B/L Details

The heading of the clauses are for ready reference only and do not form part of the clauses

1.  DEFINITION OF MERCHANT.  Wherever the term merchant occurs in the B/L, it shall be deemed to include the Shipper, the Consignees, the Holder of the B/L, the Receiver and the Owner of the goods.

2.  IDENTITY OF CARRIER. The contract evidenced by this B/L is between the Merchant and the ship owner on whose behalf this B/L has been signed and it is therefore agreed that the said Ship owner only shall be liable as Carrier under this contract.

3.  EXEMPTION AND IMMUNITIES OF THE SERVANTS AND AGENTS OF THE CARRIER.  It is here by expressly agreed that  no servant or agent of the carrier (including every independent contractor from time to time employed  by the carrier) shall in any circumstances whatsoever be under any liability whatsoever  to the shipper .consignee or owner of the goods or to any holder of this Bill of Lading  for any loss, damage  or delay of whatsoever kind arising of resulting directly from any act, neglect or default  on his part while acting in the course of or in connection with his employment and without prejudice  to the generality  of the foregoing  provision in this clause ,every exemption, limitation, condition and liability herein contained and every  right ,exemption from liability, defense and immunity  of what so ever  nature applicable to the carrier acting  or  to which the carrier is entitled  hereunder shall also be available and shall extend to protect  every such servant or agent of the carrier acting as aforesaid and for the purpose  of all the foregoing provisions of this clause the carrier is or shall be deemed to be acting as agent or trustee on behalf of and for the benefit of all persons who are or might be his servant or agent from  time to time (including independent contractors as aforesaid ) and all such person shall to this extent be or be deemed to be parties to the contract in or evidenced by this Bill of Lading.

The carrier shall be entitled to be paid by the shipper, consignee, owner of the goods and / or holder of this Bill of Lading (who shall be jointly and severally liable to the carrier therefore) on demand any sum recovered or recoverable by either such shipper, consignee, owner of the goods and /or holder of this Bill of Lading or any other from such servant or agent of the carrier (including independent contractor as aforesaid) for any such loss, damage, delay or otherwise

4.  PARAMOUNT CLAUSE. The Hague Rules contained in the International convention for the unification of certain rules relating to Bs/L, dated Brussels 25^th August 1924, as enacted in the Country of shipment shall apply to this contract if anything herein contained be inconsistent with the statutory enactment of the Hague Rules made applicable by this clause, it shall to the extent of the such inconsistency, but no further, be null and void.

5.  JURISDICTION. All claims and disputes arising under this B/L shall be governed by either the English Law or the law of any of the countries between which the carrier maintain their traffic, but always at Carriers’ option.

6.  RESPONSIBILITY. The Carrier shall not be responsible for loss of or damage to the goods at the sea terminal at the port of loading or after delivery of the goods in question from the sea terminal at the port of discharge. The appropriate Carriage of Goods by Sea Act is hereby deemed to apply to the B/L during the entire period the goods are at the sea terminals. Nevertheless, where by the nature of this B/L the  contract of carriage is in respect of through transit of containerised or otherwise unitised  goods commencing  at and terminating at interior places which are expressly stated in the B/L  the carrier  shall ,not withstanding anything herein or otherwise expressed to the contrary, be responsible for  the goods in the manner herein provided from the time they are received for  shipment by this agent or servants being sub-carriers  or not  at the specified  place of  final destination. During the period before receipt of  the goods at the sea terminal of the port of loading or after delivery of  the goods at the sea terminal at the port of discharge, the carrier herby accept  the same  liability in  respect of the goods as would have  existed  if every sub-contracting  party had made  a separate and direct  contract  with  the Merchant on the standard  terms and conditions  of  business of  the sub-contracting party  in respect  of  that part of the through –transit, cargo  handling or warehousing undertaken by  the sub-contracting party. If it cannot be established in whose custody the goods were when damage or loss occurred the damage or loss shall be deemed to have occurred during the sea voyage and the appropriate Hague Rules legislation shall apply.

Except in the respect of claims for loss or damages arising out of that part of the carriage (if any) subject to the Hague Rules the carriers shall not be liable:

(1)   (a)  for  loss from a package  or from an unpacked  consignment; or

       (b) for damage, deviation, misdelivery, delay or detention: unless they

are advised thereof in writing otherwise than upon a consignment note or delivery document within three days and the claim be made in writing within seven days after the termination of transit:

(2) for loss or non-delivery of  the whole of the consignment  or of any separate package forming part of the consignment: unless they are advised  of the loss or non-delivery in writing  (other than upon a consignment note or delivery document ) within twenty –eight days and the claim be made in writing  within forty-two days after  the commencement of transit.

Further all liability whatsoever of the carrier shall in any event cease unless suit is brought within one year after delivery of the goods or the date when the goods should have been delivered 

7.  CONTAINERS(1) goods may be slowed by the carrier or his agents or servants   in containers and containers whether stowed as aforesaid or received in a stowed condition from the shipper may be carried on or under deck with out notice to the shippers and if they are so carried the Hague Rules as incorporated herein shall be applied notwithstanding carriage on or under deck and the goods and/or containers shall contribute in General Average whether carried on or under deck.

(II) The carrier has no responsibility whatsoever for the functioning of reefer containers or trailers, not owned nor leased by the carrier.

(III) If the articles accepted  for  transportation are containers the content having been packed and stowed inside the container by or on behalf  of the Shipper  and not by  or on behalf of the carrier.

(a)  The carriers shall be under no liability in the event of loss of or damage to any of the goods directly or indirectly caused by the manner in which the contents have been packed and/or stowed inside the container/s or by the unsuitability of the contents for container carriage or by the unsuitability or defective condition of the container.

(b)   The merchant hereby agrees to indemnify the carrier against any loss which the carrier may suffer. Or liability to any person which the carrier  may incur on account  of personal injury or  loss of or damage to  any property due  to the manner in which  the contents have been packed and/or  stowed  inside the container  or due to the unsuitability  or defective condition of  the container.

(c)    The merchant further agrees to indemnify the carrier against any additional expenses, fines, duties, and taxes which the carrier may incur by reason of errors or omissions in the mark, numbers or descriptions of the container or its contents.

8. SUBSTITUTION OF VESSEL AND TRANSHIPMENT. The  carrier has the right  but no obligation to carry the goods by any vessel ,either belonging to the carrier or not , or by land or air transport, and may  discharge  the goods at any port  for transshipment, transship, land or store the goods either on shore or afloat  and reship or forward the same at carrier’s expense

9. NOTIFICATION. Any clause herein giving names of parties who desire to be notified of the arrival of the goods at destination is solely for the information of the carrier’s agent and failure to notify shall not involve the carrier in any responsibility or relieve the merchant from any obligation hereunder

10. DELIVERY OF GOODS. If the goods are not taken by the merchant at the time when the Carrier is entitled to call upon him to take delivery. The carrier shall be at liberty at the sole risk and expense of the merchant to put the goods in safe custody.

11. MARKING, SORTING, ETC. The goods shall be distinctly and permanently marked. Each consignment must be delivered assorted according to marks and such order as to enable separate stowage and corresponding delivery. The carrier shall not be liable for any loss or damage arising from the non-performance of any of the said obligations of the merchant.

12. FRIGHT AND CHARGES.

(a)   Freight to be paid   in cash without discount and, whether prepayable or payable at destination, to be considered as earned on receipt of the goods and not to be returned or relinquished, conveyance or vessel and/or goods lost or not lost.

(b)  Freight and all other  amounts  mentioned in the B/L or , are to be paid  in the currency  named in the B/L or at  the carrier’s option, in the currency  of the country  of the port  of loading  or port  of discharge at  the highest  rate  of  exchange for bankers’ sight bill current for prepayable freight  on the day of loading  and for  freight  payable  at  destination  on the day  when the vessel  is entered  at the Custom House or on  the date  of withdrawal  of the delivery order, whichever the higher, or  at  option  of the  carrier, on the  date  of the B/L.

(c)   The merchant shall pay any extra expenses incurred as a consequence of the provisions in clause 11. 

(d)   No weight of goods   to take place onboard the vessel without permission of the carrier. any expenses  for weight  onboard  as well as extra expenses  for  discharging  and delivery  arising  or  resulting  from weighing  onboard  to be borne by  the  Merchant, any custom of the  port notwithstanding.

(e)   Goods once shipped cannot be taken away by the merchant except upon Carrier’s consent and against payment of full freight and   compensation for any extra expenses thought such taking away.

(f)    All dues, taxes and charges or other expenses in connection with the goods shall be paid by the merchant.

(g)   The merchant shall reimburse the carrier in proportion  to  the amount  of the fright  for any  increase  of war  risk  insurance  premium  and war  risk  increase of the wages of the master, officers and  crew  and for  any  increase  of the cost  for bunkers and  for  deviation  or delay caused  by war  or  warlike operations  or by  government  directions  in such  connection

(h)   The merchant  warrants  the correctness of the declaration  of  contents , insurance, weight , measurement  or value  of the goods  but  the carrier  reserves  the right  to have  the contents inspected  and  the weight , measurement  or value verified . if one  such  inspection  it is  found  that  the  declaration is not correct it is  agreed that a sum  equal  either  to five times  the  difference  between  the correct  freight  charged or  to double  the correct  freight  less  the freight  charged, which ever sum  is smaller, shall  be payable  as liquidated  damage  tot the carrier  for   his inspection  cost  and  losses  of  freight  on other  goods  notwithstanding any other  sum having  been  stated on  the B/L as freight payables

13. LIEN. The carrier shall have a lien on the cargo  for any amount  due  under this contract  and  for  cost  of  recovering  same  and shall  be entitled to sell  the goods privately or by  auction with out  prior  notice, advertisement  or legal  authority  to cover  any claim. If on sale  of goods, the proceeds fail  to cover  the amount  due  and  the cost  and  expense  incurred, the  carrier shall be entitled  to cover  the difference from  the merchant

14. DELAY. The Carrier shall in no circumstances whatsoever be responsible for any   direct or indirect loss or damage sustained by the merchant through delay

15. GENERAL AVERAGE AND SALVAGE.  General average to be  adjusted  at any port  or place  at carrier’s   option  and  to be  settled  according to the  York-Antwerp Rules 1950 in the event of  accident, dander, damage or disaster before or after  commencement  of the voyage  resulting  from  any cause what so ever , whether  due  to negligence or  not  for  which  or  for  the  consequence of  which  the  carrier is not  responsible by statute ,contract or  otherwise , the merchant shall  contribute with  the carrier in General Average to the payment  of any sacrifice, losses or  expenses of   a general Average  nature that  may  be  made or incurred , and shall  pay  salvage  and  special  charges  incurred  in respect  of  the goods . if a salving vessel is owned or  operated  by  the carrier, salvage shall be paid  for  as a fully  as if  the salving vessel  or  vessel belonged  to strangers . such deposit  as the carrier or  his  agent  without  prejudice, may deem  sufficient  to cover  the  estimated  contribution  of the goods and  any special  charges  thereon  shall , if  required be  paid  to  the carrier on his  agent s prior  to  delivery into a special  account  in  accordance with  the provisions of the said rules

16.  BOTH – TO – BLAME COLLISION CLAUSE.   (this  clause  to  remain  in  effect  even  if  unenforcible in the  courts  of the United States of  America.)  if the vessel  comes in to  collision  with  another  vessel and  any  act  negligence or   default  of  the  Master , Marine, Pilot or  the  servants  of the  carrier  in the  management  of the vessel . the Merchant  will indemnify  the carrier  against  all loss  or liability  to  the  other  or  non-carrying   vessel  or her Owner  in  so far as such  loss or liability  represents loss of or  damage  to  or any claim whatsoever  of  the owner of the said  goods paid or payable  by  the other or non-carrying  vessel or her Owner to the Owner of said  cargo and set-off , or recouped  or recovered by the other or non-carrying vessel or  her owner as a part of his claim against the carrying vessel or carrier . the  foregoing  provisions  shall also apply where the owner, operator or those  in charge of  any vessel or vessels  or objects other than , or  in addition to , the colliding vessels or objects  are at  fault  in respect  of a collision or contract.

 17.  ALTERNATIVE  PLACE OF DELIVERY.  The   carrier shall have liberty to comply  with  any orders , direction or  recommendation as to loading , unloading ,departure , routes , ports and places of call  stoppages, destination , arrival , discharge, delivery or  in any otherwise whatsoever given by  any government or  authority or any person  or body  acting  or purporting to act  with  the authority of such  government or  authority or  having  under the terms of the insurance on  the conveyance employed by the carrier  the right  to give  direction ; and any  action  taken by  the carrier under this clause , or  delay resulting  there from  shall  be  deemed  to be  included  within the  contractual transit and  shall not  be deviation.

 If any event whatsoever  occurs or  is likely  to occur (whether  or  not the same exits or could  be  foreseen at the  date hereof)  which in the judgment of the  Carrier   or any person charged  with  the transportation or  safekeeping  of the goods  or any  part –thereof  renders  it any way  imprudent  or  unlawful or against the interests of the  Carrier  or the Merchant  to continue  the adventure  or to deliver  the goods  at  the port  of  discharge  or  final destination  as  the case may be by the route/s and in  the manner  intended  by the Carrier or which  in such  judgment is likely  to  subject  such  adventure  and/or  such  delivery to danger or delay of  whatsoever nature, the carrier or  such person  may without  notice  discharge and/or  retain  the Goods    or any part thereof at any port or place  which may be selected by the Carrier or such  other person  at their absolute discretion . such port or  place  shall in such  event  for  all purpose be deemed to be  the contractual port of  discharge or final  destination as the  case  may be  for that part  of the Goods  there discharged  and/or retained and the  merchant shall there  take  delivery of such  of the  goods  there discharged  and/or  retained and shall pay  all additional costs  and expenses  of delivery at such  place and  any  costs  incurred  by  the carrier in storing   any  of the goods  at such  port or place. The carrier’s responsibility  for the part  of the goods  discharged  and/or  retained at such port or place shall wholly cease upon such  discharge  or retention; and, if  the Carrier shall make  arrangement  to store and/or transship and/or  forward the goods  so discharged and/or  retained to  the original  port of discharge or final  destination  as the case may be , it is  agreed  that  he  shall  do so  as  agent only  for  and at the sole risk  of the Merchant without  any liability whatsoever in respect of such  agency and the merchant shall  reimburse the carrier  forthwith upon demand all extra freight, charges and extra expenses thereby incurred.

GOODS OF DANGEROUS OR DAMAGING NATURE AND RADIO-ACTIVE MATERIAL MUST NOT BE TENDERED FOR SHIPMENT UNLESS A WRITTEN CERTIFICATE OR DECLARATION HAS BEEN PREVIOUSLY GIVEN TO THE CARRIER. SUB-CARRIERS, MASTER OR AGENT OF THE VESSEL STATING

(a)   THAT THE GOODS, AND  IF APPLICABLE THE CONTAINER, FLAT, TRAILER ETC, ARE PROPERLY MARKED, LABELED AND  ARE  ADEQUATELY PACKED AND

(b)  THE CORRECT TECHNICAL NAME, NATURE AND CLASS OF DANGEROUS GOODS

A SPECIAL STOWAGE ORDER GIVING CONSENT TO SHIPMENT MUST ALSO BE OBTAINED FROM THE CARRIER.  THE MERCHANT WILL BE LIABLE FOR ALL CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGE AND EXPENSE IF THE FOREGOING PROVISIONS ARE NOT COMPLIED WITH.


Note: The Bill of Lading clauses displayed on this page are for informational purposes only and may be subject to errors. For an original copy of these clauses, please refer to the back of a GCL Bill of Lading.


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