The Hague Rules and the Hague-Visby Rules are given effect in the national law of many countries, but the Hamburg Rules, which are less favourable to shipowners, are not widely accepted.
For P&I cover of his cargo liabilities by a P&I club, a shipowner is required to incorporate into his contracts of carriage with shippers a set of rules at least as favourable as the Hague Rules; bills of lading normally do this by inclusion of a Clause Paramount.
