OCEAN TRANSIT
Ocean transportation of cargo throughout the world is covered by
various conventions or treaties. The Hague Rules, Hague Visby, and
Hamburg Rules are examples. These conventions are enacted in the
counties subscribing to the conventions. In the United States, the
Hague Convention is enacted as 46 USC §30701, et seq. and
popularly known as "COGSA," the Carriage of Goods by Sea
Act.
Under Section 1, the "carrier" includes the owner or
charterer of a vessel who enters into a contract of carriage with a
shipper.
Under COGSA, suit must be commenced against a carrier within one
year of the date cargo was delivered or the date cargo should have
been delivered.
A carrier cannot shorten the one year, however, by written
agreement the time to file suit may be extended to more than one
year.
