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How do the Hague Rules define the responsibilities of maritime carriers?

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Mosaic portrait of Emperor Justinian I with a jeweled crown and halo, from the 6th-century Basilica of San Vitale in Ravenna, Italy. — Carriage of goods Justinian I, detail of a 6th-century mosaic at the Church of San Vitale, Ravenna, Italy.

The Hague Rules serve as an international code that defines the rights and liabilities of maritime carriers regarding the carriage of goods.1

Under these rules, a carrier’s responsibility is fundamentally tied to the exercise of due diligence. Specifically, a carrier is held responsible for loss or damage to cargo if the incident results from a failure to exercise due diligence to ensure the ship is seaworthy and properly manned, equipped, and supplied.2

Conversely, the rules provide that a carrier is not liable for cargo loss or damage if the casualty is caused by a peril of the sea or an error in navigation. Additionally, the Hague Rules—often applied through the Brussels Convention of 1924 or similar municipal legislation—typically limit a carrier's financial liability to a specified amount per package or unit of goods.23