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Commercial Code
(Handelsgesetzbuch – HGB)

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Übersetzung (Buch 1) durch den Sprachendienst des Bundesministeriums der Justiz.

Übersetzung (Buch 2) durch den Sprachendienst des Bundesministeriums der Justiz. Laufende Aktualisierung durch Samson-Übersetzungen GmbH, Dr. Carmen v. Schöning.

Übersetzung (Buch 3, 4 und 5) durch Samson-Übersetzungen GmbH, Dr. Carmen v. Schöning.

Translation (Book 1) provided by the Language Service of the Federal Ministry of Justice.

Translation (Book 2) provided by the Language Service of the Federal Ministry of Justice. Translation regularly updated by Samson-Übersetzungen GmbH, Dr. Carmen v. Schöning.

Translation (Book 3, 4 und 5) provided by Samson-Übersetzungen GmbH, Dr. Carmen v. Schöning.

Stand: Die Übersetzung (Buch 1) berücksichtigt die Änderung(en) des Gesetzes durch Artikel 11 des Gesetzes vom 18. Juli 2017 (BGBl. I S. 2745)
Der Stand der deutschsprachigen Dokumentation kann aktueller sein. Vergleichen Sie dazu bitte http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/hgb/BJNR002190897.html.

Stand: Die Übersetzung (Buch 2) berücksichtigt die Änderung(en) des Gesetzes durch Artikel 14 des Gesetzes vom 22. Dezember 2020 (BGBl. I S. 3256)
Der Stand der deutschsprachigen Dokumentation kann aktueller sein. Vergleichen Sie dazu bitte http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/hgb/BJNR002190897.html.

Stand: Die Übersetzung (Buch 3) berücksichtigt die Änderung(en) des Gesetzes durch Artikel 5 des Gesetzes vom 7. August 2021 (BGBl. I S. 3311)
Der Stand der deutschsprachigen Dokumentation kann aktueller sein. Vergleichen Sie dazu bitte http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/hgb/BJNR002190897.html.

Stand: Die Übersetzung (Buch 4) berücksichtigt die Änderung(en) des Gesetzes durch Artikel 184 des Gesetzes vom 19. Juni 2020 (BGBl. I S. 1328)
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Stand: Die Übersetzung (Buch 5) berücksichtigt die Änderung(en) des Gesetzes durch Artikel 184 des Gesetzes vom 19. Juni 2020 (BGBl. I S. 1328)
Der Stand der deutschsprachigen Dokumentation kann aktueller sein. Vergleichen Sie dazu bitte http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/hgb/BJNR002190897.html.

Version information: The translation (Book 1) includes the amendment(s) to the Act by Article 11 of the Act of 18 July 2017 (Federal Law Gazette Part I p. 2745).
Translations may not be updated at the same time as the German legal provisions displayed on this website. To compare with the current status of the German version, see http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/hgb/BJNR002190897.html.

Version information: The translation (Book 2) includes the amendment(s) to the Act by Article 14 of the Act of 22 December 2020 (Federal Law Gazette Part I p. 3256)
Translations may not be updated at the same time as the German legal provisions displayed on this website. To compare with the current status of the German version, see http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/hgb/BJNR002190897.html.

Version information: The translation (Book 3) includes the amendment(s) to the Act by Article 5 of the Act of 7 August 2021 (Federal Law Gazette Part I p. 3311)
Translations may not be updated at the same time as the German legal provisions displayed on this website. To compare with the current status of the German version, see http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/hgb/BJNR002190897.html.

Version information: The translation (Book 4) includes the amendment(s) to the Act by Article 184 of the Act of 19 June 2020 (Federal Law Gazette Part I p. 1328)
Translations may not be updated at the same time as the German legal provisions displayed on this website. To compare with the current status of the German version, see http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/hgb/BJNR002190897.html.

Version information: The translation (Book 5) includes the amendment(s) to the Act by Article 184 of the Act of 19 June 2020 (Federal Law Gazette Part I p. 1328)
Translations may not be updated at the same time as the German legal provisions displayed on this website. To compare with the current status of the German version, see http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/hgb/BJNR002190897.html.

           
Book One
Commercial Entities
Part One
Merchants
Section 1
Section 2
Section 3
Section 4(deleted)
Section 5
Section 6
Section 7
Part Two
Commercial Register; Business Register
Section 8Commercial Register
Section 8aEntries in the Commercial Register; Authorisation to Issue Ordinances
Section 8bBusiness Register
Section 9Access to the Commercial Register and the Business Register
Section 9aTransfer of Operation of the Business Register; Authorisation to Issue Ordinances
Section 9bEuropean System of Interconnection of Registers; Authorisation to Issue Ordinances
Section 10Publication of the Entries
Section 10aApplication of Regulation (EU) 2016/679
Section 11Disclosure in an Official Language of a Member State of the European Union
Section 12Applications for Registration, and Submissions
Section 13Branch Offices of Enterprises with a Seat in Germany
Sections 13a to 13c(deleted)
Section 13dSeat or Main Office Abroad
Section 13eBranch Offices of Share Capital Companies with a Seat Abroad
Section 13fBranch Offices of Stock Corporations with a Seat Abroad
Section 13gBranch Offices of Limited Liability Companies with a Seat Abroad
Section 13hTransfer of Seat of a Domestic Main Office
Section 14
Section 15
Section 15aService by Publication
Section 16
Part Three
Commercial Business Name
Section 17
Section 18
Section 19
Section 20(deleted)
Section 21
Section 22
Section 23
Section 24
Section 25
Section 26
Section 27
Section 28
Section 29
Section 30
Section 31
Section 32
Section 33
Section 34
Section 35(deleted)
Section 36(deleted)
Section 37
Section 37a
Part Four
Books of Account
Sections 38 to 47b(deleted)
Part Five
General Commercial Power of Representation and Commercial Authority to Act
Section 48
Section 49
Section 50
Section 51
Section 52
Section 53
Section 54
Section 55
Section 56
Section 57
Section 58
Part Six
Commercial Employees and Commercial Apprentices
Section 59
Section 60
Section 61
Section 62
Section 63(deleted)
Section 64
Section 65
Sections 66 to 72(deleted)
Section 73(deleted)
Section 74
Section 74a
Section 74b
Section 74c
Section 75
Section 75a
Section 75b(deleted)
Section 75c
Section 75d
Section 75e(deleted)
Section 75f
Section 75g
Section 75h
Sections 76 to 82(deleted)
Section 82a
Section 83
Part Seven
Commercial Agents
Section 84
Section 85
Section 86
Section 86a
Section 86b
Section 87
Section 87a
Section 87b
Section 87c
Section 87d
Section 88(deleted)
Section 88a
Section 89
Section 89a
Section 89b
Section 90
Section 90a
Section 91
Section 91a
Section 92
Section 92a
Section 92b
Section 92c
Part Eight
Commercial Brokers
Section 93
Section 94
Section 95
Section 96
Section 97
Section 98
Section 99
Section 100
Section 101
Section 102
Section 103
Section 104
Part Nine
Provisions on Regulatory Offences
Section 104aProvision on Regulatory Offences
Book 2
Commercial partnerships and silent partnership
Part 1
General partnership
Title 1
Formation of a partnership
Section 105
Section 106
Section 107
Section 108
Title 2
Legal relations of partners to one another
Section 109
Section 110
Section 111
Section 112
Section 113
Section 114
Section 115
Section 116
Section 117
Section 118
Section 119
Section 120
Section 121
Section 122
Title 3
Legal relations of partners to third parties
Section 123
Section 124
Section 125
Section 125a
Section 126
Section 127
Section 128
Section 129
Section 129a(repealed)
Section 130
Title 4
Dissolution of the partnership and withdrawal of partners
Section 131
Section 132
Section 133
Section 134
Section 135
Sections 136 to 138(repealed)
Section 139
Section 140
Sections 141 and 142(repealed)
Section 143
Section 144
Title 5
Liquidation of the partnership
Section 145
Section 146
Section 147
Section 148
Section 149
Section 150
Section 151
Section 152
Section 153
Section 154
Section 155
Section 156
Section 157
Section 158
Title 6
Statute of limitations. Time limit on liability.
Section 159
Section 160
Part 2
Partly limited partnership
Section 161
Section 162
Section 163
Section 164
Section 165
Section 166
Section 167
Section 168
Section 169
Section 170
Section 171
Section 172
Section 172a(repealed)
Section 173
Section 174
Section 175
Section 176
Section 177
Section 177a
Sections 178 to 229(repealed)
Part 3
Silent partnership
Section 230
Section 231
Section 232
Section 233
Section 234
Section 235
Section 236
Section 237(repealed)
Book 3
Commercial records
Division 1
Regulations applicable to all merchants
Subdivision 1
Bookkeeping, inventory
Section 238Duty to keep books
Section 239Maintenance of commercial records
Section 240Inventory
Section 241Procedures for simplified inventory-taking
Section 241aRelease from the obligation to keep books and to prepare an inventory
Subdivision 2
Opening balance sheet. Annual financial statements
Title 1
General provisions
Section 242Reporting requirement
Section 243Principles governing the process of drawing up reports
Section 244Language. Currency
Section 245Signature
Title 2
Provisions on recognition
Section 246Completeness. Prohibition of set-off
Section 247Content of the balance sheet
Section 248Items prohibited from inclusion on the balance sheet and options for including items on the balance sheet
Section 249Provisions
Section 250Accrued and deferred items
Section 251Contingent liabilities and commitments
Title 3
Valuation rules
Section 252General principles of valuation
Section 253Initial recognition and subsequent valuation
Section 254Creation of combined items for valuation purposes
Section 255Standards of valuation
Section 256Procedures for simplified valuation
Section 256aCurrency translation
Subdivision 3
Retention and production of documents
Section 257Retention of documents Periods of retention
Section 258Production of records in a legal dispute
Section 259Excerpt of records produced in a legal dispute
Section 260Production of records in the case of distributions of assets
Section 261Production of documents on image carriers or data carriers
Subdivision 4
Laws applicable at the Land level
Section 262(repealed)
Section 263Reservation of the provisions of the laws applicable at the Land level
Division 2
Supplementary provisions for share capital companies (stock corporations, public partly limited partnerships and limited liability companies) as well as for certain commercial partnerships
Subdivision 1
Annual financial statements of the share capital company and management report
Title 1
General provisions
Section 264Reporting requirement; exemption
Section 264aApplication to certain general partnerships and partly limited partnerships
Section 264bExemption of the general partnerships and partly limited partnerships within the meaning of section 264a from application of the provisions of this Division
Section 264cSpecial provisions for general partnerships and partly limited partnerships within the meaning of section 264a
Section 264dPublicly traded share capital company
Section 265General principles governing classifications
Title 2
Balance sheet
Section 266Layout of the balance sheet
Section 267Allocation to size categories
Section 267aMicro share capital companies
Section 268Provisions regarding individual items of the balance sheet Information provided at the foot of the balance sheet
Section 269(repealed)
Section 270Creation of certain items
Section 271Participating interests. Affiliated undertakings
Section 272Equity capital
Section 273(repealed)
Section 274Deferred taxes
Section 274aEased requirements based on the size of the undertaking
Title 3
Profit and loss account
Section 275Layout
Section 276Eased requirements based on the size of the undertaking
Section 277Regulations on individual items of the profit and loss account
Section 278(repealed)
Title 4
(repealed)
Sections 279 to 283(repealed)
Title 5
Notes
Section 284Explanation of the balance sheet and of the profit and loss account
Section 285Other mandatory disclosures
Section 286Non-disclosure of information
Section 287(repealed)
Section 288Eased requirements based on the size of the undertaking
Title 6
Management report
Section 289Content of the management report
Section 289aSupplementary requirements for certain stock corporations and public partly limited partnerships
Section 289bObligation to draw up a non-financial statement; exemptions
Section 289cContent of the non-financial statement
Section 289dUse of frameworks
Section 289eOmission of detrimental information
Section 289fCorporate governance statement
Subdivision 2
Consolidated financial statements and consolidated management report
Title 1
Scope of application
Section 290Reporting requirement
Section 291Exemptive effect of consolidated financial statements drawn up in accordance with EU/EEA accounting standards
Section 292Exemptive effect of consolidated financial statements drawn up in accordance with the accounting standards of a third state
Section 292a(repealed)
Section 293Exemptions granted based on the size of the undertaking
Title 2
Scope of consolidation
Section 294Undertakings to be included, duties to make submissions and provide information
Section 295(repealed)
Section 296Waiver of inclusion
Title 3
Content and form of the consolidated financial statements
Section 297Content
Section 298Applicable regulations; Eased requirements
Section 299Cut-off date for drawing up the consolidated financial statements
Title 4
Full consolidation
Section 300Consolidation principles; Requirement to provide full and complete information
Section 301Consolidation of capital
Section 302(repealed)
Section 303Consolidation of debt obligations
Section 304Treatment of interim profits or losses
Section 305Consolidation of expenditures and earnings
Section 306Deferred taxes
Section 307Shares of other shareholders
Title 5
Valuation rules
Section 308Uniform valuation
Section 308aConversion of financial statements presented in a foreign currency
Section 309Treatment of the difference
Title 6
Proportional consolidation
Section 310Proportional consolidation
Title 7
Associated undertakings
Section 311Definition; exemption
Section 312Values recognised for participating interests and treatment of the difference
Title 8
Notes to the consolidated financial statements
Section 313Explanation of the consolidated balance sheet and of the consolidated profit and loss account. Information on possession of participating interests
Section 314Other mandatory disclosures
Title 9
Consolidated management report
Section 315Content of the consolidated management report
Section 315aSupplementary provisions for certain stock corporations and public partly limited partnerships
Section 315bObligation to draw up a consolidated non-financial statement; exemption
Section 315cContent of the consolidated non-financial statement
Section 315dConsolidated corporate governance statement
Title 10
Consolidated financial statements in accordance with international accounting standards
Section 315e
Subdivision 3
Audit
Section 316Duty to audit
Section 316aAudit of public-interest entities
Section 317Subject matter and scope of the audit
Section 318Appointment of the statutory auditor; removal from office
Section 319Selection of the auditors and preclusion criteria
Section 319a(repealed)
Section 319bNetwork
Section 320Duty to submit documents; right to obtain information
Section 321Auditor’s additional report
Section 321aDisclosure of the auditor’s additional report in special cases
Section 322Audit report
Section 323Responsibilities of the statutory auditor
Section 324Audit committee
Section 324aApplication to the standalone financial statements pursuant to section 325 (2a)
Subdivision 4
Disclosure. Verification by the operator of the Federal Gazette
Section 325Disclosure
Section 325aBranch offices of share capital companies having their seat abroad
Section 326Eased disclosure requirements, based on the size of the undertaking, for small share capital companies and micro share capital companies
Section 327Eased disclosure requirements, based on the size of the undertaking, for medium-sized share capital companies
Section 327aEased requirement for certain publicly traded share capital companies
Section 328Form, format and content of the documents at disclosure, publication and reproduction
Section 329Verification and notification duties of the operator of the Federal Gazette
Subdivision 5
Power to make statutory instruments for form sheets and other regulations
Section 330
Subdivision 6
Penal provisions and regulations as to administrative fines; Coercive fines
Title 1
Penal provisions and regulations as to administrative fines
Section 331Incorrect presentation
Section 331aIncorrect assurance
Section 332Breach of reporting obligations
Section 333Breach of confidentiality obligations
Section 333aBreach of duties entailed by statutory audits
Section 334Regulations concerning administrative fines
Title 2
Coercive fines
Section 335Imposition of coercive fines; powers to make statutory instruments
Section 335aComplaint against the imposition of a coercive fine; complaint on points of law; power to issue statutory instruments
Title 3
Common provisions for criminal proceedings, proceedings for the imposition of administrative fines and proceedings for the imposition of coercive fines
Section 335bApplication of the penal provisions and of the regulations as to administrative fines as well as the regulations concerning coercive fines to certain general partnerships and partly limited partnerships
Section 335cNotifications made to the Auditor Oversight Body
Division 3
Supplementary provisions for registered cooperative societies
Section 336
Section 337Regulations concerning the balance sheet
Section 338Regulations concerning the notes
Section 339Disclosure
Division 4
Supplementary provisions for undertakings in certain lines of business
Subdivision 1
Supplementary provisions for credit institutions, financial services institutions, securities institutions, payment institutions and e-money institutions
Title 1
Scope of application
Section 340
Title 2
Annual financial statements, management report, interim financial statements
Section 340aApplicable regulations
Section 340bRepurchase agreements
Section 340cRegulations concerning the profit and loss account and the notes
Section 340dMaturity breakdown
Title 3
Valuation rules
Section 340eValuation of assets
Section 340fProvisions for general banking risks
Section 340gSpecial item for general banking risks
Title 4
Currency translation
Section 340hCurrency translation
Title 5
Consolidated financial statements, consolidated management report, interim consolidated financial statements
Section 340iReporting requirement
Section 340jUndertakings to be included
Title 6
Audit
Section 340k
Title 7
Disclosure
Section 340l
Title 8
Penal provisions and regulations as to administrative fines, coercive fines
Section 340mPenal provisions
Section 340nRegulations as to administrative fines
Section 340oImposition of a coercive fine
Subdivision 2
Supplementary provisions for insurance undertaking and pension funds
Title 1
Scope of application
Section 341
Title 2
Annual financial statements, management report
Section 341aApplicable regulations
Title 3
Valuation rules
Section 341bValuation of assets
Section 341cRegistered bonds, mortgage loans and other receivables
Section 341dInvestment stock of unit-linked life insurance
Title 4
Insurance technical provisions
Section 341eGeneral accounting principles
Section 341fLife assurance provision
Section 341gProvisions for claims outstanding
Section 341hEqualisation provisions and similar provisions
Title 5
Consolidated financial statements, consolidated management report
Section 341iDrawing up, periods
Section 341jApplicable regulations
Title 6
Audit
Section 341k
Title 7
Disclosure
Section 341l
Title 8
Penal provisions and regulations as to administrative fines, coercive fines
Section 341mPenal provisions
Section 341nRegulations as to administrative fines
Section 341oImposition of a coercive fine
Section 341pApplication to pension funds of the penal provisions and the regulations concerning administrative fines and coercive fines
Subdivision 3
Supplementary provisions for certain undertakings of the primary industry
Title 1
Scope of application; definitions
Section 341qScope of application
Section 341rDefinitions
Title 2
Report on payments to governmental bodies, consolidated report on payments to governmental bodies and disclosure
Section 341sDuty to draw up the report on payments to governmental bodies; exemptions
Section 341tContent of the report on payments to governmental bodies
Section 341uLayout of the report on payments to governmental bodies
Section 341vConsolidated report on payments to governmental bodies; exemption
Section 341wDisclosure
Title 3
Regulations as to administrative fines, coercive fines
Section 341xRegulations as to administrative fines
Section 341yRegulations on coercive fines
Division 5
Financial reporting committee incorporated under private law; financial reporting advisory council
Section 342Financial reporting committee incorporated under private law
Section 342aFinancial reporting advisory council
Book 4
Commercial transactions
Division 1
General provisions
Section 343
Section 344
Section 345
Section 346
Section 347
Section 348
Section 349
Section 350
Section 351(repealed)
Section 352
Section 353
Section 354
Section 354a
Section 355
Section 356
Section 357
Section 358
Section 359
Section 360
Section 361
Section 362
Section 363
Section 364
Section 365
Section 366
Section 367
Section 368
Section 369
Section 370(repealed)
Section 371
Section 372
Division 2
Commercial sale of goods
Section 373
Section 374
Section 375
Section 376
Section 377
Section 378(repealed)
Section 379
Section 380
Section 381
Section 382(repealed)
Division 3
Transactions on a commission basis
Section 383
Section 384
Section 385
Section 386
Section 387
Section 388
Section 389
Section 390
Section 391
Section 392
Section 393
Section 394
Section 395
Section 396
Section 397Commission agent’s lien
Section 398
Section 399
Section 400
Section 401
Section 402
Section 403
Section 404
Section 405
Section 406
Division 4
Freight business
Subdivision 1
General provisions
Section 407Contract of carriage
Section 408Consignment note. Authorisation to issue statutory instruments
Section 409Evidentiary effect of the consignment note
Section 410Dangerous goods
Section 411Packaging. Labelling
Section 412Loading and unloading. Authorisation to issue statutory instruments
Section 413Accompanying documents
Section 414Sender’s liability in special cases, irrespective of fault
Section 415Termination by the sender
Section 416Right to carriage of part of a consignment
Section 417Carrier's rights if loading time is not complied with
Section 418Subsequent instructions
Section 419Obstacles to carriage and delivery
Section 420Payment. Calculation of freight
Section 421Rights of consignee. Duty to pay
Section 422Cash on delivery
Section 423Delivery period
Section 424Presumption of loss
Section 425Liability for loss of or damage to goods and for delay in delivery. Loss sharing
Section 426Exclusion of liability
Section 427Particular grounds for exclusion of liability
Section 428Responsibility for other persons
Section 429Compensation based upon value
Section 430Assessment costs
Section 431Maximum amount of liability
Section 432Compensation for other costs
Section 433Maximum liability in cases of other pecuniary loss
Section 434Non-contractual claims
Section 435Cessation of the exemptions and limitations
Section 436Liability of employees
Section 437Actual carrier
Section 438Notice of damage
Section 439Limitation of actions
Section 440Carrier's lien
Section 441Subsequent carrier
Section 442Ranking order of several liens
Section 443Consignment bill. Authorisation to issue statutory instruments
Section 444Effect of the consignment bill. Entitlement
Section 445Delivery in exchange for the consignment bill
Section 446Carrying out instructions
Section 447Objections
Section 448Title function of the consignment bill
Section 449Contractual modifications regarding liability
Section 450Application of maritime law
Subdivision 2
Carriage of household goods
Section 451Removal contract
Section 451aDuties of the carrier
Section 451bConsignment note. Dangerous goods. Accompanying documents. Duties to report and provide information
Section 451c(repealed)
Section 451dParticular grounds for exclusion of liability
Section 451eMaximum amount of liability
Section 451fNotice of damage
Section 451gCessation of exemptions and limitations
Section 451hContractual modifications
Subdivision 3
Carriage using various modes of transport
Section 452Contract of carriage involving various modes of transport
Section 452aKnown place of damage
Section 452bNotice of damage. Limitation
Section 452cRemoval contract relating to carriage involving various modes of transport
Section 452dContractual modifications
Division 5
Forwarding business
Section 453Forwarding contract
Section 454Arranging for the dispatch of the goods
Section 455Handling of the goods. Accompanying documents. Duties to report and provide information
Section 456Due date for payment of remuneration
Section 457Claims of the sender
Section 458Forwarder acting as carrier (Selbsteintritt)
Section 459Forwarding at fixed costs
Section 460Collective consignment (Sammelladung)
Section 461Liability of the forwarder
Section 462Responsibility for other persons
Section 463Limitation of actions
Section 464Forwarder's lien
Section 465Subsequent forwarder
Section 466Contractual modifications regarding liability
Division 6
Warehousing business
Section 467Warehousing contract
Section 468Handling of the goods. Accompanying documents. Duties to report and provide information
Section 469Collective storage
Section 470Receipt of the goods
Section 471Preservation of the goods
Section 472Insurance. Storage with a third party
Section 473Duration of storage
Section 474Reimbursement of expenditures
Section 475Liability for loss or damage
Section 475aLimitation of actions
Section 475bWarehouse keeper's lien
Section 475cWarehouse warrant. Authorisation to issue statutory instruments
Section 475dEffect of the warehouse warrant. Entitlement
Section 475eDelivery in exchange for the warehouse warrant
Section 475fObjections
Section 475gTitle function of the warehouse warrant
Section 475hContractual modifications
Book 5
Maritime trade
Chapter 1
Persons involved in shipping
Section 476Reeder
Section 477Ausrüster
Section 478Ship’s company
Section 479Rights of the master; ship’s log
Section 480Responsibility of the Reeder for the ship’s company and pilots
Chapter 2
Transport contracts
Subchapter 1
Contracts for the carriage of goods by sea
Title 1
Contract for the carriage of general cargo
Subtitle 1
General regulations
Section 481Primary duties; scope of application
Section 482General information regarding the goods
Section 483Dangerous goods
Section 484Packing; leading marks
Section 485Seaworthiness and cargoworthiness
Section 486Handover of the goods for carriage; loading; reloading; discharge
Section 487Accompanying documents
Section 488Liability of the shipper and of third parties
Section 489Termination by the shipper
Section 490Carrier’s rights if the goods are not handed over for carriage in due time
Section 491Subsequent instructions
Section 492Obstacles to carriage and delivery
Section 493Payment; calculation of freight
Section 494Rights of consignee; duty to pay
Section 495Carrier’s lien
Section 496Subsequent carrier
Section 497Ranking order of several liens
Subtitle 2
Liability for loss of or physical damage to the goods
Section 498Grounds for liability
Section 499Particular grounds for exclusion of liability
Section 500Inadmissible loading and stowing of goods on deck
Section 501Responsibility for other persons
Section 502Compensation based upon value
Section 503Assessment costs
Section 504Limit of liability in the event the goods are damaged
Section 505Unit of account
Section 506Non-contractual claims
Section 507Conduct barring exemptions from liability and limitations of liability
Section 508Liability of servants and of the ship’s company
Section 509Actual carrier
Section 510Notice of damage
Section 511Presumption of loss
Section 512Divergent arrangements
Subtitle 3
Accompanying documents
Section 513Entitlement to issuance of a bill of lading
Section 514“On-board” bill of lading; “received-for-shipment” bill of lading
Section 515Contents of the bill of lading
Section 516Bill of lading format; authorisation to issue statutory instruments
Section 517Evidentiary effect of the bill of lading
Section 518Position of Reeder when carrier data are inadequate
Section 519Entitlement under the bill of lading; legitimation
Section 520Carrying out instructions
Section 521Delivery in exchange for the bill of lading
Section 522Objections
Section 523Liability for inaccurate information in the bill of lading
Section 524Transfer effected by the bill of lading (“effect of tradition”)
Section 525Divergent provision made in the bill of lading
Section 526Sea waybill; authorisation to issue statutory instruments
Title 2
Voyage charter contract
Section 527Voyage charter contract
Section 528Port of loading; loading wharf
Section 529Notice of readiness for loading
Section 530Loading time; laytime on demurrage
Section 531Loading and stowing goods
Section 532Termination by the shipper
Section 533Partial carriage
Section 534Termination by the carrier
Section 535Discharge from the ship
Subchapter 2
Contracts for the carriage of passengers and their luggage
Section 536Scope of application
Section 537Definitions
Section 538Liability of the carrier for personal injuries
Section 539Liability of the carrier for physical damage to luggage and damages resulting from delays in the re-delivery of luggage
Section 540Responsibility for other persons
Section 541Limit of liability for personal injury
Section 542Limit of liability for physical damage to luggage and damages due to delays in the re-delivery of luggage
Section 543Interest and costs of court proceedings
Section 544Unit of account
Section 545Conduct barring limitation of liability
Section 546Actual carrier
Section 547Liability of the carrier’s servants and of the ship’s company
Section 548Concurrent claims
Section 549Notice of damage
Section 550Lapse of claims to compensation of damages
Section 551Divergent agreements
Section 552Carrier’s lien
Chapter 3
Charter contracts for ships
Subchapter 1
Chartering a ship
Section 553Bareboat charter contract
Section 554Turning over and returning the ship; maintenance
Section 555Safeguarding the owner’s rights
Section 556Termination
Subchapter 2
Time charter
Section 557Time charter contract
Section 558Time charter party
Section 559Provision of the ship
Section 560Maintenance of the ship in contractually agreed condition
Section 561Use of the ship
Section 562Notification obligations
Section 563Loading and discharge of goods
Section 564Costs of operating the ship
Section 565Hire
Section 566Owner’s lien
Section 567Breach of duties
Section 568Right of retention
Section 569Return of the ship
Chapter 4
Ship’s emergencies
Subchapter 1
Collision of ship
Section 570Obligation to compensate for damages
Section 571Contributory fault
Section 572Damage without collision
Section 573Involvement of an inland waterway vessel
Subchapter 2
Salvage
Section 574Duties of the salvor and of other persons
Section 575Prevention or minimisation of damages to the environment
Section 576Right to a reward
Section 577Amount of the salvage reward
Section 578Special compensation
Section 579Exclusion of a claim to remuneration
Section 580Salvor’s misconduct
Section 581Claim to apportionment
Section 582Plurality of salvors
Section 583Saving human life
Section 584Conclusion of a salvage contract and retroactive review of its content by a court
Section 585Lien, right of retention
Section 586Ranking order of several liens
Section 587Provision of security
Subchapter 3
General average
Section 588Preservation from common peril
Section 589Fault or neglect of a party to the adventure or of a third party
Section 590Assessment of the average
Section 591Contribution in general average
Section 592General average disbursements
Section 593Rights of maritime lienors
Section 594Lien of the parties entitled to a general average disbursement; prohibition of delivery
Section 595Settlement of the average
Chapter 5
Maritime lienor
Section 596Secured claims
Section 597Lien held by maritime lienors
Section 598Object of the lien held by the maritime lienors
Section 599Lapse of the claim
Section 600Lapse by passage of time
Section 601Satisfaction of the maritime lienor
Section 602Precedence of the liens held by maritime lienors
Section 603General ranking of liens held by maritime lienors
Section 604Ranking order of liens listed under the same number
Chapter 6
Statutory limitation period
Section 605One-year statutory limitation period
Section 606Two-year statutory limitation period
Section 607Commencement of statutory limitation periods
Section 608Extension of the limitation period
Section 609Arrangements as to the limitation period
Section 610Concurrent claims
Chapter 7
General limitation of liability
Section 611Convention as to the limitation of liability
Section 612Limitation of liability for claims arising from the removal of a wreck
Section 613Limitation of liability for small ships
Section 614Limitation of liability for damages to harbours and waterways
Section 615Limitation of the pilot’s liability
Section 616Conduct barring limitation of liability
Section 617Procedure for limiting liability
Chapter 8
Procedural Rules
Section 618Injunction by a salvor
Section 619Service of documents to the master or skipper of a ship
Chapter 9
(repealed)
Chapter 11
(repealed)
Annex
(repealed)