EIRP Proceedings, Vol 2 (2007)

Abstract

The existence of the international trading, involving overseas cargo transport can not be imagined in
the absence of proper transport documents, amongst them Bill of Lading is by far the most important.
The continuous increase of the goods speed which are handled and transported, most significantly in
container transport is generating frequently delays in documents deliveries thus often the B/L arrives long before
the goods in the port of destination.
This situation is creating undesired issues as the documents fraud and forgery.
On the other hand, all the commercial documents related to the transport as: quality certificates, origin
certificates, charter- parties, etc. may also be the subject of forgery activities often found in sea transport.
The drawbacks arising from delayed deliveries, the insufficient and incomplete efforts spend both by
ship agents and customs authorities finally led to series of initiatives meant to prevent Bill of Lading forgery and
finally the negotiation of these document in the banks, together with a more careful risk analyses made by
customs authorities.