Carrying Deck Cargo - at whose risk?

Background

The UK Club routinely advises Members on the implications of proposed carriage of cargo on deck. The Club usually advises on both the contractual aspects, i.e. risk allocation under the Bills of Lading and Charterparties, as well as from a loss prevention/ or practical perspective.

Carriage of cargo on deck exposes the cargo to a variety of extra risks from the elements, such as sea-spray and wind, as well as the potential risk of being washed off or falling overboard due to bad weather conditions or inadequate lashing/stabilising. Depending on the cargo, there may also be issues with the stability of the vessel itself, for example, the carriage of wing blades on top of hatch covers. 

Hague/Hague-Visby Rules

Under the Hague/Hague-Visby Rules, the carrier is under an obligation to properly load, handle, stow, carry, keep, care for and discharge goods carried on board the ship. The definition of 'goods' is broad but expressly excludes cargo carried on deck if:

1. The contract of carriage clearly and expressly states that the cargo is to be carried on deck;
   AND
2. The cargo is in fact carried on deck.

So, if the cargo is deck cargo falling outside the definition of Goods within the Hague/ Hague Visby Rules, the Carrier is deprived of the defences available to him under Article IV of the Hague/ Hague Visby Rules should the cargo be damaged or lost.

Carrying the cargo onboard exposes the carrier to greater risks because goods carried on deck are considerably less protected than those carried in the holds. Therefore, having been deprived of his Hague/ Hague Visby Rules defences, it is prudent for the carrier to seek to exclude all liability for carriage of cargo on deck by inserting an appropriate clause into the bill of lading.

The Elin

In The Elin [2019] EWHC [1001] (Comm), the English High Court recently considered the interpretation of a clause in a bill of lading excluding the carrier's liability for deck cargo. The disputed clause read:

 "loaded on deck at shipper's and/or consignee's and/or receiver's risk; the carrier and/or Owners and/or Vessel being not responsible for loss or damage howsoever arising".

In this case, a cargo of offshore production equipment was carried on deck and lost overboard in heavy weather.  Cargo interests brought proceedings against the owner arguing that the loss was attributable to failings of the owner in the loading, stowing and carriage of the goods.  The owner denied the claim citing the deck cargo exclusion clause.  Rather than a full trial on the facts, the parties sensibly agreed to a preliminary hearing on the scope of this clause recognising that if it did apply, that would decide the case.

The main question was whether exclusion clause, extended to any claim, including any loss or damage caused by the vessel's unseaworthiness or the carrier's negligence. 

The cargo interests had argued that the clause should be read as not excluding the carrier's liability for loss or damage caused by the carrier's negligence or the unseaworthiness of the vessel, these being fundamental and overriding obligations which were not specifically addressed in the clause. There was support for this argument from a number of judgments in Singapore and Canada.

However the Court agreed with the Owner that as a matter of plain language and good commercial sense a clause providing that a carrier will not be liable for loss or damage to deck cargo "howsoever arising" will be effective to exclude liability for the carrier's negligence or its failure to exercise due diligence to make the vessel seaworthy. It declined to follow the approach adopted in the Singapore and Canadian courts citing a long string of English court rulings which supported the conclusion.  The judge commented that:

"Words of exemption which are wider in effect than "howsoever caused" are difficult to imagine and, over the last 100 years, they have become "the classic phrase" whereby to exclude liability for negligence and unseaworthiness."

Note that had the Hague Visby Rules applied, the exclusion would have been caught by Article III 8 which restricts a carrier from contracting on terms that relieve or lessen a carrier's liability from the duties in the Rules.

Club Rules

The UK P&I Club Rules make no express exclusions with regard to the carriage of deck cargo.  However under proviso b to Rule 2 section 17, claims which are incurred in consequence of a deviation, being a departure from the contractually agreed voyage, are not recoverable other than at the discretion of the Member's Committee, or if the deviation had been agreed in advance by the Managers.  The carriage of cargo on deck other than by custom (e.g. the container trade) or agreement will constitute a deviation.  It follows that there will be no cover for a Member's liability for deck cargo unless:

1. It is customary to carry such cargo on deck;
   OR
2. The proposed carriage has been approved by the Managers in advance, possibly with additional cover arranged.

Top tips

1. When considering a voyage including deck cargo, consult with and utilise your Club's Loss Prevention Department to check whether there are any practical considerations to take into account.
2. Check that the relevant bill of lading has the correct protective wording.