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Standard Conditions (1992) governing the Negotiable FIATA MULTIMODALTRANSPORT
BILLOF LADING Definitions
– «Freight Forwarder» means the Multimodal Transport Operator who issues this
FBL and is named on the face of it and assumes liability for the performance of the
multimodal transport contract as a carrier.
– «Merchant» means and includes the Shipper, the Consignor, the Consignee, the
Holder of this FBL, the Receiver and the Owner of the Goods.
– «Consignor» means the person who concludes the multimodal transport contract
with the Freight Forwarder.
– «Consignee» means the person entitled to receive the goods from the Freight
Forwarder.
– «Taken in charge» means that the goods have been handed over to and
accepted for carriage by the Freight Forwarder at the place of receipt evidenced in
this FBL.
– «Goods» means any property including live animals as well as containers, pallets
or similar articles of transport or packaging not supplied by the Freight Forwarder,
irrespective of whether such property is to be or is carried on or under deck.
1. Applicability
Notwithstanding the heading «FIATA Multimodal Transport Bill of Lading (FBL)» these
conditions shall also apply if only one mode of transport is used.
2. Issuance of this FBL
2.1. By issuance of this FBL the Freight Forwarder
a) undertakes to perform and/or in his own name to procure the performance of the
entire transport,from the place at which the goods are taken in charge (place of
receipt evidenced in this FBL) to the place of delivery designated in this FBL;
b) assumes liability as set out in these conditions.
2.2. Subject to the conditions of this FBL the Freight Forwarder shall be responsible
for the acts and omissions of his servants or agents acting within the scope of their
employment, or any other person of whose services he makes use for the
performance of the contract evidenced by this FBL, as if such acts and omissions
were his own.
3. Negotiability and title to the goods
3.1. This FBL is issued in a negotiable form unless it is marked «non negotiable». It
shall constitute title to the goods and the holder, by endorsement of this FBL, shall
be entitled to receive or to transfer the goods herein mentioned.
3.2. The information in this FBL shall be prima facie evidence of the taking in charge
by the Freight Forwarder of the goods as described by such information unless a
contrary indication, such as «shipper’s weight, load and count», «shipper-packed
container» or similar expressions, has been made in the printed text or
superimposed on this FBL. However, proof to the contrary shall not be admissible
when the FBL has been transferred to the consignee for valuable consideration who
in good faith has relied and acted thereon.
4. Dangerous Goods and Indemnity
4.1. The Merchant shall comply with rules which are mandatory according to the
national law or by reason of International Convention, relating to the carriage of
goods of a dangerous nature, and shall in any case inform the Freight Forwarder in
writing of the exact nature of the danger, before goods of a dangerous nature are
taken in charge by the Freight Forwarder and indicate to him, if need be, the
precautions to be taken.
4.2. If the Merchant fails to provide such information and the Freight Forwarder is
unaware of the dangerous nature of the goods and the necessary precautions to be
taken and if, at any time, they are deemed to be a hazard to life or property, they
may at any place be unloaded, destroyed or rendered harmless, as circumstances
may require, without compensation. The Merchant shall indemnify the Freight
Forwarder against all loss, damage, liability, or expense arising out of their being
taken in charge, or their carriage, or of any service incidental thereto.
The burden of proving that the Freight Forwarder knew the exact nature of the
danger constituted by the carriage of the said goods shall rest on the Merchant.
4.3. If any goods shall become a danger to life or property, they may in like manner
be unloaded or landed at any place or destroyed or rendered harmless. If such
danger was not caused by the fault and neglect of the Freight Forwarder he shall
have no liability and the Merchant shall indemnify him against all loss, damage,
liability and expense arising therefrom.
5. Description of Goods and Merchant’s Packing and Inspection
5.1. The Consignor shall be deemed to have guaranteed to the Freight Forwarder
the accuracy, at the time the goods were taken in charge by the Freight Forwarder,
of all particulars relating to the general nature of the goods, their marks, number,
weight, volume and quantity and, if applicable, to the dangerous character of the
goods, as furnished by him or on his behalf for insertion on the FBL.
The Consignor shall indemnify the Freight Forwarder against all loss, damage and
expense resulting from any inaccuracy or inadequacy of such particulars.
The Consignor shall remain liable even if the FBL has been transferred by him.
The right of the Freight Forwarder to such an indemnity shall in no way limit his
liability under this FBL to any person other than the Consignor.
5.2. The Freight Forwarder shall not be liable for any loss, damage or expense
caused by defective or insufficient packing of goods or by inadequate loading or
packing within containers or other transport units when such loading or packing has
been performed by the Merchant or on his behalf by a person other than the Freight
Forwarder, or by the defect or unsuitability of the containers or other transport units
supplied by the Merchant, or if supplied by the Freight Forwarder if a defect or
unsuitability of the container or other transport unit would have been apparent upon
reasonable inspection by the Merchant. The Merchant shall indemnify the Freight
Forwarder against all loss, damage, liability and expense so caused.
6. Freight Forwarder’s Liability
6.1. The responsibility of the Freight Forwarder for the goods under these conditions
covers the period from the time the Freight Forwarder has taken the goods in his
charge to the time of their delivery.
6.2. The Freight Forwarder shall be liable for loss of or damage to the goods as well
as for delay in delivery if the occurrence which caused the loss, damage or delay in
delivery took place while the goods were in his charge as defined in Clause 2.1.a,
unless the Freight Forwarder proves that no fault or neglect of his own, his servants
or agents or any other person referred to in Clause 2.2. has caused or contributed
to such loss, damage or delay. However, the Freight Forwarder shall only be liable
for loss following from delay in delivery if the Consignor has made a declaration of
interest in timely delivery which has been accepted by the Freight Forwarder and
stated in this FBL.
6.3. Arrival times are not guaranteed by the Freight Forwarder. However, delay in
delivery occurs when the goods have not been delivered within the time expressly
agreed upon or, in the absence of such agreement,within the time which would be
reasonable to require of a diligent Freight Forwarder, having regard to the
circumstances of the case.
6.4. If the goods have not been delivered within ninety consecutive days following
such date of delivery as determined in Clause 6.3., the claimant may, in the absence
of evidence to the contrary, treat the goods as lost.
6.5. When the Freight Forwarder establishes that, in the circumstances of the case,
the loss or damage could be attributed to one or more causes or events, specified in
a - e of the present clause, it shall be presumed that it was so caused, always
provided, however, that the claimant shall be entitled to prove that the loss or
damage was not, in fact, caused wholly or partly by one or more of such causes or
events:
a) an act or omission of the Merchant, or person other than the Freight Forwarder
acting on behalf of the Merchant or from whom the Freight Forwarder took the goods
in charge;
b) insufficiency or defective condition of the packaging or marks and/or numbers;
c) handling, loading, stowage or unloading of the goods by the Merchant or any
person acting on behalf of the Merchant;
d) inherent vice of the goods;
e) strike, lockout, stoppage or restraint of labour.
6.6. Defences for carriage by sea or inland waterways
Notwithstanding clauses 6.2., 6.3 and 6.4. the Freight Forwarder shall not be liable
for loss, damage or delay in delivery with respect to goods carried by sea or inland
waterways when such loss, damage or delay during such carriage has been caused by:
a) act, neglect, or default of the master, mariner, pilot or the servants of the carrier
in the navigation or in the management of the ship,
b) fire, unless caused by the actual fault or privity of the carrier, however, always
provided that whenever loss or damage has resulted from unseaworthiness of the
ship, the Freight Forwarder can prove that due diligence has been exercised to make
the ship seaworthy at the commencement of the voyage.
7. Paramount clauses
7.1. These conditions shall only take effect to the extent that they are not contrary
to the mandatory provisions of International Conventions or national law applicable
to the contract evidenced by this FBL.
7.2. The Hague Rules contained in the International Convention for the unification of
certain rules relating to Bills of Lading, dated Brussels 25th August 1924, or in those
countries where they are already in force the Hague-Visby Rules contained in the
Protocol of Brussels, dated 23rd February 1968, as enacted in the Country of
Shipment, shall apply to all carriage of goods by sea and also to the carriage
of goods by inland waterways, and such provisions shall apply to all goods whether
carried on deck or under deck.
7.3. The Carriage of Goods by Sea Act of the United States of America (COGSA) shall
apply to the carriage of goods by sea, whether on deck or under deck, if compulsorily
applicable to this FBL or would be applicable but for the goods being carried on deck
in accordance with a statement on this FBL.
8. Limitation of Freight Forwarder’s Liability
8.1. Assessment of compensation for loss of or damage to the goods shall be made
by reference to the value of such goods at the place and time they are delivered to
the consignee or at the place and time when, in accordance with this FBL, they
should have been so delivered.
8.2. The value of the goods shall be determined according to the current commodity
exchange price or, if there is no such price, according to the current market price or,
if there are no such prices, by reference to the normal value of goods of the same
name and quality.
8.3. Subject to the provisions of subclauses 8.4. to 8.9. inclusive, the Freight
Forwarder shall in no event be or become liable for any loss of or damage to the
goods in an amount exceeding the equivalent of
666.67 SDR per package or unit or 2 SDR per kilogram of gross weight of the goods
lost or damaged, whichever is the higher, unless the nature and value of the goods
shall have been declared by the Consignor and accepted by the Freight Forwarder
before the goods have been taken in his charge, or the ad valorem freight rate paid,
and such value is stated in the FBL by him, then such declared value shall be the limit.
8.4. Where a container, pallet or similar article of transport is loaded with more than
one package or unit, the packages or other shipping units enumerated in the FBL as
packed in such article of transport are deemed packages or shipping units. Except as
aforesaid, such article of transport shall be considered the package or unit.
8.5. Notwithstanding the above mentioned provisions, if the multimodal transport
does not, according to the contract, include carriage of goods by sea or by inland
waterways, the liability of the Freight Forwarder shall be limited to an amount not
exceeding 8.33 SDR per kilogram of gross weight of the goods lost or damaged.
8.6. a) When the loss of or damage to the goods occurred during one particular
stage of the multimodal transport, in respect of which an applicable international
convention or mandatory national law would have provided another limit of liability if
a separate contract of carriage had been made for that particular stage of transport,
then the limit of the Freight Forwarder’s liability for such loss or damage shall be
determined by reference to the provisions of such convention or mandatory national
law.
b) Unless the nature and value of the goods shall have been declared by the
Merchant and inserted in this FBL, and the ad valorem freight rate paid, the liability
of the Freight Forwarder under COGSA, where applicable, shall not exceed US$ 500
per package or, in the case of goods not shipped in packages, per customary freight
unit.
8.7. If the Freight Forwarder is liable in respect of loss following from delay in
delivery, or consequential loss or damage other than loss of or damage to the
goods, the liability of the Freight Forwarder shall be limited to an amount not
exceeding the equivalent of twice the freight under the multimodal contract for the
multimodal transport under this FBL.
8.8. The aggregate liability of the Freight Forwarder shall not exceed the limits of
liability for total loss of the goods.
8.9. The Freight Forwarder is not entitled to the benefit of the limitation of liability if it
is proved that the loss, damage or delay in delivery resulted from a personal act or
omission of the Freight Forwarder done with the intent to cause such loss, damage
or delay, or recklessly and with knowledge that such loss, damage or delay would
probably result.
9. Applicability to Actions in Tort These conditions apply to all claims against the
Freight Forwarder relating to the performance of the contract evidenced by this FBL,
whether the claim be founded in contract or in tort.
10. Liability of Servants and other Persons
10.1. These conditions apply whenever claims relating to the performance of the
contract evidenced by this FBL are made against any servant, agent or other person
(including any independent contractor) whose services have been used in order to
perform the contract, whether such claims are founded in contract or in tort, and the
aggregate liability of the Freight Forwarder and of such servants, agents or other
persons shall not exceed the limits in Clause 8.
10.2. In entering into this contract as evidenced by this FBL, the Freight Forwarder,
to the extent of these provisions, does not only act on his own behalf, but also as
agent or trustee for such persons, and such persons shall to this extent be or be
deemed to be parties to this contract.
10.3. However, if it is proved that the loss of or such loss or damage to the goods
resulted from a personal act or omission of such a person referred to in Clause 10.1.,
done with intent to cause damage, or recklessly and with knowledge that damage
would probably result, such person shall not be entitled to benefit of limitation of
liability provided for in Clause 8.
10.4. The aggregate of the amounts recoverable from the Freight Forwarder and the
persons referred to in Clauses 2.2. and 10.1. shall not exceed the limits provided for
in these conditions.
11. Method and Route of Transportation
Without notice to the Merchant, the Freight Forwarder has the liberty to carry the
goods on or under deck and to choose or substitute the means, route and procedure
to be followed in the handling, stowage, storage and transportation of the goods.
12. Delivery
12.1. Goods shall be deemed to be delivered when they have been handed over or
placed at the disposal of the Consignee or his agent in accordance with this FBL, or
when the goods have been handed over to any authority or other party to whom,
pursuant to the law or regulation applicable at the place of delivery, the goods must
be handed over, or such other place at which the Freight Forwarder is entitled to
call upon the Merchant to take delivery.
12.2. The Freight Forwarder shall also be entitled to store the goods at the sole risk
of the Merchant, and the Freight Forwarder’s liability shall cease, and the cost of
such storage shall be paid, upon demand, by the Merchant to the Freight Forwarder.
12.3. If at any time the carriage under this FBL is or is likely to be affected by any
hindrance or risk of any kind (including the condition of the goods) not arising from
any fault or neglect of the Freight Forwarder or a person referred to in Clause 2.2.
and which cannot be avoided by the exercise of reasonable endeavours the Freight
Forwarder may:
abandon the carriage of the goods under this FBL and, where reasonably possible,
place the goods or any part of them at the Merchant’s disposal at any place which
the Freight Forwarder may deem safe and convenient, whereupon delivery shall be
deemed to have been made, and the responsibility of the Freight Forwarder in
respect of such goods shall cease.
In any event, the Freight Forwarder shall be entitled to full freight under this FBL and
the Merchant shall pay any additional costs resulting from the above mentioned
circumstances.
13. Freight and Charges
13.1. Freight shall be paid in cash, without any reduction or deferment on account of
any claim, counterclaim or set-off, whether prepaid or payable at destination.
Freight shall be considered as earned by the Freight Forwarder at the moment when
the goods have been taken in his charge, and not to be returned in any event.
13.2. Freight and all other amounts mentioned in this FBL are to be paid in the
currency named in this FBL or, at the Freight Forwarder’s option, in the currency of
the country of dispatch or destination at the highest rate of exchange for bankers
sight bills current for prepaid freight on the day of dispatch and for freight payable at
destination on the day when the Merchant is notified on arrival of the goods there or
on the date of withdrawal of the delivery order, whichever rate is the higher, or at
the option of the Freight Forwarder on the date of this FBL.
13.3. All dues, taxes and charges or other expenses in connection with the goods
shall be paid by the Merchant.
Where equipment is supplied by the Freight Forwarder, the Merchant shall pay all
demurrage and charges which are not due to a fault or neglect of the Freight
Forwarder.
13.4. The Merchant shall reimburse the Freight Forwarder in proportion to the
amount of freight for any costs for deviation or delay or any other increase of costs
of whatever nature caused by war, warlike operations, epidemics, strikes,
government directions or force majeure.
13.5. The Merchant warrants the correctness of the declaration of contents,
insurance, weight, measurements or value of the goods but the Freight Forwarder
has the liberty to have the contents inspected and the weight, measurements or
value verified. If on such inspection it is found that the declaration is not correct it is
agreed that a sum equal either to five times the difference between the correct figure
and the freight charged, or to double the correct freight less the freight charged,
whichever sum is the smaller, shall be payable as liquidated damages to the Freight
Forwarder for his inspection costs and losses of freight on other goods
notwithstanding any other sum having been stated on this FBL as freight payable.
13.6. Despite the acceptance by the Freight Forwarder of instructions to collect
freight, charges or other expenses from any other person in respect of the transport
under this FBL, the Merchant shall remain responsible for such monies on receipt of
evidence of demand and the absence of payment for whatever reason.
14. Lien
The Freight Forwarder shall have a lien on the goods and any documents relating
thereto for any amount due at any time to the Freight Forwarder from the Merchant
including storage fees and the cost of recovering same, and may enforce such lien in
any reasonable manner which he may think fit.
15. General Average
The Merchant shall indemnify the Freight Forwarder in respect of any claims of a
General Average nature which may be made on him and shall provide such security
as may be required by the Freight Forwarder in this connection.
16. Notice
16.1. Unless notice of loss of or damage to the goods, specifying the general nature
of such loss or damage, is given in writing by the consignee to the Freight Forwarder
when the goods are delivered to the consignee in accordance with clause 12, such
handing over is prima facie evidence of the delivery by the Freight Forwarder of the
goods as described in this FBL.
16.2. Where the loss or damage is not apparent, the same prima facie effect shall
apply if notice in writing is not given within 6 consecutive days after the day when
the goods were delivered to the consignee in accordance with clause 12.
17. Time bar
The Freight Forwarder shall, unless otherwise expressly agreed, be discharged of all
liability under these conditions unless suit is brought within 9 months after the
delivery of the goods, or the date when the goods should have been delivered, or
the date when in accordance with clause 6.4. failure to deliver the goods would give
the consignee the right to treat the goods as lost.
18. Partial Invalidity
If any clause or a part thereof is held to be invalid, the validity of this FBL and the
remaining clauses or a part thereof shall not be affected.
19. Jurisdiction and applicable law
Actions against the Freight Forwarder may be instituted only in the place where the
Freight Forwarder has his place of business as stated on the reverse of this FBL and
shall be decided according to the law of the country in which that place of business is
situated.
The ICC logo denotes that this document has been deemed by the ICC to be in
conformity with the UNCTAD/ICC Rules for Multimodal Transport Documents.
The ICC logo does not imply ICC endorsement of the document
nor does it in any way make the ICC party to any possible legal action resulting from
the use of this document.