Documents of the Shipping Transport: Historical Origins, Legal Validity & Commercial Practice

The bill of lading and charterparty are vital for international trade and transport. To signify their enduring importance, this paper firstly seeks to illuminate the earliest historical evidence relating to the bill of lading and charterparty, and secondly, discuss their current legal and commercial nature and functions as well as their relationship with other transport documents such as the booking note, cargo manifest, mate’s receipt, and delivery order. In this context, the paper examines the lifecycle of transport as regards the documents used in the bulk and liner markets.