The Link Between Consignee’s Liability and Ownership in Transported Goods

In logistics and transportation, the link between consignee’s liability and ownership in transported goods is often based on legal and financial responsibilities for the cargo which refers to title to the goods and is primarily defined by the contract of carriage of goods, its legal document viz the Bill of Lading and specific incoterms. The research problem revolves on the obscured maritime legislative nature lack of specific rules that clearly spare out consignee’s liability and corresponding relationship with goods in a maritime carriage contract. The main objective is to identify and portray specific circumstances under which the relationship between consignee’s liability and ownership in transported goods can be established in a maritime carriage contract. Findings further proved a lacunae in the marine legislations to determine and establish consignee’s relation with goods as per ownership, and demarcating boundaries for liability. This piece concludes that in spite of clarity of consignee’s responsibility, there is need for their liability towards cargo ownership to be properly established. This therefore recommend a revisit of maritime legislations to strengthen responsibilities and spare out their liabilities and limitations.