1 INTRODUCTION

This chapter is intended to provide a concise overview of the principles applicable to general average. It sets out only the elementary principles which derive from maritime law, equity and public policy. It is rather a sui generis subject, and is relevant to contracts of carriage of goods by sea, and the losses that result from a general average act are insurable as provided by the Marine Insurance Act 1906. Space does not permit a detailed treatment of general average in this book, which can be found in specialist texts on the subject.1