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Hague-Visby Rules - Definition & Meaning | Logistics Glossary

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GlossaryEN1 min readUpdated: Jun 26, 2026

Hague-Visby Rules

Designed to give shippers a minimum level of protection and carriers a predictable liability cap, the Hague-Visby Rules are the dominant framework governing ocean carrier liability for cargo loss or damage in international trade.

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Designed to give shippers a minimum level of protection and carriers a predictable liability cap, the Hague-Visby Rules are the dominant framework governing ocean carrier liability for cargo loss or…

They build on the 1924 Hague Rules and were significantly amended by the 1968 Visby Protocol, which introduced SDR-based liability limits calculated per package or per kilogram of gross weight –…

Practically, the rules matter because they define a closed list of carrier defences, including errors in navigation and fire, while requiring the carrier to exercise due diligence to make the vessel…

Last updated: 26 June 2026Published: 22 November 2025

Source: https://www.cargolaw.com/hague-visby-rules

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Hague-Visby Rules

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Definition & Explanation

Designed to give shippers a minimum level of protection and carriers a predictable liability cap, the Hague-Visby Rules are the dominant framework governing ocean carrier liability for cargo loss or damage in international trade. They build on the 1924 Hague Rules and were significantly amended by the 1968 Visby Protocol, which introduced SDR-based liability limits calculated per package or per kilogram of gross weight – whichever produces the higher figure. Practically, the rules matter because they define a closed list of carrier defences, including errors in navigation and fire, while requiring the carrier to exercise due diligence to make the vessel seaworthy before and at the commencement of the voyage. They are distinct from the Hamburg Rules, which impose stricter obligations on carriers and apply in a different set of ratifying states. Most major maritime nations operate under the Hague-Visby regime, and bills of lading routinely incorporate the rules by reference.

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Recommended format: Source: Freight Academy – Hague-Visby Rules (https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/hague-visby-rules), accessed 2026-09-27
APA style: Freight Academy Editorial Team. (2025). Hague-Visby Rules. Freight Academy. https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/hague-visby-rules
BibTeX: @misc{haguevisbyrules2025, title = {Hague-Visby Rules}, author = {{Freight Academy Editorial Team}}, year = {2025}, url = {https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/hague-visby-rules}, note = {Freight Academy, accessed 2026-09-27} }

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