Agribility - The Bill of Lading

Introduction

The bill of lading is an essential document with a number of important functions. Throughout this module we will provide a detailed analysis of the role of the Bill of Lading in the international commodity trade. We will examine the different types of bills, the parties to a bill of lading, and the rights of those parties. We will also see how the bill of lading relates to the other key contracts used in the international commodity trade.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this module, the learner should be able to:

• Confidently discuss the main three functions of the bill of lading.
• Explain who the parties to a bill of lading are, and their roles.
• Identify the different types of bills of lading, and explain when and why they may be used.
• Comprehensively discuss endorsement - how it is done and what the purpose is.
• Explain and identify the importance of the bill of lading in both CIF and FOB contracts.
• Discuss potential problems that could occur when using a bill of lading, and provide suggestions on how those problems can be overcome or avoided.