Clean bills of lading
Overview
It is well established that the Master is not compelled to sign "clean" bills of lading if the apparent order and condition of the cargo is such that appropriate remarks in the bill of lading in this respect would be warranted. BIMCO been confronted with disputes concerning signing of "clean" bills of lading even though the cargo loaded was defective. The charter parties contained provisions according to which "clean" bills of lading were to be issued/signed, and it would appear that charterers thought that they could circumvent the general position briefly outlined above, by including such provisions in the charter party. In other words, since the charter party contained clear words to the effect that "clean" bills of lading were to be issued, charterers held the view that the Master had no choice but to sign such bills of lading regardless of the actual apparent order and condition of the cargo. This is not, however, correct. The starting point is that, if charterers wish to have "clean" bills of lading issued, they must see to it that the cargo is in such condition that the Master will not have to put remarks as to the apparent order and condition of the cargo in the bills of ladi...
MEMBER SECTION
If you are a member, please login using the orange button at the top of the page to view the full article, or register. If you are unsure of your membership, or wish to become a member, please contact membership@bimco.org.
Feedback or a question about this information?
Posted:
02 June 2016
VPS Bunker Alerts
Veritas Petroleum Services (VPS) publish regular Bunker Alerts based entirely on fuel samples and have kindly permitted BIMCO’s Members to access this information.
The Bunker Alerts are not intended to be an evaluation of overall bunker quality in the port or area concerned, but usually highlight a specific parameter within the fuel which has raised a quality issue.
Related training
Bills of Lading Masterclass Online
- Online, Online
- 28 April, 2025
Bills of Lading Masterclass Online is a series of 10 online sessions delivered over 5 days. Each day will run for 120 minutes with a short break in between. The...
Related publication
Check Before Fixing
This publication builds upon decades of BIMCO’s experience as the world leader in developing standard shipping contracts and clauses and its daily practic...
Want to stay up-to-date?
Register for updates about
{{Title}}
Receive emails when this topic is updated – you can choose how often.
Register NowELSEWHERE ON BIMCO
Chartering help & advice
This section contains a comprehensive source of information and guidance on chartering related matters. You will find invaluable information on many aspects of chartering distilled from our many years’ experience on advising members.
Learn about your cargo
For general guidance and information on cargo-related queries.
BIMCO Publications
Want to buy or download a BIMCO publication? Use the link to get access to the ballast water management guide, the ship master’s security manual and many other publications.
