What is the scope of the Carriage of Goods by Sea Act 1991?

The Carriage of Goods by Sea Act 1991 (COGSA) is a federal law which was enacted as part of the U.S. Code to govern the responsibilities and liabilities of parties in international shipping contracts. The law sets out a variety of regulations, including when and how cargo and bills of lading should be transferred, and how disputes should be dealt with. In Pennsylvania, COGSA governs the shipping of goods from a foreign country to the Commonwealth. Specifically, the law states that if goods are shipped from port to port outside of the United States, then the contract of carriage is to be governed by the COGSA. Additionally, if the goods are shipped from a port in one state to another within the United States, then the contract of carriage should be governed by the domestic law of the port of departure. The provisions of the COGSA are incredibly broad and apply to a wide range of shipping agreements. These include contracts between a ship owner and a shipper, between shipper and a freight forwarder, and between the shipper and a port authority. Additionally, the law outlines the duties and liabilities of parties in shipping contracts, as well as the rights of parties to the contract in regards to delivery, damages, and lost cargo. In sum, the Carriage of Goods by Sea Act 1991 is an important federal law which governs the responsibilities and liabilities of parties in international shipping contracts. In Pennsylvania, this law applies whenever goods are shipped from a port outside of the United States to the Commonwealth. The provisions of COGSA are incredibly broad and cover a range of shipping agreements.

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