[Post Clauses (If any: Signed; Witnessed; Done; Authentic Texts; & Deposited Clauses)]

Done at Hamburg, this thirty-first day of March one thousand nine hundred and seventy-eight, in a single original, of which the Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish texts are equally authentic.

In witness whereof the undersigned plenipotentiaries, being duly authorised by their respective Governments, have signed the present Convention.

Common understanding adopted by the United Nations Conference on the

Carriage of Goods by Sea (A/CONF.89/13, annex 11)

It is the common understanding that the liability of the carrier under this Convention is based on the principle of presumed fault or neglect. This means that, as a rule, the burden of proof rests on the carrier but, with respect to certain cases, the provisions of the Convention modify this rule.

Resolution adopted by the United Nations Conference on the Carriage of Goods by Sea (A/CON.89/13, annex III)

The United Nations Conference on the Carriage of Goods by Sea,

Noting with appreciation the kind invitation of the Federal Republic of Germany to hold the Conference in Hamburg,

Being aware that the facilities placed at the disposal of the Conference and the generous hospitality bestowed on the participants by the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany and by the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg, have in no small measure contributed to the success of the Conference.

Expresses its gratitude to the Government and people of the Federal Republic of Germany, and

Having adopted the Convention on the Carriage of Goods by Sea on the basis of a draft Convention prepared by the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law at the request of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development,

Expresses its gratitude to the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law and to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development for their outstanding contribution to the simplification and harmonisation of the law of the carriage of goods by sea, and

Decides to designate the Convention adopted by the Conference as the: "UNITED NATIONS CONVENTION ON THE CARRIAGE OF GOODS BY SEA, 1978", and

Recommends that the rules embodied therein be known as the "HAMBURG RULES".