Opinion ID: 6572
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Carriage of Goods by Sea Act

Text: The parties initially dispute whether rules applicable to private carriage contracts or provisions outlined in the Carriage of Goods by Sea Act (COGSA) control in this action. By its own terms, COGSA applies only if the bill of lading or another similar document of title evidences the contract for the carriage of goods by sea. 46 U.S.C. § 1300; Shell Oil Co. v. M/T GILDA, 790 F.2d 1209, 1212 (5th Cir.1986). If one charters an entire vessel, however, the charter party controls, not the bill of lading. Id. at 1212. Hence, in that situation, COGSA is inapplicable. Nevertheless, parties may incorporate the terms of COGSA into their charter party provisions. When parties so do, COGSA controls, but only to the extent provided in the charter party. Id. If parties 6 therefore incorporate COGSA provisions, in their entirety, into the terms of their private carriage contract, COGSA will govern the entire transaction. In this case, as in Shell Oil, the parties evidenced their intent that COGSA govern the entirety of their venture in the charter party's Clause Paramount. That clause, in pertinent part, reads as follows: This Bill of Lading shall have effect subject to the provisions of the Carriage of Goods by Sea Acts of the United States.9 In view of the charter party's full incorporation of COGSA in this case, we hold that COGSA controls here.