Cargo Claims

Cargo claims are among the most common disputes in international trade and maritime transportation. They arise when goods are lost, damaged, contaminated, delayed, misdelivered, stolen, or short-landed during transit. Such incidents can cause significant commercial losses to importers, exporters, cargo owners, logistics providers, freight forwarders, and insurers, making prompt legal action essential to preserve rights and recover losses. Cargo liability is governed by a complex framework of contracts and international conventions, including the Bill of Lading, Hague Rules, Hague-Visby Rules, and the Carriage of Goods by Sea Act, 1925 (COGSA). Claims often involve issues relating to carrier negligence, seaworthiness obligations, cargo handling, packaging defects, limitation of liability, and strict statutory time limits. Failure to act within prescribed timelines can permanently extinguish valuable recovery rights. Our maritime law team represents cargo owners, exporters, importers, shipping lines, freight forwarders, NVOCCs, logistics providers, marine insurers, and P&I Clubs in pursuing and defending cargo claims. We provide strategic legal support from evidence preservation and survey coordination to settlement negotiations, arbitration, and litigation.