letter of authority to issue bills of lading
to:
[ship's agent or, if vessel is operating under a time charter party, time charter's agent]
m.v.
loading at:
dated:
dear sirs,
by this letter, you are kindly authorized to sign bills of lading in accordance with the following
instructions:
1.you will sign legibly showing the name of your company.
2.you will state that you are signing “as agent for the master".
3.you will sign bills of lading which
(a) are strictly in accordance with mate's receipt(s), and
(b) clearly and accurately state the cargo quantity and condition as shown on the mate's
receipt(s) or on any documents referred to in those receipt(s).
4.you will ensure that for each parcel of cargo for which a separate bill of lading is required by the shipper, the correct date of completion of loading of that parcel is shown on the bill of lading.
5.you will provide, immediately upon signing, a copy of the signed bill of lading to the ship and to the owners' managers by fax at ……
[if vessel is operating under a time charter party, the following clause is included:
6.any reference in the bill(s) of lading to a charter party shall, in the absence of contrary instructions, show the date of the head charter party between the owners of the vessel and their time charterers. if contrary instructions are given then you are to seek guidance from me or from owners before inserting a different date in the bill of lading.]
your authority to sign this bill of lading is conditional upon your complying with all of the above instructions.
this authority to sign cannot be sub－delegated to any other party without my or owners' consent.
yours truly,
master of m.v.
