Hague-Visby rules Definition

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GLOSSARY

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What does Hague-Visby rules mean?

The Hague-Visby rules are an international convention enacted into English law by the carriage of goods by Sea Act 1971 and sets out the rights and immunities in favour of the carrier and define the rights and liabilities of ship owners.

The Hague-Visby Rules provide for: (1) maximum protection to the carrier in the form of certain rights and immunities, and that such protection may be surrendered in the bill of lading issued to the shipper, but that any provision in a contract of carriage relieving the carrier from liability for loss or damage to or in connection with goods arising from negligence, fault or failure in his duties and obligations or lessening such liability otherwise than as provided in the Rules would be null and void and of no effect; (2) undertaking by shipowner at the beginning of the voyage to provide a sea worthy ship, and if damage to goods occur because of the vessel's unseaworthiness then the burden is on the carrier to prove that due diligence was exercised to make the ship seaworthy;

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Carriage of goods by sea—the Hague-Visby Rules

This Practice Note explains the Hague-Visby rules (the Rules) which are international rules for the carriage of goods by sea and enacted into English law by the Carriage of Goods by Sea Act 1971 (CGSA 1971). The Practice Note covers the scope of the Rules, the carrier’s responsibilities under them, the carrier’s limitations of liability and immunities available under the Rules, and the relevant time bars.The Rules can be found in three international treaties:•the International Convention for the Unification of Certain Rules of Law Relating to Bills of Lading (1924) (Hague Rules)•the Protocol to Amend the International Convention for the Unification of Certain Rules of Law Relating to Bills of Lading (1968) (The First Visby Protocol)•the Protocol Amending the International Convention for the Unification of Certain Rules of Law Relating to Bills of Lading (1979) (The Second Visby Protocol)The Rules refer to the Hague Rules as modified by the Visby protocols. The UK has ratified both Visby protocols and enacted the Rules into domestic law through CGSA 1971. The Hague...

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