# Hague-Visby Rules

*Last updated: 2026-06-26*

> The Hague-Visby Rules are the prevailing international standard governing ocean carrier liability under bills of lading.

The Hague-Visby Rules are the prevailing international standard governing ocean carrier liability under bills of lading. Adopted through the 1968 Visby Protocol as amendments to the 1924 Hague Rules, they raised per-package liability limits and introduced the gross weight of the shipment as an alternative calculation unit. Most major trading nations have incorporated them into national maritime law, making them the default framework for international cargo contracts evidenced by a bill of lading. Carriers must properly load, stow, carry, and discharge goods; in return, they may invoke a defined catalogue of statutory liability exemptions. Unlike the later Hamburg Rules, the Hague-Visby Rules retain the carrier's exemption for navigational errors by the crew — a distinction with tangible consequences for cargo claims practice.

**Source:** [https://www.imo.org/en/KnowledgeCenter/Index/Pages/Hague-Visby-Rules.aspx](https://www.imo.org/en/KnowledgeCenter/Index/Pages/Hague-Visby-Rules.aspx)

## Quick Facts

| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Term | Hague-Visby Rules |
| Language | EN |
| Word count | 122 |
| Last updated | 2026-06-26 |
| Source | https://www.imo.org/en/KnowledgeCenter/Index/Pages/Hague-Visby-Rules.aspx |

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