GlossaryEN1 min readUpdated: Jun 26, 2026

Himalaya Clause

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Last updated: 26 June 2026Published: 27 January 2026

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Himalaya_clause

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Logistics Concept

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Definition & Explanation

Shipowners, main carriers, and freight forwarders use the Himalaya Clause to extend the liability limitations contained in a bill of lading or transport contract to subcontractors, stevedores, agents, and their employees. Without it, third parties performing part of the carriage stand outside the contractual liability cap and can be sued directly for unlimited damages – even where the main carrier enjoys full protection. The clause closes this gap by expressly making those parties beneficiaries of the agreed liability regime. Its name derives from the 1955 English case Adler v. Dickson, in which a passenger sued the boatswain of the SS Himalaya directly. Because courts interpret the clause with varying degrees of strictness across jurisdictions, precise drafting remains essential.

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