Part II Bills of Lading and Other Documents of Carriage, 11 Signing Bills of Lading, Alterations of Delivery Obligations, and Other Bill of Lading Issues

Abstract

This chapter studies the process of signing bills of lading, alterations of delivery obligations, and other issues concerning bills of lading. Following completion, the bills of lading must be signed. This may be done by the carrier but usually an agent, such as the master or a broker, does this. The master’s signature is sufficient to bind the shipowner in relation to freight to be paid, the external condition of the goods, and the time allowed for discharging cargo, but they cannot sign bills of lading for a greater quantity of goods than those on board or issue a second set of bills of lading for goods for which a bill of lading has already been issued and signed. One issue which may arise is whether mistakes on the face of the bills of lading can be amended after the bills of lading have been signed. The general principle is that this is possible, but it would not be wise for the shipowner to accede to making corrections unless all the bills of lading in the set are present. The chapter then considers switch bills of lading.