The Hague-Visby Rules are international rules for the carriage of goods by sea. They originated as the Hague Rules, more formally titled "The International Convention for the Unification of Certain Rules relating to Bills of Lading signed at Brussels on 25th August 1924", and were adopted by various nations, including the UK [see the Carriage of Goods by Sea Act 1924, 14 & 15 Geo. 5, c. 22 - reprinted in Halsbury's Statutes of England, 3rd ed].
The Hague-Visby Rules consist of the original Hague Rules amended by a Protocol concluded at Brussels on February 23, 1968 (known as the Visby Amendments) and a Protocol signed at Brussels on December 21, 1979.
Canada is not a contracting state to the international conventions but has enacted its own legislation incorporating the Hague-Visby Rules. Part 5 (sections 41 to 46) of the Marine Liability Act, S.C. 2001, c. 6, provides that the Hague-Visby Rules have the force of law in Canada. The text of the Hague-Visby Rules is set out in Schedule 3.
Part 5 also provides for implementation of the Hamburg Rules (set out in Schedule 4) to replace the Hague-Visby Rules. As of May 24, 2019, this provision is not in force.
- Marine Liability Act (S.C. 2001, c.6), schedule 3, s. 41 – Justice Laws
- Marine Liability Act (S.C. 2001, c.6), schedule 4, s. 41 – Justice Laws
- Halsbury's statutes of England published by Buttersworth – on-site at Vancouver Courthouse Library
- The Hague and Hague-Visby Rules by John Richardson – on-site at Vancouver Courthouse Library