Bills of Lading in General

18.1 A bill of lading is a document issued by a carrier by sea to a shipper of goods acknowledging the receipt by the carrier on board a named vessel (or for subsequent shipment on board) of the goods described therein, and containing an undertaking to deliver the goods at the place of delivery to the shipper or named consignee, or to his order or assigns, subject to the terms and conditions set out in or incorporated into the document. It also usually is a document of title representing the right to possession of the goods and, therefore, if it is an “order” bill, a bill consigned “to order” and not solely to a named consignee, it allows traders to deal with the goods while they are at sea, the carrier automatically attorning to the holder on the terms of the bill.2