United nations convention on the carriage of goods by sea hamburg 1978 the hamburg rules adopted by a diplomatic conference on 31 march 1978 the convention establishes a uniform legal. Rules relating to the carriage of goods by sea have decided to conclude a convention for this purpose and have thereto agreed as follows part i general provisions article 1 definitions in this convention 1 carrier means any person by whom or in whose name a contract of carriage of goods by sea has been concluded with a shipper 2 actual carrier means any person to whom the performance of the. United nations convention on the carriage of goods by sea hamburg rules hamburg 31 march 1978 preamble the states parties to this convention having recognized the desirability of determining by agreement certain rules relating to the carriage of goods by sea having decided to conclude a convention for this purpose and have thereto agreed as follows part i general provisions