Shipping of goods is the backbone of global economy and a really complex procedure. Taking into consideration how many stakeholders are involved in the trade process, bills of lading come to give solution. In particular, Bills of Lading are at the core of international trade and many shipments are often affected by some bill of lading related issue. A 1-day Masterclass from North P&I Club, in cooperation with SAFETY4SEA in early March, aims to help delegates understand the ‘golden rules’ and recognise their potential risks and exposures.
Cargo shippers and receivers both rely on bills of lading to facilitate their trade in goods internationally through the banking system, and shipowners also rely on the system to ensure they are paid for carrying the goods. With this in mind, SAFETY4SEA is joining forces with the North P&I Club to deliver this one-of-a-kind one-day training seminar on Tuesday 5 March 2020, at the NH Amsterdam Schiphol Airport hotel, The Netherlands, aiming to inform about the commercial need, legal framework and latest developments regarding bills of lading.
Each delegate will gain a rich practical understanding of the fundamental functions of the bill of lading including the application of different rules and common bulk carriage issues, P&I developments in claims and the impact of legal jurisdictions worldwide. Studying real‐life situations through a case study approach, delegates will work in small groups to resolve common bills of lading issues.
Delegates can also utilise the experience of North Club’s expert facilitators, Tony Baker and David Richards, to have their unique bills of lading questions answered. The Masterclass is aimed at all practitioners involved in maritime transportation, insurance, banking and brokering, who wish to boost their expert knowledge and become proficient in bills of lading.
The masterclass will focus on the following key learning points:
- The background, structure and context of the bill of lading
- The function of the bill of lading as a receipt, a document of title and a contract of carriage
- The problems caused by negotiating bills of lading
- The bill of lading ‘golden rules’
- Remedies for claims by ship and cargo
- Why you need a letter of indemnity
- The protection of third parties
- The importance of international regulation
The combination of theory, discussion and casework aims to make the complexity of the most common issues clear and manageable. The Masterclass will also promote networking between international shipping peers and enable long-term relationships between the participants.