Prior and during loading operation:
1. Inspect the cargo’s apparent order and condition to ensure that the bill of
lading is accurate in its description of these items.
2. Inspect the cargo’s marks (to identify the goods), and number, quantity or
weight as the case may be, to ensure that the bill of lading is accurate in its
description of these items.
3. If during inspection, it is found that the goods are damaged or that packing is
inadequate/insufficient, or that marks are unclear or will not likely remain
legible for the entire carriage, take steps to prevent such cargo from being
loaded and immediately inform the shipper and confirm in writing, that the bills
of lading will be appropriately claused unless replacement goods are provided
or the damage is made good.
4. If the charterparty requires clean bills of lading to be issued, any cargo to be
shipped which is not in apparent good order and condition must be rejected.
If the shipper refuses to accept claused bills of lading, is unwilling to provide
replacement good or make good the damage, the Master should protest in
writing stating that the ship is at liberty to reject the goods.
Rejection should not formally be given without the Owner’s approval.
5. A mate’s receipt should be prepared and all findings of the cargo inspection
must be inserted.
The following checks should be made prior to signing the bill of lading:
1. Does the bill of lading state the correct name of carrying vessel, description of
voyage and name of shipper.
2. Does the bill of lading state the correct carrier and address.
3. Correct place and date of shipment. The bill of lading must not be ante- or
post-dated.
4. The number of original bills of lading stated to exist is correct and Master to
ensure that each is identical.
5. Accurate description of the goods as shipped – marks, apparent order and
condition, including packing condition and adequacy, and number, quantity or
weight.
6. When clausing the bill the clausing should be as accurate as possible
including the reason for the damage, if known. Words such as “some”, “many”,
“a number of” and “several” should be avoided.
7. If the Master has been unable to determine by reasonable inspection either
the number, quantity or weight, the Master should request the shipper to
omit/delete the respective figures in the bill of lading. If the figures cannot be
omitted/deleted the bill of lading should be claused “number unknown”,
quantity unknown” or “weight unknown”.
8. If the Master has been able to determine the number, quantity or weight but
the bill of lading presented contains the shipper’s figure exceeding the ship’s
figure, the Master should request the shipper to omit/delete their respective
figure. If the figure cannot be omitted/deleted the Master should clause the bill
of lading with ship’s figure or some other suitable wording, e.g. “ship’s figure
as determined by draft survey … mt” or “… packages in dispute”.
9. If the ship’s figure exceeds the shipper’s figure presented in the bill of lading,
the bill should be claused “number, quantitiy and weight unknown”.
10. Clausing of bill of lading must be in strict conformity with the mate’s receipt.
11. Charterparty incorporation clause must be inserted.
12. Claused “shipped on deck at shippers’/receivers’ risk and expense without
liability for loss and / or damage howsoever caused” if cargo so carried.
13. Any freight statements appearing in the bill of lading should be clarified with
the Carrier if the Master is in any doubt.