Bills of lading

International Transport Intermediaries Club (ITIC) has produced an e-learning video for ship agents on the use of “switch bills of lading”, which are second sets of bills used as substitutes for the original bills of lading issued at time of shipment. ITIC legal advisor Mark Brattman said: “There are a number of valid reasons why a carrier may be asked by the holder of a bill of lading to issue switch bills. The issuance of a second set of bills of lading, however, is an extremely dangerous practice and the perils of having two sets of bills in circulation for the same cargo are obvious. Great care must be exercised by ship agents who are asked to issue switch bills. They must follow certain rules.”