規則背景
《海牙規則》自1931年生效實施後，得到了國際航運界普遍接受，它的歷史作用在於使國際海上貨物運輸有法可依，統一了海上貨物運輸中的提單條款，對提單的規範化起到了積極作用，基本上緩和了當時承運方和託運方之間的矛盾，促進了國際貿易和海上運輸事業的發展。但隨著國際政治、經濟形勢的變化，以及航海、造船技術日新月異的進步，使海上運輸方式發生了重大變革，特別是貨櫃運輸方式的出現和迅猛發展，《海牙規則》的內容已不適應新形勢發展的需要。尤其關於承運人的大量免責條款明顯偏袒船方利益，通貨膨脹的現實使100英鎊的賠償限額明顯過低等原因，到了50年代未，要求修改《海牙規則》的呼聲日漸強烈。
基於上述這種形勢，國際海事委員會於1959年在南斯拉夫的里吉卡舉行第二十四屆大會，會上決定成立小組委員會負責修改《海牙規則》。根據各國代表對修改《海牙規則》的建議，1963年小組委員會草擬了修改《海牙規則》的議定書草案，提交給1967年、1968年召開的海事法會議審議，經會議審議通過後，於1968年2月“日在比利時的布魯塞爾召開的、由53個國家或地區代表參加的第十二屆海洋法外交會議上通過，定名為《修改統一提單若干法律規定的國際公約議定書》，並簡稱為“1968年布魯塞爾議定書”(The1968Brussels Protocol)。由於該議定書草案在斯德哥爾摩討論期間，參加會議的成員到過哥特蘭島的維斯比城，為借用中世紀維斯比海法之名聲，故將該議定書稱為《維斯比規則》（VisbyRules）。經過議定書修訂後的《海牙規則》稱為《海牙――維斯比規則》（Hague-VisbyRules）。該議定書於1977年6月23日生效。
規則內容
航運擴大了規則的適用範圍
《海牙規則》的各條規定僅適用於締約國所簽發的提單。《維斯比規則》擴大了其適用範圍，其中的第五條第三款規定：①在締約國簽發的提單；②貨物在一個締約國的港口起運；③提單載明或為提單所證明的契約規定，該契約受公約的各項規則或者使其生效的任何一個國家的立法所約束，不論承運人、託運人、收貨人或任何其他有關人員的國籍如何。該規定的意思只要提單或為提單所證明的運輸契約上有適用《維斯比規則》的規定，該提單或運輸契約就要受《維斯比規則》的約束。
明確了提單的證據效力
《海牙規則》第三條第四款規定，提單上載明的貨物主要標誌、件數或重量和表面狀況應作為承運人按其上所載內容收到貨物的初步證據。至於提單轉讓至第三人的證據效力，未作進一步的規定。《維斯比規則》為了彌補上述的缺陷，在第一條第一款則補充規定：“……但是，當提單轉讓至善意的第三人時，與此相反的證據將不能接受。”這表明對於善意行事的提單受讓人來說，提單載明的內容具有最終證據效力。所謂“善意行事”是指提單受讓人在接受提單時並不知道裝運的貨物與提單的內容有何不符之處，而是出於善意完全相信提單記載的內容。這就是說，《維斯比規則》確立了一項在法律上禁止翻供的原則，即當提單背書轉讓給第三者後，該提單就是貨物已按上面記載的狀況裝船的最終證據。承運人不得藉口在簽發清潔提單前貨物就已存在缺陷或包裝不當來對抗提單持有人。
這一補充規定，有利於進一步保護提單的流通與轉讓，也有利於維持提單受讓人或收貨人的合法權益。一旦收貨人發現貨物與提單記載不符，承運人只能負責賠償，不得提出任何抗辯的理由。
強調了承運人及其受僱人員的責任限制
海上貨物運輸契約當事人涉訟多因一方當事人的違約而引起。但在有些國家承認雙重訴訟的權利，即貨主在其貨物遭受損害時，可以以承運人違反運輸契約或以其侵權為由向承運人起訴。在貨主以侵權為由提出訴訟時，承運人便不能引用《海牙規則》中的免責和責任限制的規定。如果不能對此加以限制，運輸法規中的責任限制規定就形同虛設，為進一步強調承運人及其受僱人員享有該權利，《維斯比規則》第三條規定：“本公約規定的抗辯和責任限制，應適用於就運輸契約涉及的有關貨物的滅失或損壞對承運人提出的任何訴訟，不論該訴訟是以契約為根據還是以侵權行為為根據。”“如果訴訟是對承運人的受僱人員或代理人（該受僱人員或代理人不是獨立訂約人）提起的，該受僱人員或代理人也有權援引《海牙規則》規定的承運人的各項抗辯和責任限制。”“向承運人及其受僱人員或代理人索賠的數額，在任何情況下都不得超過本公約規定的賠償限額。”根據以上規定，使得契約之訴和侵權之訴處於相同的地位：承運人的受僱人員或代理人也享有責任限制的權利。英國法院在審理“喜馬拉雅”輪一案時，曾對承運人的受僱人員或代理人能否享受承運人所享受的權利作出否定的判決，認為承運人的受僱人員或代理人無權援引承運人與他人簽訂的契約中的條款。所以在此案後，承運人紛紛在提單上規定承運人的受僱人員或代理人可以援引承運人的免責或責任限制。人們稱這一條款為“喜馬拉雅條款”。顯然《維斯比規則》的這一規定有利於保護船東的利益。
提高了承運人對貨物損害賠償的限額
《海牙規則》規定承運人對每件或每單位的貨物損失的賠償限額為100英鎊，而《維斯比規則》第二條則規定，每件或每單位的賠償限額提高到10000金法郎，同時還增加一項以受損貨物毛重為標準的計算方法，即每公斤為30金法郎，以兩者中較高者為準。採用的金法郎仍以金本位為基礎，目的在於防止日後法郎紙幣的貶值，一個金法郎是含金純度為900/1000的黃金65.5毫克的單位。一旦法郎貶值，仍以上述的黃金含量為計算基礎，在《威斯比規則》通過時，10000金法郎大約等於431英鎊，與《海牙規則》規定的100英鎊相比，這一賠償限額顯然是大大提高了。
這一規定不但提高了賠償限額，而且創造了一項新的雙重限額制度，不但維護了貨主的利益，而且這種制度也為以後《漢堡規則》和我國《海商法》所接受。
另外，該規則還規定了喪失賠償責任限制權利的條件，即如經證實損失是由於承運人蓄意造成，或者知道很可能會造成這一損害而毫不在意的行為或不行為所引起，則承運人無權享受責任限制的權利。
增加了“貨櫃條款”
《海牙規則》沒有關於貨櫃運輸的規定。《維斯比規則》增加“貨櫃條款”，以適應國際貨櫃運輸發展的需要。該規則第二條第三款規定：“如果貨物是用貨櫃、托盤或類似的裝運器具集裝時，則提單中所載明的裝在這種裝運器具中的包數或件數，應視為本款中所述的包或件數；如果不在提單上註明件數，則以整個貨櫃或托盤為一件計算。”該條款的意思是，如果提單上具體載明在貨櫃內的貨物包數或件數，計算責任限制的單位就按提單上所列的件數為準；否則，則將一個貨櫃或一個托盤視為一件貨物。
訴訟時效的延長
《海牙規則》規定，貨物滅失或損害的訴訟時效為一年，從交付貨物或應當交付貨物之日起算。《維斯比規則》第一條第二款、第三款則補充規定，訴訟事由發生後，只要雙方當事人同意，這一期限可以延長，明確了訴訟時效可經雙方當事人協定延長的規定。對於追償時效則規定，即使在規定的一年期滿之後，只要是在受法院法律準許期間之內，便可向第三方提起索賠訴訟。但是準許的時間自提起訴訟的人已經解決索賠案件，或向其本人送達起訴狀之日起算，不得少於三個月。
議定書
《維斯比規則》規定的承運人責任限制金額計算單位為法郎，並以黃金作為定值標準。由於黃金本身的價格是根據市場供求關係自由漲落的，所以以金法郎責任限制計算單位的實際價值也不能保持穩定。針對這一情況，1979年在布魯塞爾召開有37國代表出席的外交會議上，通過了修訂《海牙――維斯比規則》（Thel979Protocol to the HagueRules）議定書。議定書將承運人責任限制的計算單位，由金法郎改為特別提款權（SpecialDrawingcenter，SDR），按15金法郎折合1SDR。議定書規定承運人的責任限制金額為每件或每單位666.67SDR，或按貨物毛重計算每公斤2SDR，兩者中以較高者為準。但國內法規定不能使用特別提款權的締約國，仍可以金法郎作為計算單位，該議定書於1984年4月開始生效。
特別提款權是國際貨幣基金組織於1969年創設的，作為國際儲備的貨幣單位。自1981年1月1日起，特別提款權由5種世界上貿易出口額最高國家的貨幣，即美元、德國馬克、日元、法國法郎和英鎊按每5年調整一次的比例構成。據基金會1990年10月9日新聞公報，自1991年1月1日起，調整特別提款權構成比例為：美元40％，德國馬克21％，日元17％，法國法郎11％，英鎊11％。此比例於1995年底以前不變。特別提款權既為一種賬面資產，又為一種聯合貨幣，只是不在市場上流通、兌換。其價格計算方法：首先將其構成中所含其他4種貨幣金額，按照當日倫敦外匯市場匯價分別折算為等值美元，然後把所有美元值相加，即得出1單位特別提款權美元值。此特別提款權價格由世界銀行逐日掛牌公布。
英文版
Hague-VisbyRulesArticleI
Definitions
IntheseRulesthefollowingexpressionshavethemeaningsherebyassignedtothemrespectively,thatistosay,
(a)"carrier"includestheownerorthechartererwhoentersintoacontractofcarriagewithashipper;
(b)"contractofcarriage"appliesonlytocontractsofcarriagecoveredbyabillofladingoranysimilardocumentoftitle,insofarassuchdocumentrelatestothecarriageofgoodsbywater,includinganybillofladingoranysimilardocumentasaforesaidissuedunderorpursuanttoacharter-partyfromthemomentatwhichsuchbillofladingorsimilardocumentoftitleregulatestherelationsbetweenacarrierandaholderofthesame;
(c)"goods"includesgoods,wares,merchandiseandarticlesofeverykindwhatsoever,exceptliveanimalsandcargowhichbythecontractofcarriageisstatedasbeingcarriedondeckandissocarried;
(d)"ship"meansanyvesselusedforthecarriageofgoodsbywater;
(e)"carriageofgoods"coverstheperiodfromthetimewhenthegoodsareloadedontothetimetheyaredischargedfromtheship.
ArticleII
Risks
SubjecttotheprovisionsofArticleVI,undereverycontractofcarriageofgoodsbywaterthecarrier,inrelationtotheloading,handling,stowage,carriage,custody,careanddischargeofsuchgoods,shallbesubjecttotheresponsibilitiesandliabilitiesandentitledtotherightsandimmunitieshereinaftersetforth.
ArticleIII
ResponsibilitiesandLiabilities
1.Thecarriershallbebound,beforeandatthebeginningofthevoyage,toexerciseduediligenceto
(a)maketheshipseaworthy;
(b)properlyman,equipandsupplytheship;
(c)maketheholds,refrigeratingandcoolchambers,andallotherpartsoftheshipinwhichgoodsarecarried,fitandsafefortheirreception,carriageandpreservation.
2.SubjecttotheprovisionsofArticleIV,thecarriershallproperlyandcarefullyload,handle,stow,carry,keep,careforanddischargethegoodscarried.
3.Afterreceivingthegoodsintohischarge,thecarrier,orthemasteroragentofthecarrier,shall,ondemandoftheshipper,issuetotheshipperabillofladingshowingamongotherthings
(a)theleadingmarksnecessaryforidentificationofthegoodsasthesamearefurnishedinwritingbytheshipperbeforetheloadingofsuchgoodsstarts,providedsuchmarksarestampedorotherwiseshownclearlyuponthegoodsifuncovered,oronthecasesorcoveringsinwhichsuchgoodsarecontained,insuchamannerasshouldordinarilyremainlegibleuntiltheendofthevoyage;
(b)eitherthenumberofpackagesorpieces,orthequantity,orweight,asthecasemaybe,asfurnishedinwritingbytheshipper;
(c)theapparentorderandconditionofthegoods:
Providedthatnocarrier,masteroragentofthecarriershallbeboundtostateorshowinthebillofladinganymarks,number,quantity,orweightwhichhehasreasonablegroundforsuspectingnotaccuratelytorepresentthegoodsactuallyreceivedorwhichhehashadnoreasonablemeansofchecking.
4.Suchabillofladingshallbeprimafacieevidenceofthereceiptbythecarrierofthegoodsasthereindescribedinaccordancewithparagraphs3(a),(b)and(c).
However,prooftothecontraryshallnotbeadmissiblewhenthebillofladinghasbeentransferredtoathirdpartyactingingoodfaith.
5.Theshippershallbedeemedtohaveguaranteedtothecarriertheaccuracyatthetimeofshipmentofthemarks,number,quantityandweight,asfurnishedbyhim,andtheshippershallindemnifythecarrieragainstallloss,damagesandexpensesarisingorresultingfrominaccuraciesinsuchparticulars.Therightofthecarriertosuchindemnityshallinnowaylimithisresponsibilityandliabilityunderthecontractofcarriagetoanypersonotherthantheshipper.
6.Unlessnoticeoflossordamageandthegeneralnatureofsuchlossordamagebegiveninwritingtothecarrierorhisagentattheportofdischargebeforeoratthetimeoftheremovalofthegoodsintothecustodyofthepersonentitledtodeliverythereofunderthecontractofcarriage,or,ifthelossordamagebenotapparent,withinthreedays,suchremovalshallbeprimafacieevidenceofthedeliverybythecarrierofthegoodsasdescribedinthebilloflading.
Thenoticeinwritingneednotbegivenifthestateofthegoodshasatthetimeoftheirreceiptbeenthesubjectofjointsurveyorinspection.
Subjecttoparagraph6bisthecarrierandtheshipshallinanyeventbedischargedfromallliabilitywhatsoeverinrespectofthegoods,unlesssuitisbroughtwithinoneyearoftheirdeliveryorofthedatewhentheyshouldhavebeendelivered.Thisperiodmay,however,beextendedifthepartiessoagreeafterthecauseofactionhasarisen.
Inthecaseofanyactualorapprehendedlossordamagethecarrierandthereceivershallgiveallreasonablefacilitiestoeachotherforinspectingandtallyingthegoods.
6.bisAnactionforindemnityagainstathirdpersonmaybebroughtevenaftertheexpirationoftheyearprovidedforintheprecedingparagraphifbroughtwithinthetimeallowedbythelawoftheCourtseizedofthecase.However,thetimeallowedshallbenotlessthanthreemonths,commencingfromthedaywhenthepersonbringingsuchactionforindemnityhassettledtheclaimorhasbeenservedwithprocessintheactionagainsthimself.
7.Afterthegoodsareloadedthebillofladingtobeissuedbythecarrier,masteroragentofthecarrier,totheshippershall,iftheshippersodemands,bea"shipped"billoflading,providedthatiftheshippershallhavepreviouslytakenupanydocumentoftitletosuchgoods,heshallsurrenderthesameasagainsttheissueofthe"shipped"billoflading,butattheoptionofthecarriersuchdocumentoftitlemaybenotedattheportofshipmentbythecarrier,master,oragentwiththenameornamesoftheshiporshipsuponwhichthegoodshavebeenshippedandthedateordatesofshipment,andwhensonotedthesameshallforthepurposeofthisArticlebedeemedtoconstitutea"shipped"billoflading.
8.Anyclause,covenantoragreementinacontractofcarriagerelievingthecarrierortheshipfromliabilityforlossordamagetoorinconnectionwithgoodsarisingfromnegligence,faultorfailureinthedutiesandobligationsprovidedinthisArticleorlesseningsuchliabilityotherwisethanasprovidedintheseRules,shallbenullandvoidandofnoeffect.
Abenefitofinsuranceorsimilarclauseshallbedeemedtobeaclauserelievingthecarrierfromliability.
ArticleIV
RightsandImmunities
1.Neitherthecarriernortheshipshallbeliableforlossordamagearisingorresultingfromunseaworthinessunlesscausedbywantofduediligenceonthepartofthecarriertomaketheshipseaworthy,andtosecurethattheshipisproperlymanned,equippedandsupplied,andtomaketheholds,refrigeratingandcoolchambersandallotherpartsoftheshipinwhichgoodsarecarriedfitandsafefortheirreception,carriageandpreservationinaccordancewiththeprovisionsofparagraph1ofArticleIII.
Wheneverlossordamagehasresultedfromunseaworthiness,theburdenofprovingtheexerciseofduediligenceshallbeonthecarrierorotherpersonclaimingexemptionunderthisarticle.
2.Neitherthecarriernortheshipshallberesponsibleforlossordamagearisingorresultingfrom
(a)act,neglect,ordefaultofthemaster,mariner,pilotortheservantsofthecarrierinthenavigationorinthemanagementoftheship;
(b)fire,unlesscausedbytheactualfaultorprivityofthecarrier;
(c)perils,dangersandaccidentsoftheseaorothernavigablewaters;
(d)actofGod;
(e)actofwar;
(f)actofpublicenemies;
(g)arrestorrestraintofprinces,rulersorpeople,orseizureunderlegalprocess;
(h)quarantinerestrictions;
(i)actoromissionoftheshipperorownerofthegoods,hisagentorrepresentative;
(j)strikesorlock-outsorstoppageorrestraintoflabourfromwhatevercause,whetherpartialorgeneral;
(k)riotsandcivilcommotions;
(l)savingorattemptingtosavelifeorpropertyatsea;
(m)wastageinbulkorweightoranyotherlossordamagearisingfrominherentdefect,qualityorviceofthegoods;
(n)insufficiencyofpacking;
(o)insufficiencyorinadequacyofmarks;
(p)latentdefectsnotdiscoverablebyduediligence;
(q)anyothercausearisingwithouttheactualfaultandprivityofthecarrier,orwithoutthefaultorneglectoftheagentsorservantsofthecarrier,buttheburdenofproofshallbeonthepersonclaimingthebenefitofthisexceptiontoshowthatneithertheactualfaultorprivityofthecarriernorthefaultorneglectoftheagentsorservantsofthecarriercontributedtothelossordamage.
3.Theshippershallnotberesponsibleforlossordamagesustainedbythecarrierortheshiparisingorresultingfromanycausewithouttheact,faultorneglectoftheshipper,hisagentsorhisservants.
4.AnydeviationinsavingorattemptingtosavelifeorpropertyatseaoranyreasonabledeviationshallnotbedeemedtobeaninfringementorbreachoftheseRulesorofthecontractofcarriage,andthecarriershallnotbeliableforanylossordamageresultingtherefrom.
5.(a)Unlessthenatureandvalueofsuchgoodshavebeendeclaredbytheshipperbeforeshipmentandinsertedinthebilloflading,neitherthecarriernortheshipshallinanyeventbeorbecomeliableforanylossordamagetoorinconnectionwiththegoodsinanamountexceeding666.67unitsofaccountperpackageorunitor2unitsofaccountperkilogrammeofgrossweightofthegoodslostordamaged,whicheveristhehigher.
(b)Thetotalamountrecoverableshallbecalculatedbyreferencetothevalueofsuchgoodsattheplaceandtimeatwhichthegoodsaredischargedfromtheshipinaccordancewiththecontractorshouldhavebeensodischarged.
Thevalueofthegoodsshallbefixedaccordingtothecommodityexchangeprice,or,iftherebenosuchprice,accordingtothecurrentmarketprice,or,iftherebenocommodityexchangepriceorcurrentmarketprice,byreferencetothenormalvalueofgoodsofthesamekindandquality.
(c)Whereacontainer,palletorsimilararticleoftransportisusedtoconsolidategoods,thenumberofpackagesorunitsenumeratedinthebillofladingaspackedinsucharticleoftransportshallbedeemedthenumberofpackagesorunitsforthepurposeofthisparagraphasfarasthesepackagesorunitsareconcerned.Exceptasaforesaidsucharticleoftransportshallbeconsideredthepackageorunit.
(d)TheunitofaccountmentionedinthisArticleistheSpecialDrawingRightasdefinedbytheInternationalMonetaryFund.Theamountsmentionedinsub-paragraph(a)ofthisparagraphshallbeconvertedintonationalcurrencyonthebasisofthevalueofthatcurrencyonthedatetobedeterminedbythelawoftheCourtseizedofthecase.Thevalueofthenationalcurrency,intermsoftheSpecialDrawingRight,ofaStatewhichisamemberoftheInternationalMonetaryFund,shallbecalculatedinaccordancewiththemethodofvaluationappliedbytheInternationalMonetaryFundineffectatthedateinquestionforitsoperationsandtransactions.Thevalueofthenationalcurrency,intermsoftheSpecialDrawingRight,ofaStatewhichisnotamemberoftheInternationalMonetaryFund,shallbecalculatedinamannerdeterminedbythatState.
Nevertheless,aStatewhichisnotamemberoftheInternationalMonetaryFundandwhoselawdoesnotpermittheapplicationoftheprovisionsoftheprecedingsentencesmay,atthetimeofratificationoftheProtocolof1979oraccessiontheretooratanytimethereafter,declarethatthelimitsofliabilityprovidedforinthisConventiontobeappliedinitsterritoryshallbefixedasfollows:
(i)inrespectoftheamountof666.67unitsofaccountmentionedinsub-paragraph(a)ofparagraph5ofthisArticle,10,000monetaryunits;
(ii)inrespectoftheamountof2unitsofaccountmentionedinsub-paragraph(a)ofparagraph5ofthisArticle,30monetaryunits.
Themonetaryunitreferredtointheprecedingsentencecorrespondsto65.5milligrammesofgoldofmillesimalfineness900.TheconversionoftheamountsspecifiedinthatsentenceintothenationalcurrencyshallbemadeaccordingtothelawoftheStateconcerned.ThecalculationandtheconversionmentionedintheprecedingsentencesshallbemadeinsuchamannerastoexpressinthenationalcurrencyofthatStateasfaraspossiblethesamerealvaluefortheamountsinsub-paragraph(a)ofparagraph5ofthisArticleasisexpressedthereinunitsofaccount.
Statesshallcommunicatetothedepositarythemannerofcalculationortheresultoftheconversionasthecasemaybe,whendepositinganinstrumentofratificationoftheProtocolof1979orofaccessiontheretoandwheneverthereisachangeineither.
(e)Neitherthecarriernortheshipshallbeentitledtothebenefitofthelimitationofliabilityprovidedforinthisparagraphifitisprovedthatthedamageresultedfromanactoromissionofthecarrierdonewithintenttocausedamage,orrecklesslyandwithknowledgethatdamagewouldprobablyresult.
(f)Thedeclarationmentionedinsub-paragraph(a)ofthisparagraph,ifembodiedinthebilloflading,shallbeprimafacieevidence,butshallnotbebindingorconclusiveonthecarrier.
(g)Byagreementbetweenthecarrier,masteroragentofthecarrierandtheshipperothermaximumamountsthanthosementionedinsub-paragraph(a)ofthisparagraphmaybefixed,providedthatnomaximumamountsofixedshallbelessthantheappropriatemaximummentionedinthatsub-paragraph.
(h)Neitherthecarriernortheshipshallberesponsibleinanyeventforlossordamageto,orinconnectionwith,goodsifthenatureorvaluethereofhasbeenknowinglymis-statedbytheshipperinthebilloflading.
6.Goodsofaninflammable,explosiveordangerousnaturetotheshipmentwhereofthecarrier,masteroragentofthecarrierhasnotconsented,withknowledgeoftheirnatureandcharacter,mayatanytimebeforedischargebelandedatanyplaceordestroyedorrenderedinnocuousbythecarrierwithoutcompensation,andtheshipperofsuchgoodsshallbeliableforalldamagesandexpensesdirectlyorindirectlyarisingoutoforresultingfromsuchshipment.
Ifanysuchgoodsshippedwithsuchknowledgeandconsentshallbecomeadangertotheshiporcargo,theymayinlikemannerbelandedatanyplaceordestroyedorrenderedinnocuousbythecarrierwithoutliabilityonthepartofthecarrierexcepttogeneralaverage,ifany.
ArticleIVbis
ApplicationofDefencesandLimitsofLiability
1.ThedefencesandlimitsofliabilityprovidedforintheseRulesshallapplyinanyactionagainstthecarrierinrespectoflossordamagetogoodscoveredbyacontractofcarriagewhethertheactionbefoundedincontractorintort.
2.Ifsuchanactionisbroughtagainstaservantoragentofthecarrier(suchservantoragentnotbeinganindependentcontractor),suchservantoragentshallbeentitledtoavailhimselfofthedefencesandlimitsofliabilitywhichthecarrierisentitledtoinvokeundertheseRules.
3.Theaggregateoftheamountsrecoverablefromthecarrier,andsuchservantsandagents,shallinnocaseexceedthelimitprovidedforintheseRules.
4.Nevertheless,aservantoragentofthecarriershallnotbeentitledtoavailhimselfoftheprovisionsofthisArticle,ifitisprovedthatthedamageresultedfromanactoromissionoftheservantoragentdonewithintenttocausedamageorrecklesslyandwithknowledgethatdamagewouldprobablyresult.
ArticleV
SurrenderofRightsandImmunities,andIncreaseofResponsibilitiesandLiabilities
AcarriershallbeatlibertytosurrenderinwholeorinpartalloranyofhisrightsandimmunitiesortoincreaseanyofhisresponsibilitiesandliabilitiesundertheRulescontainedinanyoftheseArticles,providedsuchsurrenderorincreaseshallbeembodiedinthebillofladingissuedtotheshipper.
TheprovisionsoftheseRulesshallnotbeapplicabletocharter-parties,butifbillsofladingareissuedinthecaseofashipunderacharter-partytheyshallcomplywiththetermsoftheseRules.NothingintheseRulesshallbeheldtopreventtheinsertioninabillofladingofanylawfulprovisionregardinggeneralaverage.
ArticleVI
SpecialConditions
NotwithstandingtheprovisionsoftheprecedingArticles,acarrier,masteroragentofthecarrierandashippershallinregardtoanyparticulargoodsbeatlibertytoenterintoanyagreementinanytermsastotheresponsibilityandliabilityofthecarrierforsuchgoods,andastotherightsandimmunitiesofthecarrierinrespectofsuchgoods,orhisobligationastoseaworthiness,sofarasthisstipulationisnotcontrarytopublicpolicy,orthecareordiligenceofhisservantsoragentsinregardtotheloading,handling,stowage,carriage,custody,careanddischargeofthegoodscarriedbywater,providedthatinthiscasenobillofladinghasbeenorshallbeissuedandthatthetermsagreedshallbeembodiedinareceiptwhichshallbeanon-negotiabledocumentandshallbemarkedassuch.
Anyagreementsoenteredintoshallhavefulllegaleffect.
ProvidedthatthisArticleshallnotapplytoordinarycommercialshipmentsmadeintheordinarycourseoftrade,butonlytoothershipmentswherethecharacterorconditionofthepropertytobecarriedorthecircumstances,termsandconditionsunderwhichthecarriageistobeperformedaresuchasreasonablytojustifyaspecialagreement.
ArticleVII
LimitationsontheApplicationoftheRules
Nothinghereincontainedshallpreventacarrierorashipperfromenteringintoanyagreement,stipulation,condition,reservationorexemptionastotheresponsibilityandliabilityofthecarrierortheshipforthelossordamageto,orinconnectionwiththecustodyandcareandhandlingofgoodspriortotheloadingonandsubsequenttothedischargefromtheshiponwhichthegoodsarecarriedbywater.
ArticleVIII
LimitationofLiability
TheprovisionsoftheseRulesshallnotaffecttherightsandobligationsofthecarrierunderanystatuteforthetimebeinginforcerelatingtothelimitationoftheliabilityofownersofvessels.
ArticleIX
LiabilityforNuclearDamage
TheseRulesshallnotaffecttheprovisionsofanyinternationalConventionornationallawgoverningliabilityfornucleardamage.
ArticleX
Application
TheprovisionsoftheseRulesshallapplytoeverybillofladingrelatingtothecarriageofgoodsbetweenportsintwodifferentStatesif:
(a)thebillofladingisissuedinaContractingState,or
(b)thecarriageisfromaportinaContractingState,or
(c)thecontractcontainedinorevidencedbythebillofladingprovidesthattheseRulesorlegislationofanyStategivingeffecttothemaretogovernthecontract,
whatevermaybethenationalityoftheship,thecarrier,theshipper,theconsignee,oranyotherinterestedperson.
