GLOSSARY
Hague-Visby Rules
International convention governing the carrier's responsibilities under a bill of lading. Sets out package limitations of liability, due diligence requirements, and exceptions for the carrier.
The Hague-Visby Rules — the 1924 Hague Rules as amended by the 1968 Visby Protocol and 1979 SDR Protocol — govern the carrier's obligations and liability under a bill of lading. They impose due-diligence duties on the carrier (seaworthiness, proper handling), set out enumerated exceptions (perils of the sea, errors in navigation), and cap liability per package or per kilo.
Why it matters
When a container drops, gets lost, or arrives damaged, the package limitation under Hague-Visby (today's equivalent of 666.67 SDR per package or 2 SDR per kilo) often determines what the carrier actually pays — usually a small fraction of cargo value. Marine cargo insurance fills the gap; without it, the shipper is left with the limitation. The Rotterdam Rules (2009) would replace Hague-Visby but have not entered force.
Related terms
- Bill of Lading
- Marine Cargo Insurance
- Limitation of Liability
- Rotterdam Rules