Where any bill of
lading or document contains any clause, covenant, or agreement whereby —
(a) the
owner, charterer, master, or agent of any ship, or the ship itself, is
relieved from liability for loss or damage to goods arising from the harmful
or improper condition of the ship’s hold, or any other part of the ship
in which goods are carried, or arising from negligence, fault, or failure in
the proper loading, stowage, custody, care, or delivery of goods received by
them or any of them to be carried in or by the ship; or
(b) any
obligations of the owner or charterer of any ship to exercise due diligence,
and to properly man, equip, and supply the ship, to make and keep the ship
seaworthy, and to make and keep the ship’s hold, refrigerating, and cool
chambers, and all other parts of the ship in which goods are carried, fit and
safe for their reception, carriage, and preservation, are in any wise
lessened, weakened, or avoided; or
(c) the
obligations of the master, officers, agents, or servants of any ship to
carefully handle and stow goods, and to care for, preserve, and properly
deliver them, are in any wise lessened, weakened, or avoided,
that clause, covenant
or agreement shall be illegal, null and void, and of no effect.