Doctrine of General Average

The Doctrine of General Average is a maritime principle where if a ship sacrifices part of its cargo or takes extraordinary measures to save the vessel during a peril at sea, the loss is shared proportionally among all parties with a financial interest in the voyage. Essentially, when specific deliberate sacrifices are made to protect the entire shipment, those costs are distributed among the cargo owners, insurers, and other stakeholders, ensuring fairness and encouraging cooperation during emergencies.