BILL OF LADING. CONOCIMIENTO DE EMBARQUE MARÍTIMO

This is a document by which carries out the contract of carriage of goods by water. Is the equivalent of 'consignment' in the air or ground transportation.

The 'information' must be provided by the carrier, master or ship's agent, charger, against the return of interim receipts.

This 'information' must contain the following entries:

a) Name and address of the carrier;

b) Name and address of the shipper;

c) Name and nationality of the ship;

d) Port of loading and unloading the vessel or where it should go to the 'receiver'.

e) Name and address of the recipient, if nominated, or the person or entity who should be notified of the arrival of the goods, if the Bill of Lading is by the order of the shipper or ship broker;

f) The nature and quality of merchandise, number of packages or pieces or quantity or weight, and most major brands of identification;

g) State and apparent condition of the cargo;

h) Freight agreed and place of payment;

i) Number of originals delivered;

j) Place, date and signature of the carrier, shipping agent or master.

What is a Bill of Lading?

1) Is the implementation of the contract of carriage of goods by water, and as such, proves its existence, its conditions, the freight to pay and, in general, the obligations of the parties.

d) Serves as 'Receipt' of goods on board.

3) It is a debt. In it there are three elements that characterize the credits: need, literal and autonomy. It is also a document of title for the goods, whereby the legitimate holder of the bill of lading can have it (sell, pawn or warranty, etc.) During the trip.

4) It is enforceable. The holder of the bill of lading has a 'legal contract' for the delivery of goods at the destination port (conf art. 585). The procedure for enforcement action to obtain delivery of cargo is regulated in art. 585 to 587 for the Law of Navigation.

The denoting 'Bill of Lading' which gives a obligation and means of flexibility to the first carrier when there is a single contract of carriage of goods that must be fulfilled at various stages by different carriers. Thus, it can happen that the transport of goods to the destination is carried out in several stages entirely by water, or part water and part on land, or part water and part air.