Doctrine of General Average Law and Legal Definition
Doctrine of General Average is a principle of Maritime law allowing a carrier to require cargo owners and the ship owner to contribute pro rata to the cost of protecting the ship and its cargo. When the master of the ship on behalf of all the interests concerned, decides to sacrifice any part of a venture exposed to a common and imminent peril for saving the rest, the interests so saved are compelled to contribute ratably to the owner of the interest sacrificed, so that the cost of the sacrifice shall fall equally upon all.
