Cargo Services - Standard Trading Terms

PART I: GENERAL CONDITIONS

1. Application

1.1 Subject to clause 1.2, all Services of Company whether gratuitous or not are undertaken subject to these Conditions and not otherwise and:

(a) The provisions of Part I shall apply to all Services.

(b) The provisions of Part II shall only apply to the extent that the Services are provided by Company as agents.

1.2 Where a document is issued by or on behalf of Company and bears the title of, or includes the words, “bill of lading” (whether or not negotiable) or sea or air “waybill” and provides that Company contracts as carrier, the provisions set out in that document, if inconsistent with these Conditions, shall be paramount and prevail over these Conditions to the extent that such provisions are inconsistent and no further.

1.3 Any variation, cancellation or waiver of these Conditions (or any of them) must be in writing signed by a Director of Company. No other person has or will be given any authority whatsoever to agree to any variation, cancellation or waiver of these Conditions.

1.4 Any instructions received by Company from Customer for the supply of Services shall constitute acknowledgement by Customer that it has received, understands and agrees to be bound by these Conditions and will be bound by these Conditions. Such instructions received by Company from Customer for the supply of Services and/or any supply of goods shall also constitute authorisation for Company to act on behalf of Customer in accordance with these Conditions.

2. Provision of Services

2.1 All Services are provided by Company as agents only, except in the following circumstances where Company acts as principal:

(a) where Company performs any carriage, handling or storage of Goods, but only to the extent that the carriage is performed by Company itself or its servants and the Goods are in the actual custody and control of Company; or

(b) where, prior to the commencement of the carriage of Goods, Customer in writing demands from Company particulars of the identity, services or charges of persons instructed by Company to perform part or all of the carriage, and Company fails to give the particulars demanded within 25 business days. However, for the purposes of this subclause, Company shall only be deemed to be contracting as a principal in respect of that part of the carriage which Company fails to give the particulars demanded.; or

(d) to the extent that Company is held by a court of law to have acted as a principal.

2.2 Without prejudice to the generality of Clause 2.1;

(a) the charging by Company of a fixed price for any Services whatsoever shall not in itself determine or be evidence that Company is acting as an agent or principal in respect of those Services.

(b) the supplying by Company of its own or leased equipment shall not in itself determine or be evidence that Company is acting as agent or a principal in respect of any carriage, handling or storage of Goods;

(c) Company acts as an agent where Company procures a bill of lading, sea or air waybill or other document evidencing a contract of carriage between a person, other than Company and Customer or Owner;

(d) Company acts as an agent and never as a principal when providing Services as a customs broker in respect of or relating to customs requirements, taxes, licenses, consular documents, certificates of origin, inspection, certificates and other similar services or when providing any other services whatsoever for or on behalf of Customer.

2.3 Company is not a common carrier and will accept no liability as such and it reserves the right to accept or refuse the carriage of any Goods or any other Service at its discretion. All Services are performed subject only to these Conditions (and when applicable but subject to Clause 21.6, the conditions on any bill of lading or sea waybill or air waybill issued by Company as principal).

3. Definitions

In these conditions:

(a) “Authority” means a duly constituted legal or administrative person, acting within its legal powers and exercising jurisdiction within any nation, state, municipality, port or airport;

(b) “Chain of Responsibility” has the meaning described in the Heavy Vehicle National Law and recognises the duties or each participant in a supply chain to ensure the safety of any road transport;

(d) “Container” includes any container, trailer, tank, pallet or any article of transport used to carry or consolidate goods and any equipment of or connected thereto;

(e) “Customer” means any person at whose request or on whose behalf Company provides a Service;

(f) “Dangerous Goods” includes goods which are or may become of a dangerous, inflammable, radio-active or damaging nature and goods likely to harbour or encourage vermin or other pests;

(g) “Force Majeure Event” means any cause or causes beyond the control of the party whose performance is directly affected by it, including but not limited to war (declared or undeclared), rebellion, revolution, tumults, political disturbance, accident to wharf, accidents at works or wharf, at receiver’s works or wharf, breakdown or stoppage of slurry pipeline, transfer vessels, motor vehicles or any part of the works from which the Goods are destined, including loading and/or discharging facilities, installations and/or equipment at or en route, partial or total stoppage of roads, rivers or channels, riot, insurrection, civil commotion, epidemics, quarantine, strike, lockout, blockade, industrial disturbance, labour/industrial disputes or stoppages of miners, workmen, lightermen, tugboat men or other hands essential to the working, carriage, delivery, shipment or discharge of the said Goods whether partial or general, interference of trade unions, act of God, epidemic or pandemic, fire, floods, storm, tempest, volcanic eruption, earthquake, landslips, frost or snow, bad weather, intervention of sanitary, customs, and/or other constituted authorities, act of government (whether de-facto or de-jure) and supervening illegality, or any other cause beyond the control of Company. Act of government shall include, but is not limited to, the refusal to grant any necessary import or export licence and any restrictions imposed on movement of persons or operation of business;

(h) “Goods” includes the cargo and any container not supplied by or on behalf of Company, in respect of which Company provides a service;

(i) “Hague-Visby-Rules” means the provisions of the International Convention for the Unification of certain rules Relating to Bills of Lading signed at Brussels on 25th August 1924 as amended by the Visby Protocol of 23rd February 1968 and the SDR Protocol of 21st December 1979;

(j) “Heavy Vehicle National Law” means the Heavy Vehicle National Law Act 2012 (Qld) and all regulations made under that Act, as well as the associated State and Territory road transport acts and regulations adopting the Heavy Vehicle National Law Act 2012 (Qld) and includes any subsequent replacement or modification or amendment to any of these acts and regulations.

(k) “Incidental Matters” means anything done or to be done in relation to the Goods or the provision of any services ancillary to the Goods including but not limited to moving, storing or leaving the Goods at any warehouse, terminal, yard, wharf or other place or area, loading or unloading the Goods from any vehicle, vessel or other conveyance, stowing or packing the Goods or fumigating, transhipping, inspecting or otherwise handling the Goods or anything done in relation thereto;

(i) “Insolvency Event” means if any (or more than one) of the following occur with respect to Customer:

(a) Customer becomes insolvent or is otherwise unable to pay its debts as and when they fall due:

(b) Customer (or any third party) institutes any insolvency, receivership or bankruptcy proceedings with respect to Customer, for settlement of debts:

(d) Customer cease to conduct business.

(m) “Instructions” means a statement of Customer’s specific requirements;

(n) “Load Restraint Guide” means the “Load Restraint Guide: Guidelines and Performance Standards for the safe Carriage of Loads on Road Vehicles” (edition 2004) and includes any subsequent editions;

(o) Montreal Convention” means the Convention for the Unification of Certain Rules relating to International Carriage by Air, signed in Montreal in 1999 (Montreal Convention) as applied respectively by the legislation of the Commonwealth of Australia;

(p) “Navigation Act 2012” means the Navigation Act 2012 (Cth) and all regulations made under that Act, including the Australian Maritime Safety Authorities’ Marine Orders, and includes any subsequent replacement or modification or amendment to any of these acts and regulations.

(q) “Owner” includes the owner, shipper and consignee of the Goods and any other person who is or may become interested in the Goods and anyone acting on their behalf;

(r) “Person” includes individuals, partnerships, firms trusts, associates or any body or bodies corporate;

(s) “PPSA” means the Personal Property Securities Act 2009 (Cth) and includes all regulations made under that Act, and any subsequent replacement or modification or amendment to the act or regulations;

(t) “Services” means the whole of the services provided by Company to Customer and all matters necessarily related to the provision of the services or ancillary to the provision of the services;

4. Obligations of Customer

4.1 Customer warrants that it is either the Owner or the authorised agent of the Owner of the Goods and that it is authorised to accept and accepts these Conditions, not only for itself, but also as agent for and on behalf of the Owner.

4.2 Customer warrants that it has reasonable knowledge of matters affecting the conduct of its business, including, but not limited to, the terms of sale and purchase of the Goods and all other matters relating thereto.

4.3 Customer shall give sufficient and executable instructions.

4.4 Customer warrants that the description and particulars of the Goods are complete and correct, and that any consignment documentation provided to Company is accurate.

4.5 Customer warrants that the Goods are properly packed and labelled, except where Company has accepted instructions in respect of packaging and/or labelling.

4.6 Customer warrants that it will ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the safety of any road transport performed for or on behalf of Customer and that it will meet its obligations under the Heavy Vehicle National Law Chain of Responsibility provisions where Customer is acting as a Consignor or Consignee or Loader or Packer of Goods.

4.7 Customer warrants that any Goods that are delivered to Company or that are to be directly received by Company are secured for road transport in accordance with Part 1 of the Load Restraint Guide.

4.8 Customer warrants that a compliant and accurate Container Weight Declaration will be supplied where Customer is to provide the consignment documentation.

4.9 Customer warrants that for Goods consigned for import or export by sea the consignment documentation including the verified gross mass is accurate and compliant with the requirements of Navigation Act 2012, including but not limited to the requirements of Marine Order 32 and Marine Order 42.

5. Special Instructions, Goods and Services

5.1 Unless agreed in writing, Customer shall not deliver to Company, or cause Company to deal with or handle, Dangerous Goods.

5.2 If Customer is in breach of Clause 5.1:

(a) Customer shall be liable for all loss or damage whatsoever caused by or to or in connection with the Goods howsoever arising;

(b) Customer shall defend, indemnify and hold harmless Company against all penalties, claims, damages, costs and expenses whatsoever arising in connection therewith; and

(c) Company (or any other person in whose custody the Goods may be in at the relevant time) may, at Company’s sole discretion, have the Goods destroyed or otherwise dealt with (without compensation to Customer or liability on Company). For the purposes of this subclause, notice is not required to be given to any person of the intention to destroy or otherwise deal with the Goods.

5.3 If Company agrees to accept Dangerous Goods and then it (or any other person) reasonably forms the view that those Goods constitute a risk to other goods, property, life or health, it may (without notice or compensation to Customer and without liability on Customer) have the Goods destroyed or otherwise dealt with at the expense of Customer or Owner.

5.4 Customer undertakes not to tender for transportation any Goods which require temperature control without previously giving written notice of their nature and the particular temperature range to be maintained and, in the case of a temperature controlled Container packed or stuffed by or on behalf of Customer, Customer further undertakes that:

(a) the Container has been properly pre-cooled or pre-heated as appropriate;

(b) the Goods have been properly packed or stuffed in the Container; and

5.5 If the requirements of Clause 5.4 are not complied with Company shall not be liable for any loss of or damage to the Goods caused by such non-compliance.

5.6 Unless agreed in writing, Company shall not be obliged to make any declaration for the purposes of any statute, convention or contract as to the nature or value of any Goods or as to any special interest in delivery or to make any declaration as to specific stowage requirements of any Goods.

5.7 Unless agreed in writing or otherwise provided for under the provisions of a document signed by Company, instructions relating to the delivery or release of Goods against payment or against surrender of a particular document shall be in writing and Company’s liability shall not exceed that provided for in respect of mis-delivery of Goods.

5.8 Unless agreed in writing that the Goods shall depart by or arrive by a particular date, Company accepts no responsibility for departure or arrival dates of Goods.

6. Insurance

6.1 Insurance of the Goods is the responsibility of Customer. Company does not issue insurance. Upon request, Company may provide Customer with the contact details of insurance companies / brokers and assist Customer so that Customer can obtain insurance from them directly. All such insurances are subject to the usual exceptions and conditions of the policies of the insurance company or underwriters taking the risk.

7. General Indemnities and Liabilities of Customer and Owner

7.1 Customer and Owner shall defend, indemnify and hold harmless Company against all liability, loss, damage, costs and expenses howsoever arising:

(a) from the nature of the Goods, other than to the extent caused by Company’s negligence,

(b) out of Company acting in accordance with Customer’s or Owner’s instructions, or

7.2 Except to the extent caused by Company’s negligence, Customer and Owner shall be liable for and shall defend, indemnify and hold harmless Company in respect of all duties, taxes, imposts, levies, deposits and outlays whatsoever levied by any Authority and for all payments, fines, costs, expenses, loss and damage whatsoever incurred or sustained by Company in connection therewith.

7.3 Advice and information, in whatever form it may be given, is provided by Company for Customer only and Customer shall defend, indemnify and hold harmless Company for all liability, loss, damage, costs and expenses arising out of any other person relying on such advice or information.

7.4 Customer shall be liable for the loss, damage, contamination, soiling, delay detention or demurrage whether arising before, during and after the Carriage of property of:

(a) Company (including, but not limited to, Containers);

(b) Company’s servants, sub-contractors or agents;

(d) any person: or any vessel.

caused by Customer or Owner or any person acting on behalf of either of them or for which Customer is otherwise responsible and will defend, indemnify and hold harmless Company in respect of the same.

7.5 Instructions to collect payment on delivery in cash or otherwise are accepted by Company upon and on the condition that Company in the matter of such collection will be liable for the exercise of reasonable diligence and care only. Unless express written instructions are received that the Goods are not to be delivered without payment, Company accepts no liability if, upon delivery of the goods, payment is not made.

8. Subcontractors

8.1 Customer undertakes that no claim will be made against any servant, sub-contractor or agent of Company which imposes or attempts to impose upon any of them any liability whatsoever in connection with the Goods. If any such claim should nevertheless be made, Customer undertakes to indemnify Company against all consequences thereof;

8.2 Without prejudice to Clause 8.1, every servant, sub-contractor or agent of Company shall have the benefit of all provisions herein as if such provisions were expressly for their benefit. In entering into this contract, Company, to the extent of those provisions, does so not only on its behalf, but as agent and trustee for such servants, sub-contractors and agents.

8.3 Without prejudice to Clause 8.1, every servant, sub-contractor or agent of Company shall have the benefit of all provisions herein as if such provisions were expressly for their benefit. In entering into this contract, Company, to the extent of those provisions, does so not only on its behalf, but as agent and trustee for such servants, sub-contractors and agents.

8.4 Without prejudice to the generality of this Clause 8, the indemnity referred to in Clause 8.3, shall cover all claims, costs and demands arising from or in connection with the negligence of Company, its servants, sub-contractors and agents.

8.5 In this Clause, “sub-contractors” includes direct and indirect sub-contractors and their respective employees, servants and agents.

9. Invoices and Charges

9.1 Company is entitled to issue a tax invoice in respect of its Services. Customer shall pay to Company in cash, or as agreed, the invoiced amount payable in accordance with the terms of the tax invoice and these Conditions and all or any other sums immediately when due without deduction or deferment on account of any claim, counterclaim or set-off. Company shall under no circumstances be precluded from raising a debit or invoice in respect of any sums lawfully due to it, notwithstanding that a previous debit(s) or invoice(s) (whether excluding or partly including the items now sought to be charged) had been raised and whether or not any notice was given that further debits or invoices were to follow.

9.2 When Company is instructed to collect freight, duties, charges or other expenses from any person other than Customer, Customer:

(a) Customer shall remain responsible for these amounts; and

(b) shall pay these amounts to Company on demand where these amounts have become due and have not been paid by any other person.

9.3 On all accounts overdue to Company, Company shall be entitled without notice to charge default interest to be calculated at the rate 4 per cent above the base interest rate of Company’s bank applicable during the periods that such amounts are overdue for the period from the due date until the date of payment in full.

9.4 Customer shall be liable and pay to Company any additional costs or expenses Company may incur and for any loss or damage occasioned either directly or indirectly to Company as a result of Company relying upon the description and particulars provided by Customer or by reason of any illegal, incorrect or insufficient marking, numbering or addressing of the Goods.

9.5 The charging by Company of a fixed price for any Services whatsoever shall not in itself determine or be evidence that Company is acting as an agent or a principal in respect of those Services. Company shall under no circumstances be precluded from raising a debit in respect of any fee or disbursements lawfully due to it, and despite a previous debit or debits (whether excluding or partly including the items now sought to be charged) had been raised and whether or not any notice was given that further debits were to follow. Any handling or administration fees charged by Company as a disbursement may or may not be disclosed separately.

9.6 Customer acknowledges that Company has a pecuniary interest in all contracts entered into by the forwarder as its agent in terms of these Conditions and agrees that Company may receive and retain all brokerages, commissions, allowances and other remunerations paid by the other party to the contract and customarily retained by or paid to forwarding agents, in addition to the charges and expenses invoiced to Customer, and need not disclose to Customer the nature or amount thereof. Company may charge by weight, measurement or value and may at any time reweigh, remeasure or revalue the Goods (or request same) and charge additional fees accordingly.

9.7 Unless otherwise stated all charges quoted are exclusive of Goods and Services Tax.

10. Liberties and Rights of Company

10.1 Unless otherwise agreed in writing, Company shall be entitled to enter into contracts on behalf of itself or Customer and without notice to Customer:

(a) for the carriage of Goods by any route, means or person,

(b) for the carriage of Goods of any description, by whatever means Company deems appropriate,

(c) for the storage, packing, transhipment, loading, unloading, or handling of Goods by any person at, in or about any place (including afloat) determined by Company,

(d) for the carriage or storage of Goods separately or with other goods of whatever nature,

(e) for the performance of its own obligations, and to do such acts as Company reasonably considers may be necessary or incidental to the performance of Company’s obligations.

10.2 Company shall be entitled (without incurring any additional liability), but shall be under no obligation, to depart from Customer’s instructions in any respect if Company considers there is good reason to do so in Customer’s interest.

10.3 Company may at any time comply with the orders or recommendations given by any Authority. The responsibility and liability of Company in respect of the Goods shall cease on the delivery or other disposition of the Goods in accordance with such orders or recommendations.

10.4 Company shall be entitled (but under no obligation) at any time and from time to time to inspect the Goods and for this purpose to open or remove any Containers.

10.5 If at any time Company reasonably considers that the carriage of the Goods should not be undertaken or continued or only continued after effecting any necessary Incidental Matters or incurring additional expense or risk, Company shall be entitled to:

(a) abandon the carriage of such cargo or to effect such additional Incidental Matters and incur such additional expense, as may be reasonably necessary in order to enable the carriage to be effected or further effected; and

(b) be reimbursed by Customer for the cost of all such additional Incidental Matters and all such additional expense incurred.

10.6 If Company (or any person whose services Company makes use of ) considers:

(a) the performance of Company’s obligations are likely to be affected by any hindrance, risk, delay, difficulty or disadvantage whatsoever; and

(b) the hindrance, risk, delay, difficulty or disadvantage cannot be avoided by reasonable endeavours of Company or such other person,

Company may (upon giving notice in writing to Customer or Owner) treat the performance of its obligations as terminated and may, at Customer’s expense, place the Goods or any part of them at Customer’s or Owner’s disposal at any place which Company deems safe and convenient.

10.7 The notice in writing referred to in Clause 10.6 is not required where it is not reasonably possible to give such notice.

10.8 Where Company exercises its rights and obligations under Clause 10.6, responsibility and liability of Company in respect of the Goods shall thereupon cease absolutely.

10.9 Where Company (or any person whose services Company makes use of) is entitled to call upon Customer or Owner to take delivery of the Goods at a designated time and place and delivery of the Goods, or any part thereof, is not taken by Customer or Owner at the designated time and place Company (or such other person) shall be entitled to store the Goods in the open or under cover at the sole risk and expense of Customer.

10.10 Notwithstanding Clauses 10.6 to 10.9, Company shall be entitled (but under no obligation) without any responsibility or liability to Customer and Owner, to sell or dispose of

(a) all Goods which Company considers cannot be delivered as instructed, but only after giving 21 days notice in writing to Customer, and

(b) without notice, Goods which have perished, deteriorated or altered, or are in immediate prospect of doing so in a manner which has caused (or may be reasonably expected to cause) loss or damage to any person or property or to contravene applicable regulations.

10.11 Where Company sells or disposes of Goods pursuant to Clause 10.10 Customer shall be responsible for any costs and expenses of the sale or disposal.

10.12 Company shall be entitled to retain and be paid all brokerages, commissions, allowances and other remunerations customarily retained by or paid to freight forwarders without notice to Customer.

10.13 Company shall have the right to enforce against the Owner and Customer jointly and severally any liability of Customer under these Conditions or to recover from them any sums to be paid by Customer which upon demand have not been paid.

10.14 Company is committed to taking all steps, so far as is reasonably practicable, to ensure that any carriage of Goods is performed safely and in accordance with the Heavy Vehicle National Law Chain of Responsibility provisions. Company shall not comply with any direction or instruction by Customer that might have the effect of contributing to a breach of the Heavy Vehicle National Law or preventing Company from taking all steps that it considers to be necessary to prevent any breach of the Heavy Vehicle National Law or otherwise to comply with its duties under the Heavy Vehicle National Law.

10.15 Company will not, under any circumstances or to any extent, be liable to Customer or any other person for any loss or damage whatsoever arising from any action or inaction of Company, its officers, subcontractors, servants or agents reasonably undertaken or otherwise in order to comply with the Heavy Vehicle National Law.

10.16 In the event of a breach of Chain of Responsibility provisions by Customer, Company may refuse to comply with a Customer direction or instruction or cease the provision of further Services to Customer.

11. Security Interest

11.1 Special and General Lien: From the time Company, or its servants or agents, receive the Goods into its custody, Company, its servants or agents shall have a special and general lien on the Goods and a right to sell the Goods whether by public or private sale or auction without notice, for any unpaid amounts for freight, demurrage, container detention charges, duty, fines, penalties, salvage, average of any kind whatsoever and without limitation and for any and all debts, charges, expenses or any other sums due or which become due at any time from Customer or Customer’s principals, servants or agents (whether those sums are due from Customer on those Goods or documents or on any other Goods or documents). In addition, the lien shall cover the all costs and expenses of exercising the lien, including the costs of a public or private sale or auction, including legal costs and administration costs. The lien and rights granted by this) Clause 11.1 shall survive delivery of the Goods and Company shall be entitled to retain the proceeds of sale of the Goods in respect of any outstanding amounts whatsoever referred to in this Clause. Customer accepts that any sums due and owing by Customer are secured debts and that any payment made to Company in discharge of Company’s lien does not amount to a preference, priority or advantage in any manner or turn. Company sells or otherwise disposes of such Goods pursuant to this clause 11.1 as principal and not s agent and is not the trustee of the power of sale.

11.2 Continuing Security Interest: From the time Company, or its servants or agents, receive the Goods into its custody, the Goods, and all of Customer’s present and future rights in relation to the Goods, are subject to a continuing security interest in favour of Company for the payment of all amounts for freight, demurrage, container detention charges, duty, fines, penalties, salvage, average of any kind whatsoever and without limitation and for any and all debts, charges, expenses or any other sums due and owing by Customer or Customer’s principals, servants or agents. In addition, the continuing security interest shall cover all the costs and expenses of exercising the lien, including the costs of a public or private sale or auction, including legal costs and administration costs.

11.3 Custody and Possession: For the purposes of these Conditions, and in particular Clauses 11.1 and 11.2 Company shall be deemed to have custody and possession of the Goods whether the Goods are in the actual physical custody and possession of Company or of any subcontractors, servants or agents, and whether or not Company is in possession of any documents of title relating to the Goods. Customer and Company agree that Company has possession of the Goods within the meaning of section 24 of the PPSA, even if the Goods are in the possession of Company’s subcontractors, servants or agents.

11.4 Registration of Security Interest: Customer acknowledges that Company may, at Customer’s cost, register its security interest in the Goods, and all of Customer’s present and future rights in relation to the Goods, on the Personal Property Securities Register established under PPSA.

11.5 Provide Information: Customer will immediately inform Company if an Insolvency Event occurs with respect to Customer. Customer shall not change its name or other details without first notifying Company in writing at least 14 days before such change takes effect.

11.6 Contracting Out and Waiver:

(a) Company need not give any notice to Customer or any other person (including a notice of verification statement) unless the notice is required to be given by the PPSA and cannot be excluded.

(b) Customer and Company agree pursuant to section 115 of the PPSA that Sections 125, 142 and 143 of the PPSA do not apply to this Agreement.

(c) Customer, pursuant to section 115 of the PPSA, waives its right to receive any notice, details or other document from Company under Sections 95, 121(4), 130, 135, 132(3)(d) and 132(4) of the PPSA.

11.7 Customer’s Obligations: Customer will not:

(a) permit to subsist any other security interest in relation to the Goods which would rank ahead of Company ’s interest; or

(b) except in the normal course of business, sell, lease or dispose of, or permit the sale, lease or disposal of, the Goods.

11.8 Company’s Rights: In addition to any rights Company has under the PPSA, Company shall have the right, as Customer’s agent, at any time while any amounts owing by Customer to Company under any Contract remains outstanding, to enter into the premises where Goods are stored and remove them without being responsible for any damage caused in doing so. Customer shall indemnify Company for all such moneys and all costs, charges and expenses in repossessing the Goods.

11.9 Confidentiality: Customer and Company agree not to disclose information of the kind mentioned in Section 275(1) of the PPSA, except in circumstances required by Sections 275(7) (b) to (e) of the PPSA. Customer agrees that it will only authorise the disclosure of information under Section 275(7)(c), or request information under Section 275(7)(d), unless Company approves. Nothing in this Clause 11.9 will prevent any disclosure by Company that it believes is necessary to comply with its other obligations under the PPSA or any other law.

12. Containers

12.1 If a Container has not been packed by Company, Company shall not be liable for loss of or damage to the contents if caused by:

(a) the manner in which the Container has been packed;

(b) the unsuitability of the contents for carriage in Containers, unless Company has approved suitability:

(c) the unsuitability or defective condition of the Container, provided the Container was not supplied by Company, or the Container was not sealed by Customer at the commencement of carriage;

12.2 Customer shall defend, indemnify and hold harmless Company against all liability, loss, damage, costs and expenses arising from one or more of the matters referred to in Clause 12.1.

12.3 Where Company is requested to provide a Container, in the absence of a written request to the contrary, Company is not under an obligation to provide a Container of any particular type or quality.

12.4 Customer agrees to indemnify and keep indemnified Company for all hire and other charges charged for Customer’s use of Containers provided by Company, and for any costs incurred by Company for the cleaning of Containers.

13. General Liability

13.1 Except where otherwise provided in these Conditions, Company will not be liable for any loss or damage whatsoever arising from :

(a) the act or omission of Customer or Owner or any other person acting for them or on their behalf,

(b) compliance with the instructions given to Company by Customer, Owner or any other person entitled to give them,

(c) insufficiency of the packing or labelling of the Goods, except where such service has been provided as a Service by Company,

(d) handling, loading, stowage or unloading of the Goods by Customer or Owner or any person acting on their behalf,

(e) inherent vice or the goods during shipping,

(f) riots, civil commotions, strikes, lockouts, stoppage or restraint of labour from whatsoever cause,

(g) fire, flood, storm, explosion or theft,

(h) any Force Majeure Event, or

(i) any other cause which Company could not avoid and the consequences whereof it could not prevent by the exercise of reasonable diligence.

13.2 Subject to Clause 5.8, Company shall not be liable for loss or damage howsoever caused (whether or not direct, indirect or consequential) to property other than the Goods themselves and shall not be liable for any pure economic loss or loss of profit (or similar claim), delay or deviation howsoever arising.

14. Limits of Liability

14.1 Except in so far as otherwise provided by these Conditions, the liability of Company, howsoever arising, shall not exceed the following:

(a) in respect of all claims other than those subject to the provisions of Clause 14.3 whichever is the lesser of:

(i) the value of, or
(ii) the equivalent of A$2.00 per gross kilogram of the Goods lost or damaged, misdirected or in respect of which a claim arises.

(b) in respect of claims for delay where not excluded by the provisions of these Conditions, the amount of Company’s charges in respect only of the Goods delayed

14.2 The limitation of liability referred to in Clause 14.1 shall apply notwithstanding that the cause of the loss or damage is unexplained.

14.3 If agreed in writing prior to receipt of the Goods, Company may accept liability in excess of the limits set out in these Conditions upon Customer agreeing to pay Company’s additional charges and insurance costs for accepting such increased liability. Details of Company’s additional charges will be provided upon request.

14.4 The value of the goods shall be calculated by reference to the invoice value of the Goods plus freight and insurance if paid.

14.5 If there be no invoice value for the Goods, the value of the goods shall be calculated by reference to the value of such Goods at the place and time when they were delivered to Customer or Owner or should have been so delivered. The value of the Goods shall be fixed according to the current market price, or, if there be no current market price, by reference to the normal value of goods of the same kind and quality.

14.6 Unless agreed in writing prior to receipt, Company will not accept or deal with bullion, coin, precious stone, jewellery, antiques, works of art or other valuable Goods. Should any Customer nevertheless deliver any such Goods to Company or cause Company to handle or deal with any such Goods other than in accordance with prior written agreement, Company shall be under no liability whatsoever for or in connection with such Goods howsoever arising.

14.7 The liability of Company arising out of any one incident for breach of any right or guarantee Customer may have under the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth) and the Australian Consumer Law, or comparable legislation in each of the States and Territories of Australia, or howsoever arising is limited to any of the following as determined by Company:

(a) the supplying of the Services again; or

(b) the payment of the cost of having the Services supplied again; or

(c) the value of the Goods the subject of the services at the time the Goods were received by Company, whichever is lower.

15. Notice of Loss, Time bar

15.1 Company shall be discharged of all liability unless:

(a) notice of any claim is received by Company or its agent in writing within 14 days after the date specified in Clause 15.2, or within a reasonable time after that date if Customer proves that it was impossible to so notify, and

(b) suit is brought in the proper forum and written notice thereof received by Company within 6 months after the date specified in Clause 15.2.

15.2 For the purposes of Clause 15.1, the applicable dates are:

(a) in the case of loss or damage to Goods, the date of delivery of the Goods,

(b) in the case of delay or non-delivery of the Goods, the date that the Goods should have been delivered,

16. General Average

16.1 Customer shall defend, indemnify and hold harmless Company in respect of any claims of a General Average nature, including any claims or demands for General Average security which may be made on Company, and Customer shall forthwith provide such security as may be required by Company in this connection.

17. Miscellaneous

17.1 Notice

Notices may be served by hand to Company at its registered office or by registered post. Any notice served by registered post shall be deemed to have been given on the third day following the day on which it was acknowledged as received at the registered office. Any notice served by post on Customer shall be deemed to have been given on the third day following the day on which it was posted to the address last known or advised for Customer.

17.2 Defences and Limits of Liability

The defences and limits of liability provided in these Conditions shall apply in any action against Company whether founded in contract or in tort or howsoever otherwise founded.

17.3 Legislation

(a) If these Conditions are held to be subject to the laws of the Commonwealth of Australia or of any particular State or Territory in Australia then these Conditions shall continue to apply and shall be void only to the extent that they are inconsistent with or repugnant to those laws and no further. Nothing in these Conditions is intended to have the affect of contracting out of any applicable provisions of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth) and the Australian Consumer Law, or comparable legislation in each of the States and Territories of Australia, except to the extent permitted by those Acts where applicable.

(b) If any other legislation is compulsorily applicable to any business undertaken, these Conditions shall, as regards such business, be read as subject to such legislation and nothing in these Conditions shall be construed as a surrender by Company of any of its rights or immunities or as an increase of any of its responsibilities or liabilities under such legislation and if any part of these Conditions is held to be repugnant to such legislation to any extent such part shall as regards such business be over-ridden to that extent and no further.

17.4 Headings

Headings of clauses or groups of clauses in these Conditions are for indicative purposes only.

18. Governing Law and Jurisdiction

18.1 These Conditions and any claim or dispute arising out of or in connection with the Services of Company shall be subject to the law of the State or Territory of Australia in which Company has its principal place of business and any such claim or dispute shall be determined by the Courts of that State or Territory and no other Court.

PART II: COMPANY AS AGENT

19. Special Liability and Indemnity Conditions

19.1 To the extent that Company acts as an agent, Company does not make or purport to make any contract with Customer for the carriage, storage or handling of the Goods nor for any other physical service in relation to them and acts solely on behalf of Customer in securing such services by establishing contracts with third parties so that direct contractual relationships are established between Customer and such third parties.

19.2 Company shall not be liable for the acts and omissions of third parties referred to in Clause 19.1.

19.3 Company, when acting as an agent, has the authority of Customer to enter into contracts on Customer’s behalf and to do acts which bind Customer in all respects notwithstanding any departure from Customer’s instructions.

19.4 Except to the extent caused by Company’s negligence, Customer shall defend, indemnify and hold harmless Company in respect of all liability, loss, damage, costs or expenses arising out of any contracts made in the procurement of Customer’s requirements in accordance with Clause 19.1.

20. Choice of Rates

20.1 Where there is a choice of rates according to the extent or degree of liability assumed by persons carrying, storing, or handling the Goods, no declaration of value (where available) will be made by Company unless previously agreed in writing between Customer and Company.

PART III: COMPANY AS PRINCIPAL

21. SPECIAL LIABILITY PROVISIONS

21.1 Company does not contract as principal except where specifically nominated and agreed in writing by Company prior to the commencement of the supply of the Services. Where Company contracts as principal for the performance of Customer’s instructions, Company undertakes to perform, or in its own name to procure, the performance of Customer’s instructions and, subject to the provisions of these Conditions, shall be liable for the loss of or damage to the Goods occurring from the time that the Goods are taken into its charge until the time of delivery.

21.2 Where:

(a) Company contracts as a principal and sub-contracts the performance of Company’s Services; and

(b) it can be proved that the loss of or damage to or in respect of the Goods arose or was caused whilst the Goods were in the care or custody of the sub-contractor; Company shall have the full benefit of all rights, limitations and exclusions of liability available to the sub-contractor in the contract between Company and the sub-contractor and in any law, statute or regulation and the liability of Company shall not exceed the amount recovered, if any, by Company from the sub-contractor.

21.3 Notwithstanding other provisions in these Conditions, if it can be proved where the loss of or damage to the Goods occurred, Company’s liability shall be determined by the provisions contained in any international convention or national law, the provisions of which:

(a) cannot be departed from by private contract, to the detriment of the claimant; and

(b) would have applied if the claimant had made a separate and direct contract with the actual provider of the particular service in respect of that service or stage of carriage where the loss or damage occurred and received as evidence thereof any particular document which must be issued if such international convention or national law shall apply.

21.4 Notwithstanding other provisions in these Conditions, if it can be proved that the loss of or damage to the Goods occurred at sea or on inland waterways and the provisions of Clause 21.2 do not apply, Company’s liability shall be determined by the Hague-Visby Rules. Reference in the Hague-Visby Rules to carriage by sea shall be deemed to include reference to carriage by inland waterways and the Hague-Visby Rules shall be construed accordingly.

21.5 Notwithstanding the provisions of Clauses 21.2, 21.3 and 21.4 but subject to clause 21.5 if the loss of or damage to the Goods occurred at sea or on inland waterways, and the Owner, Charterer or operator of the carrying vessel is entitled to limit its liability at law and establishes a limited fund, the liability of Company shall be limited to the proportion of such limitation fund as is allocated to the Goods.

21.6 In the event of any inconsistency between these Conditions and the conditions of any bill of lading or air waybill issued by or on behalf of Company as principal, the conditions of any such bill of Lading or sea waybill or air waybill shall prevail to the extent of such inconsistency but no further.

22. Both-to-Blame Collision Clause

22.1 The Both-to-Blame Collision Clause as recommended by BIMCO as at the time of the provision of Services is incorporated into these Conditions.

23. USA and/or Canada and Additional Responsibility Clause

23.1 With respect to transportation within the USA or Canada, the responsibility of Company shall be to procure transportation by carriers (one or more) and such transportation shall be subject to such carrier’s contracts and tariffs and any law compulsorily applicable. Company guarantees the fulfilment of such carrier’s obligations under their contracts and tariffs.

23.2 If and to the extent that the provisions of the Harter Act of the USA 1893 would otherwise be compulsorily applicable to regulate Company’s responsibility for the Goods during any period prior to loading on or after discharge from the vessel on which the Goods are to be or have been carried, Company’s responsibility shall instead be determined by these Conditions. If such provisions are found to be invalid such responsibility shall be determined by the provisions in the Carriage of Goods by Sea Act of the USA Approved 1936.

23.3 If and to the extent that the provisions of the Regulations made pursuant to the Carriage of Goods by Sea Act 1991 (as amended) of the Commonwealth of Australia (or any amendments to such Regulations) would otherwise be compulsorily applicable to regulate Company’s responsibility for the Goods during any period prior to loading on or after discharge from the vessel on which the Goods are to be or have been carried, Company’s responsibility shall be determined by these Conditions. If such provisions are found to be invalid such responsibility shall be determined by the provisions of the said Carriage of Goods by Sea Act.

23.4 If the Hamburg Rules should be held to be compulsorily applicable to any carriage of goods by sea undertaken by Company as principal, these Conditions shall be read subject to the provisions of the Hamburg Rules and any term of these Conditions that is repugnant to the Hamburg Rules shall be void to the extent of such repugnancy but no further.

24. Air Carriage

24.1 Where Company acts as a principal in respect of a carriage of Goods by air, the following notice is hereby given:

If the carriage involves an ultimate destination or stop in a country other than the country of departure, the Montreal Convention may be applicable and the Convention governs and in most cases limits the liability of carriers in respect of loss of or damage to Goods. Agreed stopping places are those places (other than the places of departure and destination) shown under requested routing and/or those places shown in carrier’s timetables as scheduled stopping places for the route. The address of the first carrier is the airport of departure.

24.2 Notwithstanding any other provision of these Conditions, where Company acts as a principal in respect of a carriage of Goods by air, Company’s liability in respect of loss of or damage to such Goods shall be determined in accordance with the Montreal Convention.

Cargo Terms and Conditions

Cargo Services - Standard Trading Terms

Join our mailing list

Search Website