United Nations Convention of the Carriage of Goods by Sea Document type Multilateral Field of application Global Date Mar 31, 1978 Source IUCN (ID: TRE-000807) Title (French) Convention des Nations Unies sur le transport de marchandises par mer Title (Spanish) Convenio de las Naciones Unidas sobre el transporte maritimo de mercancias Title (Other) Übereinkommen der Vereinten Nationen über die Beförderung von Gütern auf See Place of adoption Hamburg Depository UN United Nations Language Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, Spanish Entry into force Nov 1, 1992 Subject Sea, Waste & hazardous substances Keyword Legal proceedings/administrative proceedings Hazardous waste Marine pollution (dumping at sea) Jurisdictional competence Maritime zone Procedural matters Harbour Liability/compensation Radioactive pollution Court/tribunal Law reform/harmonization/deregulation Marine pollution (ship-based sources) Solid waste Dispute settlement Transboundary movement of waste Registration Hazardous substances Transport/storage Abstract Objectives: To determine certain rules relating to the carriage of goods by sea. Summary of provisions: The Convention was adopted in the framework of the United Nations Organisation. Part I of the Convention defines the terms covered by it and the scope of its application. Part II concerns the liability of the carrier including, inter alia the period, the basis, and the limits of his responsibility. Articles 10 and 11 deal with the liability of the carrier and actual carrier, and with through carriage. Part III provides for the liability of the shipper, specially in cases when dangerous goods are carried. Part IV concerns issuing, content and evidentiary effect of transport documents, including bills of lading issued by the carrier and guarantees given by the shipper. Part V deals with claims and actions following loss or damage to the goods carried by sea, or delay in their delivery. Claims may be submitted either to judicial action or to arbitration. Full text English French Spanish Website www.un.org treaties.un.org Country/Territory/Participant See Expanded View Show Map Countries Entry into force Ratification * Simple signature Albania Aug 1, 2007 Jul 20, 2006 [2] - Austria Aug 1, 1994 Jul 29, 1993 [1] Apr 30, 1979 Barbados Nov 1, 1992 Feb 2, 1981 [2] - Botswana Nov 1, 1992 Feb 16, 1988 [2] - Brazil - - Mar 31, 1978 Burkina Faso Nov 1, 1992 Aug 14, 1989 [2] - Burundi Oct 1, 1999 Sep 4, 1998 [2] - Cameroon Nov 1, 1994 Oct 21, 1993 [2] - Chile Nov 1, 1992 Jul 9, 1982 [1] Mar 31, 1978 Congo, Dem. Rep. of - - Apr 19, 1979 Czech Republic Jul 1, 1996 Jun 23, 1995 [1] Jun 2, 1993 Denmark - - Apr 18, 1979 Dominican Republic Oct 1, 2008 Sep 28, 2007 [2] - Ecuador - - Mar 31, 1978 Egypt Nov 1, 1992 Apr 23, 1979 [1] Mar 31, 1978 Finland - - Apr 18, 1979 France - - Apr 18, 1979 Gambia Mar 1, 1997 Feb 7, 1996 [2] - Georgia Apr 1, 1997 Mar 21, 1996 [2] - Germany - - Mar 31, 1978 Ghana - - Mar 31, 1978 Guinea Feb 1, 1992 Jan 23, 1991 [2] - Holy See - - Mar 31, 1978 Hungary Nov 1, 1992 Jul 5, 1984 [1] Apr 23, 1979 Jordan Jun 1, 2002 May 10, 2001 [2] - Kazakhstan Jul 1, 2009 Jun 18, 2008 [2] - Kenya Nov 1, 1992 Jul 31, 1989 [2] - Lebanon Nov 1, 1992 Apr 4, 1983 [2] - Lesotho Nov 1, 1992 Oct 26, 1989 [2] - Liberia Oct 1, 2006 Sep 16, 2005 [2] - Madagascar - - Mar 31, 1978 Malawi Nov 1, 1992 Mar 18, 1991 [2] - Mexico - - Mar 31, 1978 Morocco Nov 1, 1992 Jun 12, 1981 [2] - Nigeria Nov 1, 1992 Nov 7, 1988 [2] - Norway - - Apr 18, 1979 Pakistan - - Mar 8, 1979 Panama - - Mar 31, 1978 Paraguay Aug 1, 2006 Jul 19, 2005 [2] - Philippines - - Jun 14, 1978 Portugal - - Mar 31, 1978 Romania Nov 1, 1992 Jan 7, 1982 [2] - Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Oct 1, 2001 Sep 12, 2000 [2] - Senegal Nov 1, 1992 Mar 17, 1986 [1] Mar 31, 1978 Sierra Leone Nov 1, 1992 Oct 7, 1988 [1] Aug 15, 1978 Singapore - - Mar 31, 1978 Slovakia - - May 28, 1993 Sweden - - Apr 18, 1979 Syrian Arab Republic Nov 1, 2003 Oct 16, 2002 [2] - Tanzania, Un. Rep. of Nov 1, 1992 Jul 24, 1979 [2] - Tunisia Nov 1, 1992 Sep 15, 1980 [2] - Uganda Nov 1, 1992 Jul 6, 1979 [2] - United States of America - - Apr 30, 1979 Venezuela, Boliv. Rep. of - - Mar 31, 1978 Zambia Nov 1, 1992 Oct 7, 1991 [2] - * [1] Ratification [2] Accession/approbation [3] Acceptance/approval [4] Succession [5] Consent to be bound [6] Definite signature reset zoom out zoom in