McCarren & Co. Ltd. v. Humber International Transport Services (The Vechtstroom) - Q.B.D. (Com.Ct.) (Lloyd J.) - 6 October 1981

Hague-Visby rules govern ferry operator’s conditions of carriage

The plaintiffs were the owners of 293 sides of pork which were being carried from Poole to Cherbourg in January 1979 on the vessel Vechtstroom under a document described as a Commercial Vehicle Movement Order. The vehicle in which the goods were being carried overturned in heavy weather. The refrigeration had to be turned off and when the goods reached Cherbourg they were condemned. The plaintiffs claimed against Humber under a through contract of carriage, Ireland to Paris. Humber settled the claim for £15,000 and now sought to recover this sum from the third party, who was the owner of the Vechtstroom.