Legal Definitions - general ship

A general ship is a vessel that offers its cargo space to the public for hire, transporting goods for multiple different shippers on a particular route or voyage. It operates as a common carrier, meaning it is available to anyone who wishes to transport their goods, rather than being chartered exclusively by a single party for a specific journey.

Here are some examples to illustrate the concept of a general ship:

• Example 1: Container Ship Service

  Imagine a large container ship, the "Ocean Express," that regularly sails between major ports in Asia and North America. On a single voyage, this ship carries thousands of containers. Some containers might hold electronics from a Japanese manufacturer, others clothing from a Vietnamese supplier, and still others auto parts from a Korean company, all destined for different importers in the United States. The shipping company operating the "Ocean Express" offers its container slots to any business needing to transport goods along this route.

  This illustrates a general ship because the "Ocean Express" is not chartered by one company; instead, it provides transportation services to numerous independent shippers, each with their own cargo, making its space generally available to the public.

• Example 2: Multi-Consignment Bulk Carrier

  Consider a bulk carrier, the "Grain Merchant," which is loading various types of agricultural products in a South American port. It takes on a shipment of soybeans from one cooperative, a quantity of corn from a different farming enterprise, and a load of wheat from a third exporter, all destined for various food processing plants in Europe. The ship's operator has contracts with each of these different agricultural businesses.

  The "Grain Merchant" functions as a general ship because it accepts bulk cargo from multiple, distinct shippers for transport to different receivers. Its capacity is open to various parties in the market, rather than being dedicated to a single charterer for the entire voyage.

• Example 3: Roll-on/Roll-off (Ro-Ro) Vehicle Carrier

  Picture a roll-on/roll-off (Ro-Ro) vessel named the "Auto Transporter" that makes regular trips across the English Channel. On a single journey, it carries newly manufactured cars from several different European automakers (e.g., BMW, Renault, Fiat), along with trucks from various commercial vehicle manufacturers, and even some construction equipment from different heavy machinery companies. Each vehicle or piece of equipment belongs to a separate owner or manufacturer.

  The "Auto Transporter" is a general ship because it provides space for vehicles and machinery from numerous distinct manufacturers and owners. It offers its services to the general market for vehicle transport, rather than being exclusively leased by one company to move its own fleet.