Editing Maritime law (section)

=====Cargo claims=====
{{further|Freight claim}}
Claims for damage to cargo shipped in international commerce are governed by the [[Carriage of Goods by Sea Act]] (COGSA), which is the U.S. enactment of the Hague Rules. One of its key features is that a shipowner is liable for cargo damaged from "hook to hook",  meaning from loading to discharge, unless it is exonerated under one of 17 exceptions to liability, such as an "[[act of God]]", the inherent nature of the goods, errors in [[navigation]], and management of the ship. The basis of liability for the shipowner is a [[bailment]] and if the carrier is to be liable as a [[common carrier]], it must be established that the goods were placed in the carrier's possession and control for immediate carriage.<ref>Robinson, Gustavus H. (1939). ''Handbook of Admiralty Law in the United States''. Hornbook Series. St. Paul, Minnesota: West Publishing Co. p. 439</ref>