South Africa: carrier liability conventions for cargo
Which international cargo liability regimes South Africa is bound by, from the treaty depositaries' records.
Summary
- Ocean (shipments from South Africa): no Hague-family convention by treaty; Hague-Visby Rules shown as an indicative contractual default.
- Air: Montreal Convention 1999 (26 SDR/kg) on routes to other MC99 parties.
- Road: not a CMR party; national law/contract governs.
- Rail: not an OTIF Member State.
Ocean
National law (to confirm): South Africa applies the Hague-Visby Rules through its Carriage of Goods by Sea Act 1986; details to confirm.
Air
| Instrument | Status | Date / note | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Montreal Convention 1999 | Party | 22 Nov 2006 Entry into force 21 Jan 2007. | ICAO, Current list of parties to the Montreal Convention 1999 |
| Warsaw Convention 1929 | Party | 22 Dec 1954 | ICAO, Parties to the Warsaw Convention 1929 and The Hague Protocol 1955 |
| The Hague Protocol 1955 | Party | 18 Sep 1967 | ICAO, Parties to the Warsaw Convention 1929 and The Hague Protocol 1955 |
| Montreal Additional Protocol No. 4 | To confirm | MAP4 status not retrieved from ICAO during this build. |
Road
| Instrument | Status | Date / note | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| CMR 1956 | Not a party | UN Treaty Collection, CMR (XI-B-11) |
Rail
| Instrument | Status | Date / note | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| COTIF 1999 / CIM | Not a party | Not listed among OTIF Member States. | OTIF, Member States |
FAQ
Is South Africa a party to the Hague-Visby Rules?
South Africa is not listed by the Belgian depositary as a party to the Visby or SDR Protocols. Check national law and your bill of lading.
Which air cargo liability limit applies to flights from South Africa?
South Africa is a party to the Montreal Convention 1999 (ratification/accession 22 Nov 2006). Between MC99 parties the cargo limit is 26 SDR per kg from 28 December 2024.
Does CMR apply to trucking from South Africa?
South Africa is not listed as a CMR party. CMR can still apply to a road leg if the other country is a party, since CMR applies when either the place of taking over or delivery is in a contracting country.
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Prototype: this form is not connected yet and stores nothing.Status checked against depositary records on 2026-10-16. "Not a party" means not listed by the depositary. 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.