Carrier

Carrier

In the legal sense, the term “carrier” refers to a merchant who transports sea freight for a fee and delivers it to the recipient. The basis for this is the so-called sea freight contract; in the context outside of sea freight, the carrier is the equivalent of the shipper. The commercial carrier is responsible for the transportation of the cargo by sea and undertakes to deliver the goods to the consignee in a proper manner; he is responsible for the so-called transport success.

This is confirmed by the carrier and the shipper by means of a bill of lading or confirmation of unloading. Typically, a shipper is also responsible for warehousing, but the task can also be divided between the carrier or the forwarder.

In contrast to the freight forwarder, who “arranges” the conclusion of such freight contracts as a commercial intermediary, the carrier is explicitly the actor for the actual freight transportation.