(1) For all of their claims under a contract for the carriage of general cargo, the carrier has a lien on the goods delivered to it for carriage, whether they belong to the shipper, the Ablader, or a third party that has consented to the carriage of the goods. The carrier also has a lien on the goods of the shipper for all undisputed claims under other contracts concluded with the shipper regarding marine freight, freight, forwarding, and storage. The lien extends to the accompanying documents.
(2) The lien persists for as long as the carrier has possession of the goods, and specifically for as long as the carrier has the right of disposal over them by means of a bill of lading, consignment bill, or warehouse warrant.
(3) The lien will persist even after delivery, provided the carrier asserts the lien by legal action within ten (10) days after delivery, and provided the goods are still in the consignee’s possession.
(4) The warning regarding the impending sale of a pledged item provided for by section 1234 (1) of the Civil Code (Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch, BGB), as well as the notifications stipulated by sections 1237 and 1241 of the Civil Code, are to be addressed to the consignee, who holds the right of disposal pursuant to section 491 or section 520. If the consignee cannot be traced, or if the consignee refuses to accept the goods, then the warning and the notifications are to be addressed to the shipper.