h)Quarantinerestrictions.
{ 42 }

(i)Actoromissionoftheshipperorownerofthegoods,hisagent
orrepresentative.
{ 43 }

(j)Strikesorlockoutsorstoppageorrestraintoflabourfrom
whatevercause,whetherpartialorgeneral.
{ 44 }

(k)Riotsandcivilcommotions.
{ 45 }

(l)Savingorattemptingtosavelifeorpropertyatsea.
 { 46 }

(m)Wastageinbulkofweightoranyotherlossordamagearising
frominherentdefect,qualityorviceofthegoods.
{ 47 }

(n)Insufficiencyofpacking.
{ 48 }

(o)Insufficiencyorinadequacyofmarks.
{ 49 }

(p)Latentdefectsnotdiscoverablebyduediligence.
{ 50 }

(q)Anyothercausearisingwithouttheactualfaultorprivityofthe
carrier,orwithoutthefaultorneglectoftheagentsorservantsof
thecarrier,buttheburdenofproofshallbeonthepersonclaiming
thebenefitofthisexceptiontoshowthatneithertheactualfaultor
privityofthecarriernorthefaultorneglectoftheagentsor
servantsofthecarriercontributedtothelossordamage.
{ 51 }

3.Theshippershallnotberesponsibleforlossordamage
sustainedbythecarrierortheshiparisingorresultingfromany
causewithouttheact,faultorneglectoftheshipper,hisagentsor
hisservants.
{ 52 }

4.Anydeviationinsavingorattemptingtosavelifeorpropertyat
seaoranyreasonabledeviationshallnotbedeemedtobean
infringementorbreachoftheseRulesorofthecontractofcarriage,
andthecarriershallnotbeliableforanylossordamageresulting
therefrom.
{ 53 }

5(a)Unlessthenatureandvalueofsuchgoodshavebeendeclared
bytheshipperbeforeshipmentandinsertedinthebilloflading,
neitherthecarriernortheshipshallinanyeventbeorbecome
liableforanylossordamagetoorinconnectionwiththegoodsin
anamountexceedingtheequivalentof666.67unitsofaccountper
packageorunitorunitsofaccountperkiloofgrossweightofthe
goodslostordamaged,whicheveristhehigher.
{ 54 }

(b)Thetotalamountrecoverableshallbecalculatedbyreference
tothevalueofsuchgoodsattheplaceandtimeatwhichthegoods
aredischargedfromtheshipinaccordancewiththecontractor
shouldhavebeensodischarged.
{ 55 }

Thevalueofthegoodsshallbefixedaccordingtothecommodity
exchangeprice,or,iftherebenosuchprice,accordingtothe
currentmarketprice,or,iftherebenocommodityexchangeprice
orcurrentmarketprice,byreferencetothenormalvalueofgoods
ofthesamekindandquality.
{ 56 }

(c)Whereacontainer,palletorsimilararticleoftransportisused
toconsolidategoods,thenumberofpackagesorunitsenumerated
inthebillofladingaspackedinsucharticleoftransportshallbe
deemedthenumberofpackagesorunitsforthepurposeofthis
paragraphasfarasthesepackagesorunitsareconcerned.Except
asaforesaidsucharticleoftransportshallbeconsideredthe
packageorunit.
{ 57 }

(d)TheunitofaccountmentionedinthisArticleisthespecial
drawingrightasdefinedbytheInternationalMonetaryFund.The
amountsmentionedinh_visby/art/art04_5asubparagraph(a)of
thisparagraphshallbeconvertedintonationalcurrencyonthe
basisofthevalueofthatcurrencyonadatetobedeterminedby
thelawoftheCourtseizedofthecase.
{ 58 }

(e)Neitherthecarriernortheshipshallbeentitledtothebenefitof
thelimitationofliabilityprovidedforinthisparagraphifitis
provedthatthedamageresultedfromanactoromissionofthe
carrierdonewithintenttocausedamage,orrecklesslyandwith
knowledgethatdamagewouldprobablyresult.
{ 59 }

(f)Thedeclarationmentionedinsubparagraph(a)ofthis
paragraph,ifembodiedinthebilloflading,shallbeprimafacie
evidence,butshallnotbebindingorconclusiveonthecarrier.
{ 60 }

(g)Byagreementbetweenthecarrier,masteroragentofthecarrier
andtheshipperothermaximumamountsthanthosementionedin
subparagraph(a)ofthisparagraphmaybefixed,providedthatno
maximumamountsofixedshallbelessthantheappropriate
maximummentionedinthatsubparagraph.
{ 61 }

(h)Neitherthecarriernortheshipshallberesponsibleinanyevent
forlossordamageto,orinconnectionwith,goodsifthenatureor
valuethereofhasbeenknowinglymisstatedbytheshipperinthe
billoflading.
{ 62 }

6.Goodsofaninflammable,explosiveordangerousnaturetothe
shipmentwhereofthecarrier,masteroragentofthecarrierhasnot
consentedwithknowledgeoftheirnatureandcharacter,mayat
anytimebeforedischargebelandedatanyplace,ordestroyedor
renderedinnocuousbythecarrierwithoutcompensationandthe
shipperofsuchgoodsshallbeliableforalldamagesandexpenses
directlyorindirectlyarisingoutoforresultingfromsuch
shipment.Ifanysuchgoodsshippedwithsuchknowledgeand
consentshallbecomeadangertotheshiporcargo,theymayin
likemannerbelandedatanyplace,ordestroyedorrendered
innocuousbythecarrierwithoutliabilityonthepartofthecarrier
excepttogeneralaverage,ifany.

{ 63 }

ArticleIVbis
{ 64 }

1.ThedefencesandlimitsofliabilityprovidedforintheseRules
shallapplyinanyactionagainstthecarrierinrespectoflossor
damagetogoodscoveredbyacontractofcarriagewhetherthe
actionbefoundedincontractorintort.
{ 65 }

2.Ifsuchanactionisbroughtagainstaservantoragentofthe
carrier(suchservantoragentnotbeinganindependentcontractor),
suchservantoragentshallbeentitledtoavailhimselfofthe
defencesandlimitsofliabilitywhichthecarrierisentitledto
invokeundertheseRules.
{ 66 }

3.Theaggregateoftheamountsrecoverablefromthecarrier,and
suchservantsandagents,shallinnocaseexceedthelimitprovided
forintheseRules.
{ 67 }

4.Nevertheless,aservantoragentofthecarriershallnotbe
entitledtoavailhimselfoftheprovisionsofthisarticle,ifitis
provedthatthedamageresultedfromanactoromissionofthe
servantoragentdonewithintenttocausedamageorrecklessly
andwithknowledgethatdamagewouldprobablyresult.

{ 68 }

ArticleV
{ 69 }

Acarriershallbeatlibertytosurrenderinwholeorinpartallor
anyofhisrightsandimmunitiesortoincreaseanyofhis
responsibilitiesandobligationsundertheseRules,providedsuch
surrenderorincreaseshallbeembodiedinthebillofladingissued
totheshipper.TheprovisionsoftheseRulesshallnotbe
applicabletocharterparties,butifbillsofladingareissuedinthe
caseofashipunderacharterpartytheyshallcomplywiththe
termsoftheseRules.NothingintheseRulesshallbeheldto
preventtheinsertioninabillofladingofanylawfulprovision
regardinggeneralaverage.

{ 70 }

ArticleVI
{ 71 }

Notwithstandingtheprovisionsoftheprecedingarticles,acarrier,
masteroragentofthecarrierandashippershallinregardtoany
particulargoodsbeatlibertytoenterintoanyagreementinany
termsastotheresponsibilityandliabilityofthecarrierforsuch
goods,andastotherightsandimmunitiesofthecarrierinrespect
ofsuchgoods,orhisobligationastoseaworthiness,sofarasthis
stipulationisnotcontrarytopublicpolicy,orthecareordiligence
ofhisservantsoragentsinregardtotheloading,handling,
stowage,carriage,custody,careanddischargeofthegoodscarried
bysea,providedthatinthiscasenobillofladinghasbeenorshall
beissuedandthatthetermsagreedshallbeembodiedinareceipt
whichshallbeanonnegotiabledocumentandshallbemarkedas
such.
{ 72 }

Anagreementsoenteredintoshallhavefulllegaleffect.
{ 73 }

Providedthatthisarticleshallnotapplytoordinarycommercial
shipmentsmadeintheordinarycourseoftrade,butonlytoother
shipmentswherethecharacterorconditionofthepropertytobe
carriedorthecircumstances,termsandconditionsunderwhichthe
carriageistobeperformedaresuchasreasonablytojustifya
specialagreement.

{ 74 }

ArticleVII
{ 75 }

Nothinghereincontainedshallpreventacarrierorashipperfrom
enteringintoanyagreement,stipulation,condition,reservationor
exemptionastotheresponsibilityandliabilityofthecarrierorthe
shipforthelossordamageto,orinconnectionwith,thecustody
andcareandhandlingofgoodspriortotheloadingon,and
subsequenttothedischargefrom,theshiponwhichthegoodsare
carriedbysea.

{ 76 }

ArticleVIII
{ 77 }

TheprovisionsoftheseRulesshallnotaffecttherightsand
obligationsofthecarrierunderanystatuteforthetimebeingin
forcerelatingtothelimitationoftheliabilityofownersofsea
goingvessels.

{ 78 }

ArticleIX
{ 79 }

TheseRulesshallnotaffecttheprovisionsofanyinternational
Conventionornationallawgoverningliabilityfornucleardamage.

{ 80 }

ArticleX
{ 81 }

TheprovisionsoftheseRulesshallapplytoeverybilloflading
relatingtothecarriageofgoodsbetweenportsintwodifferent
Statesif
{ 82 }

(a)thebillofladingisissuedinacontractingState,or
{ 83 }

(b)thecarriageisfromaportinacontractingState,or
{ 84 }

(c)thecontractcontainedinorevidencedbythebilloflading
providesthattheseRulesorlegislationofanyStategivingeffectto
themaretogovernthecontract;
{ 85 }

whatevermaybethenationalityoftheship,thecarrier,the
shipper,theconsignee,oranyotherinterestedperson.
{ 86 }

(ThelasttwoparagraphsofthisArticlearenotreproduced.They
requirecontractingStatestoapplytheRulestobillsoflading
mentionedintheArticleandauthorisethemtoapplytheRulesto
otherbillsoflading).

(Article11to16oftheInternationalConventionfortheunificationof
certainrulesoflawrelatingtobillsofladingsignedatBrusselson
August25,1974arenotreproduced.Theydealwiththecominginto
forceoftheConvention,procedureforratification,accessionand
denunciationandtherighttocallforafreshconferencetoconsider
amendmentstotheRulescontainedintheConvention).