JUST as paper, which initially replaced bamboo and silk, supplied the shippers of second century China with a great number of improvements, digitalisation is providing today's global shipping sector benefits in speed, efficiency, cost and automation. The bill of lading has been around for a long time and is likely to remain a key instrument in global trade, issued by a contracting carrier to a shipper. Yet, it too is part of the digital revolution in trade documentation. Just like its paper equivalent, the electronic bill of lading (eBL) has three basic functions: a receipt from the carrier for the goods it describes; the contract for the carriage of the goods; and a document of title, entitling the rightful holder to claim delivery of the goods.
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