Your Wheat, Corn, or Soybean Cargo Was Damaged During Discharge. Is the Carrier Liable?

Sometimes cargo arrives at the port without an obvious problem, but damage occurs during discharge.

The carrier should not automatically be treated as liable simply because the damage appeared at the port of destination.

The key question is: who had custody and control of the cargo when the damage occurred? Possible causes may include:

• Discharge operations.
• Port equipment.
• Cargo handling.
• Storage.
• Pre-existing cargo condition.
• A defect already present in the shipment.

The incident should therefore be documented immediately, with survey reports, discharge records, photographs, and other relevant evidence preserved.

Was Your Grain Cargo Damaged During Discharge? Soliman Advocates – Cargo & Customs Department can review discharge records and survey evidence, identify potentially responsible parties, and advise on the appropriate claim strategy.

Prepared by: Cargo & Customs Department – Soliman Advocates