By Jennifer Cheng.    Photo：Karolina Grabowska

During the transportation of goods, sometimes a bill of lading (BOL) may be lost. The BOL is an important document in the transportation of goods, recording the details of the goods and identifying the responsible party. The loss of a BOL can have an impact on the supply chain and measures need to be taken to address this issue. A freight forwarder is a team of professionals who are responsible for arranging the transportation of goods and can provide the appropriate support to deal with the loss of a bill of lading. Loss of a bill of lading can be resolved by issuing a replacement bill of lading through the freight forwarder or by tele-release (the consignee does not need the original bill of lading and will release the goods on the instructions of the freight forwarder by telegraphic message).

Replacement bills of lading are risky for freight forwarders. Because a replacement bill of lading involves a transfer of responsibility and release of the goods, if the forwarder does not receive sufficient evidence and documentation to prove the loss of the bill of lading, it may result in the risk of fraudulent claims or other disputes. For example, if an exporter fraudulently claims that a bill of lading has been lost, delivers the original bill of lading to a customer or bank, and then asks for a replacement bill of lading, it will be difficult for the freight forwarder to get out of the matter. For this reason, forwarders need to be very careful and follow the relevant procedures and regulations when dealing with the loss of a bill of lading. They need to collect evidence and documents to prove the loss of the bill of lading, and communicate and negotiate with the affected parties to ensure that their rights are protected. This is to ensure that their rights are protected. If this results in fraudulent claims or other disputes - such as when an exporter fraudulently delivers the original bill of lading to a customer or bank and then falsely claims that it has been lost in order to detain the shipment ---- the forwarder can hardly be held responsible. 

If it is a "named bill of lading" (i.e., the bill of lading is limited to a specific consignor), it is easier to deal with, the consignor can prove his identity, and generally can be resolved by means of electric release. Let the freight forwarder to verify the goods can be released. But if the bill of lading has not specified the consignee, this is a problem. If the forwarder has a relationship of trust with the shipper, it is usually possible to ask the shipper to provide a letter of guarantee to assume all the responsibilities arising from the loss of the bill of lading. In this case, the forwarder will require that the cut-off letter include corresponding guarantees and undertakings to ensure that the responsibility for the loss of the bill of lading is borne by the shipper. However, if the forwarder and the consignor are not familiar with each other, the forwarder will usually require the consignor to furnish a guarantee equal to the value of the goods or double the value of the goods as security for the release of the goods. In addition, the forwarder may set a time limit for the security deposit, which may impose a heavy burden on the shipper.

The global shipping industry, which transports an astounding approximately 11 billion tons of cargo each year, is highly dependent on accurate and timely documentation such as the Bill of Lading (BOL). In international trade, the Bill of Lading is a critical document that provides evidence of an agreement between the shipper and the carrier. It ensures the integrity and authenticity of business transactions and prevents fraud. Document fraud and alteration are major challenges in international trade, emphasizing the need for secure and traceable documents. However, supply chain disruptions caused by delayed or lost bills of lading can have serious financial consequences for organizations. It is therefore prudent to avoid the loss of bills of lading during the transportation of goods in order to minimize risks and unnecessary burdens.

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