The challenges of ICTs in the shipping sector among international uniform law, codification and lex mercatoria: the electronic bill of lading

The article addresses the issues concerning the electronic bill of lading with specific regard to the new technologies and tools that are being explored for this purpose, in particular blockchain technology and smart contracts. The main problems analysed by the article are of two kinds. From the one side, the feasibility of blockchain technology and smart contracts for e-bills of lading (or e-transport records, as in the Rotterdam Rules). From the other side, the actual lack of a uniform – and, often, even domestic – specific regime. To this purpose, the article further investigates whether it is possible to identify a suitable regime already existing or what could be the feasible solutions for governing e-bills of lading and ensuring that they can lawfully perform the same role of traditional bills of lading.