Claims Guides Bills of Lading 4 - Shortage Claims

The carrier is under an obligation to deliver the full cargo which was loaded. Invariably cargo shortage claims arise from time to time. How are these claims treated under English law? “Figures” is a term used throughout this document to describe the “number packages or pieces, or the quantity, or weight”, of the goods carried.

What is the evidence against a) What is the evidential weight of the “weight, measure, quantity, quality, the owners? figures towards third condition, contents and value party receivers: conclusive evidence unknown”: Weighing the evidence When shortage claims arise at the or prima facie evidence? discharge port, whether or not the carrier Once it is established that the figures is liable is a question of evidence. Under the Hague Visby Rules, Article are not binding on the carrier, an III Rule 4, the figures on the bill of English court will just weigh evidence lading will be conclusive evidence from both parties as in a normal between the carrier and the third dispute. A useful guide to see how party. (See also the Rules, an English court would consider a Article 16(3)(b)). shortage case is illustrated in the MONTANA LLR 402 [1990]. In this b) Can the owners protect themselves case, the judge looked at the evidence with disclaimers such as: “weight, as to how accurate the tally would measure, quantity, quality, have been: no tally man on every hold, condition, contents and sometimes a tally man had to count value unknown?” slings from two holds, some of the English law recognises the disclaimer discharge occurred at night time, the “weight, measure, quantity, quality, were paid per tonnage condition, contents and value discharged and not time, there was an unknown”. This is because of the incentive to discharge quickly (making proviso that the carrier does not have counting unreliable), and the claimants to state the quantity and weight if he admitted that one extra bag could go has reasonable grounds to believe that in a sling (a one in 16 occasion would these are inaccurate and/or has no account for a shortage of 1108 bags), means of checking whether the facts each bag could have been filled with are correct (Art III Rule 3). slightly more than 50 kgs. The judge was also surprised at the accuracy As a result the statement of the and rounding of the figures on the bill of lading will mean that the bill of lading, namely, 550,000 bags. weight, quantity and measure has no Claimants did not have to prove evidential value and are not warranties where the undelivered cargo went made by the carrier. This means that but still needed to provide a possible there is no prima facie or conclusive explanation of the rationale for the bill evidence against the carrier. New of lading figures. Chinese Antimony v Ocean Steamship [1917] 2 KB 664. Claims Guides

c) Does the owner’s disclaimer e) Further defences f) Incorporation of a have limits? and evidential rules in the bill of lading ( damage/theft) The carrier cannot rely on the Article III Rule 6 of the Hague and disclaimer when he has reasonable Hague-Visby Rules (Article 19 Usually part of the shortage claim means of checking the weight, Hamburg Rules) state that a notice of will be due to improper handling/ measure, quantity, quality and/or loss or damage shall be given to the theft of the cargo by stevedores. If a condition. For example, “50 coils” can carrier, within three days, failing which charterparty clause states that all the easily be counted and disclaimers as the lack of notice or the removal of the risks, liabilities associated with the to the quantity will not be enforceable. cargo shall be prima facie evidence of loading, stowage and discharging of If the cargo is 550,000 bags of rice the delivery by the carrier of the goods the cargo are borne by the charterers (as per “the Montana”) then the as described in the bill of lading. (such as Gencon 1994 Clause 5), qualification will operate. then provided such charterparty is When dealing with a shortage claim incorporated into the bill of lading, d) Can the disclaimer on the bill the carrier should also consider the responsibility for stevedore of lading be overridden by defences under Article IV Rule 2 of the damage or theft during discharge or conclusive evidence clauses Hague Visby rules and whether any loading should transfer to the shipper in the charterparty? trade allowance is recognised. or receivers. In other words, the Some incorporated into word “charterers” should be validly the bill of lading contain “conclusive substituted by the words “shipper” evidence” clauses such as “Owners and/or “receiver”. (The Eems Solar) are to be responsible for the number [2013] 2 Lloyds Rep 487 (QB) of bags/packages as signed for in the bills of lading. These bills of lading to be conclusive evidence of the quantity of cargo shipped”. Provided the bill of lading contains the usual “weight, measure… unknown” disclaimer, the courts have found that there is still no warranty by the carrier to the receiver as to the quantity shipped, as the carrier is not “signing” for any quantity. (Herroe and Askoe [1986] 2 Lloyd’s rep. 281). Claims Guides

Indemnities b) Against the charterers The owners may have an indemnity against the charterers under the a) Against the shipper Provided the Hague or Hague ICA provided an adequate clause is Visby Rules are incorporated in the The carrier may have an indemnity incorporated in the charter. (section 8 charter (in the absence of the ICA), against the shipper, if the carrier has a) to d) of the ICA). owners/disponent owners can most no defence and is liable because the likely claim an indemnity against Owners are generally also allowed an shortage arises out of the bill of lading charterers if the loss arises due to implied indemnity for complying with being conclusive evidence i.e. a paper an overstatement of the quantity in charterers’ orders under a time charter shortage (Article III Rule 5 Hague Visby the bill of lading. This is because the where spurious cargo claims lead to Rules, Article 17 Hamburg Rules). This charterers are also most likely treated vessel detention and financial loss indemnity is the reverse side of the coin to have guaranteed the figures. This if these are not known at the time of of Article III Rule 3 where the carrier is right can be lost by negligence or signing the charterparty (The “Island under the obligation, upon demand of deliberately issuing an inaccurate bill Archon” [1994] 2 Lloyd’s Rep 227). the shipper to insert the figures in the (and see below in relation to Club bill of lading as provided in writing by cover). the shipper (see our guide, “Issues with quality and quantity of the cargo at loadport”). Claims Guides

About the Author

Julien Rabeaux Claims Team Manager T +65 6416 4894 E [email protected]

Club cover Members are advised to take note Julien is a Claims Team Leader in West of England’s Singapore Office. He of the certain exclusions from cover Cover for cargo shortage claims is studied law in France and England and as set out in Rule 2 Section 16 (C) (e) provided by Rule 2 Section 16 (A) of subsequently qualified as a solicitor in and Members are reminded to submit a London shipping law firm. Julien was the Club’s 2016 Rules. Bills of lading their bills of lading if they are their based in West of England’s Hong Kong must incorporate the Hague or Hague own standard form bills of lading Office for 5 years, before moving to Visby Rules and claims liabilities Singapore when the Club launched its for approval by the Managers in the arising under the Hamburg Rules will office there. Prior to joining the Club, normal way. only be covered if the Hamburg Rules Julien worked for another IG Club in London for 7 years. are compulsorily applicable to the February 2018 by operation of Get in touch law (Rule 2 Section 16 (C) (a)). West of England Insurance Services (Luxembourg) S.A.

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© West of England Insurance Services. All rights reserved. The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors. This note is intended for general guidance only and should not be relied upon as legal advice. Should you require specific advice on a situation please contact us.

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