GlossaryEN1 min readUpdated: Jun 18, 2026

Maritime Freight Law in the Commercial Code

Whenever cargo arrives damaged, short-landed, or delayed, maritime freight law provides the framework for resolving liability.

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Last updated: 18 June 2026Published: 22 November 2025

Source: https://www.jurolat.de/seefrachtrecht-hgb

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Logistics Concept

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Definition & Explanation

Whenever cargo arrives damaged, short-landed, or delayed, maritime freight law provides the framework for resolving liability. It defines the carrier's obligations, the applicable liability limits, and the time bars within which claims must be lodged. In German-speaking jurisdictions, the Commercial Code (HGB) forms the national statutory basis; at international level, the Hague-Visby Rules and the UN Convention on the Carriage of Goods by Sea (Hamburg Rules) set the standards, though ratification varies by country. Freight forwarders, cargo insurers, and shippers rely on these rules daily when processing damage claims and reviewing liability clauses in bills of lading and charter parties.

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Maritime Freight Law in the Commercial Code

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