Institute of Transportation, MOTC

　　In the age of E-commerce, the use of electronic bills of lading can provide varieties of advantages, including lower operation cost, prompt delivery of documents, efficiency in operation, and the prevention of documentary fraud. However, electronic bills of lading must provide a safe transaction environment and three functions of paper bills of lading, namely receipt of goods, evidence of contract and document of title, in order to replace paper bills of lading. This article explores how electronic bills of lading operate based on provisions of the ROC Maritime Law, the Electronic Signature Law, and relevant UN rules. It also examines the application of electronic signature, encryption and decryption, and certification authority, etc., in order to look into the legal feasibility of electronic bills of lading.