Illustrative scenario: not a real case
Example 1: A lost container, and why the package count matters
The scenario
A Rotterdam electronics distributor ships one 40-foot container of 400 cartons of tablets (gross weight 4,000 kg, invoice value US$200,000) from Antwerp to Montreal on a port-to-port bill of lading subject to the Hague-Visby Rules. The container is lost overboard in heavy weather. Assume the carrier cannot prove a defence (for example, lashing failure due to poor stowage, not a peril of the sea), so it is liable, but entitled to limit.
The numbers
| Scenario | Regime | Limit (SDR) | Limit (USD) | Cargo value | Uninsured gap | Calculator |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bill of lading enumerates "400 cartons" | Hague-Visby Rules | 266,668.00 | 361,724.48 | 200,000.00 | 0.00 | Open prefilled |
| Bill of lading says only "1 x 40' container, electronics" | Hague-Visby Rules | 8,000.00 | 10,851.68 | 200,000.00 | 189,148.32 | Open prefilled |
SDR rate used: 1 SDR = US$1.35646 (2026-10-16), €1.20542, C$1.92214 (IMF, build 2026-10-16). The calculator links use the latest daily rate, so figures may differ slightly.
Step by step
Bill of lading enumerates "400 cartons"
Regime: Hague-Visby Rules. Regime fixed by the scenario (calculator link pre-selects it).
- 2 SDR × 4,000 kg = 8,000.00 SDR
- 666.67 SDR × 400 packages = 266,668.00 SDR
- Higher of the two: 266,668.00 SDR (package basis)
- Limit = 266,668.00 SDR = US$361,724.48 / C$512,573.23 / €321,446.94
- Cargo value USD 200,000.00 − limit USD 361,724.48 = gap USD 0.00 (100.0% covered)
Bill of lading says only "1 x 40' container, electronics"
Regime: Hague-Visby Rules. Regime fixed by the scenario (calculator link pre-selects it).
- 2 SDR × 4,000 kg = 8,000.00 SDR
- 666.67 SDR × 1 packages = 666.67 SDR
- Higher of the two: 8,000.00 SDR (weight basis)
- Limit = 8,000.00 SDR = US$10,851.68 / C$15,377.12 / €9,643.36
- Cargo value USD 200,000.00 − limit USD 10,851.68 = gap USD 189,148.32 (5.4% covered)
What it means
With 400 cartons enumerated, the package basis gives 266,668.00 SDR, which is more than the cargo is worth, so the limit does not bite: the cargo owner can recover the proven loss of US$200,000 (if the carrier is liable). With only the container described, the container counts as one package (Art. IV r.5(c)); the kilo basis of 8,000.00 SDR is higher, so the limit is about US$10,852 and the uninsured gap is US$189,148.
Notice deadline: written notice before or at removal of the goods, or within 3 days if loss or damage is not apparent (for a lost container, notify immediately). Time bar: 1 year from when the goods should have been delivered (Art. III r.6).
Takeaways
- Check the draft bill of lading: make sure it states the number of packages in the container.
- Even with good enumeration, a carrier defence (perils of the sea, nautical fault) could defeat the claim entirely. Insurance on ICC (A) covers loss overboard regardless of carrier fault.
- If the cargo is insured, the insurer pays and pursues the carrier, so the bill of lading wording still matters to the recovery.
Background: What counts as a "package" under the Hague-Visby Rules?.
Try it with your own shipment
Run the numbers in the free calculator: applicable convention, carrier limit in USD/CAD/EUR, uninsured gap and deadlines.
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.This is a fictional, simplified scenario for education. Real outcomes depend on the contract, the facts, the court and the evidence. 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.