United Kingdom: carrier liability conventions for cargo
Which international cargo liability regimes United Kingdom is bound by, from the treaty depositaries' records.
Summary
- Ocean (shipments from United Kingdom): Hague-Visby Rules.
- Air: Montreal Convention 1999 (26 SDR/kg) on routes to other MC99 parties.
- Road: CMR (8.33 SDR/kg) for international road carriage.
- Rail: CIM/COTIF (17 SDR/kg) between OTIF Member States.
Ocean
| Instrument | Status | Date / note | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hague Rules 1924 | Denounced | Denounced (effective 13 Jun 1978 per the depositary) | Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (depositary): States bound by the 1924 Bills of Lading Convention |
| Visby Protocol 1968 | Party | 1 Oct 1976 (ratification) | Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (depositary): States bound by the 1968 Visby Protocol (last modified 28 May 2021) |
| SDR Protocol 1979 | Party | 2 Mar 1982 (ratification) | Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (depositary): States bound by the 1979 SDR Protocol |
| Hamburg Rules 1978 | Not a party | UN Treaty Collection, Hamburg Rules (XI-D-3) |
National law: Carriage of Goods by Sea Act 1971 gives the Hague-Visby Rules (with SDR limits) the force of law. UK Carriage of Goods by Sea Act 1971
Air
| Instrument | Status | Date / note | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Montreal Convention 1999 | Party | 29 Apr 2004 Entry into force 28 Jun 2004. | ICAO, Current list of parties to the Montreal Convention 1999 |
| Warsaw Convention 1929 | Party | 14 Feb 1933 | ICAO, Parties to the Warsaw Convention 1929 and The Hague Protocol 1955 |
| The Hague Protocol 1955 | Party | 3 Mar 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 | Party | 21 Jul 1967 (accession) | UN Treaty Collection, CMR (XI-B-11) |
Rail
| Instrument | Status | Date / note | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| COTIF 1999 / CIM | Party | Listed as OTIF Member State. | OTIF, Member States |
FAQ
Is United Kingdom a party to the Hague-Visby Rules?
Yes. United Kingdom is listed by the depositary as a party to the 1968 Visby Protocol and the 1979 SDR Protocol.
Which air cargo liability limit applies to flights from United Kingdom?
United Kingdom is a party to the Montreal Convention 1999 (ratification/accession 29 Apr 2004). Between MC99 parties the cargo limit is 26 SDR per kg from 28 December 2024.
Does CMR apply to trucking from United Kingdom?
Yes. United Kingdom is a CMR party (21 Jul 1967 (accession)); CMR applies to international road carriage for reward where 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.