General-Average

A claim made upon the Owners of a ship, her cargo, and freight, (upon the Underwriters if insured) when the property of one or more interested in the maritime adventure has been voluntarily sacrificed, or expenses were incurred for the benefit of all. Example: A ve el outward bound laden with a cargo of merchandise, soon after her departure owing to stre of weather, fog, or other cause gets aground. The damage which a ve el may sustain in consequence of such grounding affects the ship only; and injury to the merchandise through leaking of the ve el, etc., concerns only the cargo thus the damage to the ship, as well as that of the cargo, are both „ Particular Average ”. But, should a portion of the cargo be thrown overboard to lighten the ve el, for the saving of the ship and the remainder of the cargo, such sacrificed portion of the cargo must be compensated proportionately to the value of the ve el, and of the remaining cargo. The expenditure for lighters to lighten the ve el, tugboats to tow her off, for replacing slipped anchors and chain-cables damaged tow-ropes etc. etc., in a word the total of such lo es and expenses voluntarily sacrificed for the preservation of the ship and the goods on board of her, is „ General Average ".