With a need for introducing international uniformity in the practice of general average adjustment, conference in which ship-owners, merchants, lawyers, average adjusters and Insurers participated were held in Glasgow, London, York, Antwerp, Liverpool and Geneva. Eventually a code of rules which found international acceptance was evolved. This Code is known as the “York-Antwerp Rules, 1890” after the two important conferences held at York and Antwerp. These rules have since been revised in 1924, 1950 and 1974. The rules were extensively revised at the Stockholm’s Conference in 1924 and issued as the York-Antwerp Rules. 1924, as a comprehensive code. The 1924 Rules comprise seven lettered rules laying down the principles of general average and 23 numbered rules of practice indicating the application of these principles. The York-Antwerp Rules 1924 were revised in 1950 and are known as the York-Antwerp Rules, 1950. The revisions were intended to effect uniformity of practice and interpretation, which was necessary because different nations used to interpret the rules according to their own laws. A rule of interpretation now precedes the rules. This states that the York-Antwerp Rules, 1950, are to be considered as a complete code in themselves. It also gives effect to the “Makis” agreement by providing that the numbered rules take precedence over the lettered rules. It reads: “In the adjustment of General Average the following lettered and numbered rules shall apply to the exclusion of any law and practice inconsistent therewith. Except as provided by the numbered rules. General Average shall be adjusted according to the lettered rules.”*****
Guidelines for adjusting general losses by a marine carrier.