Single Blog

image

How to obtain a duplicate BL, if original bill of lading lost.

What happens if Bill of Lading Lost?

BL lost in courier transit, how to get a new bill of lading. How to reconstruct a missed bill of lading? What are the Procedures to get new Bill of Lading? BL mutilated how to get a duplicate bill of lading in lieu of original bill of lading?

As you know,  Bill of lading  is a negotiable instrument and document of title. Shipping carriers issue bill of lading on receipt of goods at load port after necessary export legal customs clearance procedures completed. Without original bill of lading the cargo can not be taken delivery of goods at destination port. What happens if BL lost in transit or mutilated. BL could have lost at Bank, courier transit, or in any other transit. Bill of lading could be stolen or destroyed. We have discussed abou the  Importance of bill of lading in international trade   under seperate article in this web blog.

If a bill of lading is lost, the shipper need to approach the shipping carrier and request for a duplicate sets of originals in lieu lost original bill of lading. The shipper need to execute a letter of indemnity bond stating that the said carrier is not to be held responsible if the first set of lost Bill of lading is found and surrendered. The letter of indemnity must be signed by the shipper or his legal authorized representative. Such indemnity bond should be against certain amount fixed by the respective carrier. In an indemnity bond, shipper also undertake the responsibility return the original lost bill of lading to the carrier, if found. The shipper undertake to indemnify all consequences on lost of bill of lading against any claims, liability, losses charges, costs, fine, damages and other expenses inclusive of legal expenses in connection with anybody claiming delivery of goods as owner or assignee or as the holder of BL originally issued at the time of receipt of goods. Some of the shipping liners in US or Canada insist a counter signature on such indemnity bond by the reputed bank doing business in the said country to obtain duplicate sets of BL in lieu of lost original bill of lading.

 Each shipping carrier may have different specimen format of indemnity bond with separate legal bindings to obtain a duplicate sets of bill of lading in lieu of lost original bill of lading. However, I have mentioned some of the major points above, generally mentioned by all carriers in bond for issue of duplicate bill of lading against lost BL.

.

Source: Internet