Hague Rules (1924, unamended): liability limits and deadlines
The original international bill of lading convention. It introduced the minimum carrier duties and package limitation that the Visby and SDR Protocols later updated.
Full name: International Convention for the Unification of Certain Rules of Law relating to Bills of Lading, Brussels, 25 August 1924
Status: In force since 2 June 1931 for states that have not moved to Hague-Visby
Mode: Ocean
Carrier's liability limit
£100 per package or unit (Art. IV r.5), with Art. IX referring to gold value. How that is converted today varies by country (gold value, paper sterling, or a national figure such as US$500). We do not compute a figure.
Notice, claim and time-bar deadlines
- Notice of loss/damage
- Before or at removal; within 3 days if not apparent (Art. III r.6).
- Time bar (suit)
- 1 year after delivery or the date the goods should have been delivered (Art. III r.6).
Who it applies to
Bills of lading issued in a Contracting State (Art. X). Several large trading states remain bound only by the unamended 1924 text, notably the United States (through COGSA) and Türkiye, among the countries on this site.
Of the 20 countries we cover, these are parties or apply it: United States, Germany, France, Mexico, Singapore, Spain, Türkiye (Turkey).
Important notes
- This entry is reference only. Where the Hague Rules apply, the limit depends on national implementation and case law on the gold clause.
FAQ
Why doesn't the calculator give a number for the Hague Rules?
The £100 gold figure has no single agreed modern value. Courts have reached different results, so any single number would be misleading.
Primary sources
- Belgian depositary: States bound by the 1924 Convention
- CMI status of ratifications of the Brussels conventions
Limit changes, in your inbox
Get a short email when a limit changes (for example the next ICAO Montreal review) or a country ratifies a convention.
Prototype: this form is not connected yet and stores nothing.General information only, not legal or insurance advice. Limits depend on the contract, the documents issued, declared values, national law and the facts of each case. Check the primary sources and consult a qualified professional before relying on any figure.