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- "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
2.1.1. 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;
2.1.2. 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.
4.3. 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.
4.4. 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
this 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:
6.5.1. 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;
6.5.2. insufficiency or defective condition of the packaging or marks
and/or numbers;
6.5.3. handling, loading, stowage or unloading of the goods by the
Merchant or any person acting on behalf of the Merchant;
6.5.4. inherent vice of the goods;
6.5.5. strike, lockout, stoppage or restraint of labour
6.6. Defences for carriage by sea or inland waterways
6.7. 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:
6.7.1. 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,
6.7.2. 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 evidence 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 kilogramme 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 kilogramme of gross weight of the
goods lost or damaged.
8.6.
8.6.1. 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.
8.6.2. 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 USD 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 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 extend 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 Clause 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 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.
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