Bills of lading can still carry surprises

While the bill of lading is ostensibly widely understood, its role as evidence of the contract of carriage holds some hidden surprises to watch out for. Ian Short, of Campbell Johnston Clark, explains

The basic functions of a bill of lading (B/L) are widely understood as offering acknowledgement that the goods have been loaded on board the vessel (the receipt), confirmation that a lawful B/L holder has title to the goods and evidence of the terms of the contract of carriage.