Electronic bills of lading and central registries: what is holding back progress?

Abstract

This article looks at the legal requirements that need to be satisfied in the electronic replication of the bill of lading's functions—in particular, the singularity requirement—and at the central registry as a method for satisfying these requirements. It goes on to look at why, a number of years after the BOLERO central registry system was first proposed and set up, electronic equivalents to bills of lading have not come into widespread use in international trade. It explores the reasons behind the failure of the international trade community to adopt these electronic equivalents and identifies some preconditions for progress in this area.