Abstract
A bill of lading is a document which is signed by the carrier or his agent acknowledging that the goods have been shipped on board a named vessel bound for the destination and stating the terms on which the goods so received are to be carried. Therefore, the bill of lading is a document of title enabling the holder to obtain credit from banks before the arrival of the goods, for the transfer of the bill of lading can operate as a pledge of the goods themselves. In the other words the bill of lading creates a privity between its holder and the carrier as if the contract was made. A bill of lading, for obtaining credit from banks, must appear to indicate the carrier's name and signature, the "shipped on board" notation, the port of loading and unloading stated in the sales contract and the credit. Data in the bill of lading, when read in context with the sales contract, the credit, the bill of lading itself and international standard banking practice, need not be identical to, but must not conflict with, data in that bill of lading, any other stipulated document, the sales contract or the credit. The surrender bill of lading, stamping "surrendered" on the original bill of lading by request of the shipper, is not recognized the legal effectiveness as a document of title by the statutory law and court. The surrender bill of lading may increase the risk of impossibility of payment to the holder. Therefore, the surrender bill of lading should be used restrictively between the credible parties and suggested to avoid in the other cases.