B - Where the value of the hams is stated on the bill of lading:
The Bill of Lading or shipper's export documentation must shows 500 $ ham price * 20 boxes of ham = 10000, oo$, this is the liability amount plus freight and insurance if any.
1 - During the ocean part of the voyage due to the ship having leaky hatches
As a good practice the carrier must contact the shipper and inform about the situation with the ham pallets, so when the vessel arrives to Oldenburg in Germany, two cargo surveyor (one representing the carrier other the shipper) will inspect the merchandise and evaluate the damages if any, both will submit a report and according to it, both carrier and shipper will agree the amount of the damages. We know already that the 20 boxes are 500, 00 US each.
Let assume that the carrier didn't inform the shipper, and the shipper found out that the ham was damage a week after in the warehouse when the custom cleared the cargo, that's take us to the time bar clause, which is the time period allowed to the shipper to commence any claims related with the cargo. I've seen even 03 months Time period inserted as part of this clause, so is extremely important to review the cargo as soon arrive to port of destination.
2 - During the ocean part of the voyage due to the ship being in collision due to the watch officer's fault, but all other things being in good order.
Same as I mentioned under point # 2 (not amount declared in the bill of lading), the only thing that changes is the amount of liabilities.
3 - During the land part of the voyage because the truck carrying the container that contained the pallet being involved in a collision with another truck.