# Hague Rules

*Last updated: 2026-06-26*

> The Hague Rules enter the picture the moment a bill of lading is issued for an international sea shipment.

The Hague Rules enter the picture the moment a bill of lading is issued for an international sea shipment. Adopted at Brussels in 1924, they were the first international instrument to standardise ocean carrier liability for loss of or damage to cargo. The Rules set out the carrier's duties of care, the grounds on which liability may be excluded, and the applicable caps. Many states incorporated them into national maritime law, establishing them as the backbone of twentieth-century sea carriage regulation. On most commercial routes today, the Hague-Visby Rules of 1968 have superseded them, bringing higher liability thresholds and more precise exemptions. Even so, the Hague Rules remain an essential reference point, since every subsequent reform built directly on their framework.

**Source:** [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hague_Rules](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hague_Rules)

## Quick Facts

| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Term | Hague Rules |
| Language | EN |
| Word count | 121 |
| Last updated | 2026-06-26 |
| Source | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hague_Rules |

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