Electronic bills of lading - can it happen?

The wonders of electronic technology have dynamically entered every aspect of our lives. Shipping has seen a shift in operational modalities. New on-board systems, emails between ships and on-shore offices, and on-board mobile phones with myriad applications are only a few examples of enabling technology.

The bill of lading is arguably ripe for replacement by a genuinely electronic document – but how? This article discusses some of the practical issues and implications, from the perspective of a lawyer. ¹