Deck cargoes. Many cargoes can be carried on deck because of their size or weight of individual units. Ondeck cargo is prone to damage and/or loss overboard and the carrier should try to reduce his liability accordingly.
Remember that as far as the Hague-Visby Rules are concerned, “goods” (for which a carrier is responsible under the Rules, excludes “… cargo which by the contract of carriage is stated as being carried on deck and is so “carried”. The word “and” is important. For example, if a carrier is given liberty to carry the cargo on deck (as in most bills of lading and charterparties) but does not carry the cargo on deck, he is responsible and can limit his liability under Article IV, r.5, for damage to it.
Deck cargoes are usually dangerous goods such as asbestos, compressed gases, flammable liquids, corrosives, explosives; timber cargoes, such as heavy logs; long structural steel; heavy bridge girders or sections, railway engines, boilers, pontoons, boxed machinery and small vessels.
