6.1 Chapters 3–4 looked at the carrier’s obligations towards cargo and the prosecution of a voyage. Cargo claims will fail, or a General Average claim will typically succeed, unless cargo interests can make out a case that there was breach of those obligations. This chapter looks at specific defences to cargo claims which can be deployed after it has been determined that prima facie the carrier has breached one or more of its obligations under the contract of carriage or in bailment.