Containerized and palletized cargo

الملخص EN

Containerization and Palletization revolutionized the non-bulk and nonliquid carriage of goods trades at sea and changed the simple concept of ‘package’ as the term was probably understood in 1936.

Industry began to ship goods, either banded together on pallets or packed in trailer-like containers to be loaded, stowed and unloaded as a ‘unit’.

Often the goods being banded or packed were themselves ‘packages’ in the traditional sense of the word.

Modern containers are able to hold hundreds of "packages".

The very concept of a cargo-hold was transformed when vessels were retrofitted to hold containers, which functionally became part of the ship itself.

This technological advancement, however, has created a challenge to courts and has posed the question of whether containers and palettes can be considered “packages” under article 4, rule 5 of the Hague Rules and limit the carrier's liability accordingly