CIC International (SA)(Pty) Ltd t/a Saflink v Safmarine Agencies (Pty) Ltd t/a Anglo Mar - High Court (Cape of Good Hope Provincial Div)(Blignault J) - 15 October 2002

Bill of lading - Identity of carrier - Agency - Bill of lading in carrier’s standard form - Agent signing bill - Whether insertion of typewritten words "AS CARRIER" with agent’s name directly underneath had effect of making agent party to bill

Cargo owners brought proceedings against the defendant. The defendant asserted that it was not a party to the bill of lading, and that it had signed the bill of lading as agent for the carrier, who was Safmarine and CMBT Lines NV (SCL) trading as CMBT ("CMBT"). The Court ordered a preliminary issue to determine whether the defendant was the carrier under the bill of lading.