5.1 Port to Port Shipment
When loss or damage has occurred between the time of acceptance of the Goods into its custody by the Carrier at the Port of Loading and the time of release from its custody by the Carrier at the Port of discharge as per the provisions on page 2 and its attachments - if any- , the responsibility of the Carrier shall be determined in accordance with German law, making the Hague-Visby Rules compulsorily applicable to bills of lading and contracts of carriage. In the event the Bill of Lading has been issued in a country in which the Hague Rules are compulsorily applicable (with the exception of Germany), the responsibility of the Carrier shall be determined in accordance with German law, making the Hague Rules compulsorily applicable. In the event the Bill of Lading has been issued in Germany and covers a shipment to or from a port in a country in which the Hague Rules are compulsorily applicable (including Germany), the responsibility of the Carrier shall be determined in accordance with German law, making the Hague Rules compulsorily applicable.
5.2 Exclusion of liability for errors in navigation and for fire on board the vessel
a. The Carrier shall not be responsible for loss or damage arising or resulting from an act, neglect or default of its people and the Vessel's Crew if such loss or damage is caused by an error in navigation or in the management of the vessel unless such act, neglect or default is primarily effected in the interest of the Goods nor shall the Carrier be responsible for any loss or damage caused by fire or explosion on board the vessel.
b. The Carrier shall also not be responsible for any act, neglect or default of third parties involved in the navigation or in the management of the vessel, such as pilots or the crew of tugs assisting the vessel, for any loss or damage arising or resulting from an error in navigation or in the management of the vessel unless such act, neglect or default is primarily effected in the interest of the Goods.
c. The Carrier shall not be deemed to have custody of the Goods, prior to loading on or subsequent to the discharge from the vessel.
d. Notwithstanding the above, in the event that the applicable compulsory law provides the contrary, the Carrier shall have the benefit of every right, defence, limitation and liberty in the Hague-Visby Rules or the Hague Rules, even if the loss or damage did occur prior to loading on or subsequent to the discharge from the vessel. In the event that the Bill of Lading covers a shipment to or from the USA, however, COGSA shall be applicable before the Goods are loaded on and after they are discharged from the vessel.
5.3 Written Notice of Damage or Loss
Unless notice of loss or damage be given in written form to the Carrier or its agent at the Port of Discharge before or at the time of the removal of the Goods into the custody of the person entitled to delivery thereof under the contract of carriage, or, if the loss or damage is not apparent, within three (3) days from the time of such removal, such removal shall be prima facie evidence of the delivery by the Carrier as described in this Bill of Lading and any such loss or damage which may have occurred to the Goods shall be deemed to be due to circumstances which are not the responsibility of the Carrier. The notice must clearly specify the damage. Notwithstanding the aforesaid, if a Container or a closed Case/Package Unit has been delivered to the Merchant, the Merchant has to prove that the damage to or loss of the Goods has occurred during the period of the Carrier's custody of the Container or the closed Case/Package.
5.4 Value of the Goods
Compensation shall be calculated by reference to the value of the Goods at the place and the time they are delivered to the Merchant, or at the place and the time they should have been delivered. For the purpose of determining the extent of the Carrier’s liability for loss of or damage to the Goods, the sound value of the Goods is agreed to be the invoice value plus freight if paid, less any customs duties pp. saved due to the loss or damage.
5.5 Application of US-COGSA
In the event that this Bill of Lading has been issued in the USA or in a country making the Hague Rules applicable and this Bill of Lading covers a shipment from or to the USA, COGSA shall apply. COGSA shall also be applicable before the Goods are loaded on and after they are discharged from the vessel.
5.6 Multimodal Transport
a. If the place of damage to or loss of the Goods is known, the responsibility of the Carrier is determined by such provisions of German law which apply to that part of the carriage.
b. If the place of damage as per (a) above falls under the port to port shipment provisions, the exclusion of liability for errors in navigation and for fire on board the vessel under clause 5 (1) b) and (c) shall apply.
c. In the event that part of the multimodal transport is a shipment to or from the USA and the damage to or loss of the Goods occurs at the time between the loading at the Port of Loading and the discharging at the Port of Discharge the responsibility of the Carrier shall be determined in accordance with German law making the Hague Rules compulsorily applicable. COGSA however applies before the Goods are loaded on and after they are discharged from the vessel.
d. With respect to road Carriage between countries in Europe, liability shall be determined in accordance with the Convention on the Contract for the International Carriage of Goods by Road (CMR), dated 19th May 1956; and during rail Carriage between countries in Europe according to the Uniform Rules concerning the Contract of International Carriage of Goods by Rail (CIM – Appendix B to COTIF), dated 3rd June 1999 or any amendments to this Convention or Appendix.
e. Unless notice of loss or damage be given in written form to the Carrier or its agent at the Port of Discharge before or at the time of the removal of the Goods into the custody of the person entitled to delivery thereof under the contract of carriage, or, if the loss or damage is not apparent within seven (7) days, such removal shall be prima facie evidence of the delivery by the Carrier as described in this Bill of Lading. The notice must clearly specify the damage. Notwithstanding the aforesaid, if a Container or closed Case/Package Unit has been delivered to the Merchant, the Merchant has to prove that the damage to or loss of the Goods has occurred in the period of the Carrier's custody of the Container or the closed Case/Package Unit.
f. Compensation shall be calculated by reference to the value of the Goods at the time they were delivered to the Carrier for Carriage.
g. IN SO FAR AS THE LIABILITY PROVIDED FOR IN CLAUSES 5 (6) (a) IS NOT MANDATORY AND PROVIDES FOR A HIGHER LIABILITY THAN 2 SDRs, THE CARRIER'S MAXIMUM LIABILITY SHALL BE 2 SDRs PER KILO OF THE GROSS WEIGHT OF THE GOODS LOST OR DAMAGED. SDRs MEANS SPECIAL DRAWING RIGHTS AS DEFINED BY THE INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND.
h. IF THE STAGE OF THE CARRIAGE DURING WHICH LOSS OR DAMAGE OCCURRED IS NOT KNOWN, THE CARRIER’S MAXIMUM LIABILITY SHALL NOT EXCEED 2 SDRs PER KILO OF GROSS WEIGHT OF THE GOODS LOST OR DAMAGED.
i. THE CARRIER SHALL NOT BE ENTITLED TO THE BENEFIT OF THE LIMITATION OF LIABILITY PROVIDED FOR IN CLAUSE 5 (6) (g) AND (h) IF IT IS PROVEN THAT THE DAMAGE RESULTED FROM AN ACT OR OMISSION OF THE CARRIER OR ITS SERVANTS OR AGENTS DONE WITH INTENT TO CAUSE SUCH DAMAGE OR RECKLESSLY AND WITH THE KNOWLEDGE THAT DAMAGE WOULD PROBABLY RESULT.
j. HOWEVER, IF THE LOSS OR DAMAGE HAS OCCURRED DURING THE CARRIAGE OF GOODS BY SEA TO WHICH MARITIME LAW APPLIES, THE CARRIER IS ENTITLED TO THE BENEFIT OF LIMITATION AS PROVIDED FOR IN CLAUSE 5 (6) (g), I.E. MAXIMUM LIABILITY OF 2 SDRs PER KILO, EXCEPT WHERE A LAW APPLIES WHICH MAKES THE HAGUE-VISBY RULES OR GERMAN LAW COMPULSORILY APPLICABLE AND IT IS PROVEN THAT THE DAMAGE RESULTED FROM AN ACT OR OMISSION OF THE CARRIER ITSELF DONE WITH INTENT TO CAUSE DAMAGE, OR RECKLESSLY AND WITH KNOWLEDGE THAT DAMAGE WOULD PROBABLY RESULT.