carriageofgoods

Carriage of goods refers to the transport of goods from a point of origin to a destination under a contract of carriage. It covers all modes of transport—sea, air, road, rail, and multimodal arrangements—and often involves multiple carriers, each with its own duties and liabilities.

Under the contract of carriage, the carrier typically agrees to receive the goods, provide adequate packaging, transport them to the agreed destination, and deliver them to the consignee. The shipper is usually obliged to provide accurate documentation and comply with the terms of the contract. Documentation commonly used includes a bill of lading for marine carriage and an air waybill for air carriage; these documents may evidence receipt of goods, title, and the contract of carriage.

Liability regimes in carriage of goods vary by mode and governing law. For sea transport, international conventions such as the Hague-Visby Rules or Hamburg Rules establish the carrier's duties and liability limits, typically framed per package or per kilogram and sometimes with per-voyage caps. In road and rail, international conventions such as CMR (for road) and CIM (for rail) may apply. Air carriage is governed by the Montreal Convention, which sets limits on liability and provides standardized procedures for claims.

Carriers may seek to limit liability through contractual clauses, and cargo insurance remains a common means of risk transfer for shippers. In multimodal transport, a single contract or linked contracts may cover a journey across several modes, complicating the allocation of liability and the application of the relevant regime.

The law surrounding carriage of goods aims to balance efficient commerce with protection against loss or damage, and it continues to evolve with international conventions and national legislation.