Cargo Claims: Circumstances in what the carrier may establish claims against the shipper relating to misdeclaration of cargo

Pursuant to article 260 LNM, the shipper would be liable towards the carrier in respect of the accuracy at the time of shipment of the marks, number, quantity and weight, as furnished by him, and the shipper shall indemnify the carrier against all loss, damages and expenses arising or resulting from inaccuracies in such particulars.

Agreements between shipper and carrier or the undertaking assumed by the shipper to indemnify the carrier for misdeclaration of the cargo are admitted, but they will not be binding to third parties/the acquirer of the bill of lading.

In the case of dangerous goods, the shipper would be liable not only towards the carrier but also towards cargo owners shipped on board. On 1 July 2016, an amendment to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) will take effect, requiring verification of the gross mass of packed containers prior to loading on board ships.