Opinion ID: 364887
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Solicitation of Contract of Carriage/Bill of Lading

Text: 13 The bill of lading was issued on MCL's printed letterhead form and was signed by MCL's agent. It contains a space for the name of the carrying vessel but no space for disclosure of the vessel owner's name; the owner's name does not appear on the bill. The bill of lading identifies the Tendo as the carrying vessel and contains a clause permitting carriage of the cargo on vessels other than the one named. The printed caption, For the Master, appears under the signature line. 14 On the back side of the form a clause captioned Contracting Parties states, 15 (T)he contract evidenced by this (Bill of Lading) is between the Merchant and the Carrier, MCL, Ltd. and it is agreed that MCL, Ltd. only shall be liable as Carrier under this (bill of lading). 16 The bill of lading recites, as required by 46 U.S.C. § 1312, that COGSA governs its terms, and the whole of COGSA is incorporated by reference into the bill of lading including the COGSA definition of the term, carrier.