7.1.3.2 Avoid advanced & ante-dated bill of la...
The date of issue is crucial for a B/L and should be correctly filled out.In practice,however,two behaviors regarding this date are common but not quite ethical,which you should try to avoid:asking the carrier to issue an advanced B/L or an ante-dated B/L.
♦Advanced bill of lading预签提单
An advanced bill of lading is a B/L issued by the carrier whilst the goods have not been shipped.It is often used when the date stipulated in the letter of credit for presenting the B/L and other documents is almost due,but the shipper has not yet got goods ready for shipment.In order to present documents including the B/L to the bank within the stipulated period for presentation,the carrier sometimes issues an advanced B/L at the request of the shipper.This poses a risk to the carrier—if for a certain reason the cargo is not loaded or not completely loaded,it has a responsibility to the consignee.
♦Ante-dated bill of lading倒签提单
An ante-dated bill of lading is a B/L that bears a date of issue that is prior to the actual date of shipment,such as a B/L date of Sept.15thfor an actual shipping date of Sept.20th.This occurs mostly when the shipment is delayed.In order to comply with either the contract or the letter of credit,the carrier sometimes issues an ante-dated B/L at the request of the shipper.As this may mislead the consignee to believe that the cargo shall arrive sooner than actually is,the carrier must be fully aware of the risks involved—the consignee may file litigation against it for losses incurred.