 The Act stemmed from a petition made to Parliament by a delegation of shipowners in 1786, concerned that recent court cases had put them at risk of significantly greater liabilities in case of loss or damage to cargo.It was passed by Parliament without a division in either House.Section I of the Act imposed a limit on the liability of shipowners in regards to goods lost or damaged in a robbery, regardless of whether the robbers were part of the crew of the ship or not.