The Law on Bills of Lading

Learning Outcomes

Knowledge and Understanding

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

• Existing areas of debate and development about what the bills of lading law are and how they should be govern e.g. in the context of electronic bills of lading.
• The main principles which govern the English law of bills of lading and the extent to which English law is influenced by internationally accepted principles, and vice versa.

Transferable and Generic Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Think critically, develop coherent arguments in writing.
• Display clarity and objectivity in written discussion demonstrating an awareness of issue of academic integrity.
• Distinguish relevant from irrelevant materials.
• Identify and analyse key issues.

Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Identify and explain the main internationally-accepted principles underpinning the law relating to bills of lading.
• Apply the legal principles, with appropriate legal authorities, in the solution of complex problems.
• Appraise and criticise existing debates in U.K. and international bills of lading law, using appropriate legal research skills.
• Analyse relevant legal materials, including statutes, case law and standard bill of lading clauses.
• Locate and analyse relevant legal and other primary and secondary source materials including model bills of lading.

The following is an indicative list of the content of the module:

• the functions of bills of lading in carriage of goods by sea (a) as a receipt of goods, (b) as evidence of contract, and (c) as a document of title;
• the Hague-Visby Rules under the Carriage of Goods by Sea Act 1971, in particular: (a) its rules on obligations and liabilities, (b) cargo claims under the Hague-Visby Rules
• the rights of suit at common law and Carriage of Goods by Sea Act 1992

This module is taught through lectures (8x2hours) and seminars (3x2hours). Lectures will introduce the principles and structure of the subject. You are expected to provide the main input to the seminars where the principles introduced in the lectures are applied to hypothetical scenarios.

The most important part of learning is your own independent study. This will, however, be closely guided, and firmly tied into the lectures, seminars and assessment. In the seminars you will have the opportunity to present arguments orally to a group of peers and defend your position under challenge.

Formative

This is how we’ll give you feedback as you are learning. It is not a formal test or exam.

Formative Assessment

• Assessment Type: Formative
• Feedback:
• Final Assessment: No
• Group Work: No

Summative

This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.

Referral

This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.

Repeat

An internal repeat is where you take all of your modules again, including any you passed. An external repeat is where you only re-take the modules you failed.