136 | ISSUE 110 | DEC 2024 | THE REPORT By Mark Russell,
Head of Cargo Claims, Gard P&I Club
Is simplicity a reason for the success of the Hague Rules? In this opinion piece, Mark Russell, Head of Cargo Claims in Gard, outlines the history - and looks to the future – in a world of competing cargo carriage regimes.
The Hague Rules came into being 100 years ago this year, becoming the first international convention governing the rights and obligations under bills of lading for the carriage of goods by sea. As the volume of internationally traded goods grew, the Hague Rules were born out of a need for uniformity in the allocation of risk between shipowners and cargo interests.