Digital Transformation of Maritime Transport Documents: A Juridical Analysis of Electronic Bill of Lading Implementation Based on the UNCITRAL Model Law on Electronic Transferable Records (MLETR)

Eugenia Shani Gisela; Freddy Johanis  Rumambi; Nofrisel Nofrisel

doi:10.63922/ijebir.v5i06.6782

Eugenia Shani Gisela Institut Bisnis dan Multimedia asmi Jakarta
Freddy Johanis Rumambi Institut Bisnis dan Multimedia asmi Jakarta
Nofrisel Nofrisel Institut Bisnis dan Multimedia asmi Jakarta

DOI: https://doi.org/10.63922/ijebir.v5i06.6782

Keywords: Electronic Bill of Lading, Model Law on Electronic Transferable Records, Electronic Information and Transactions Law, Regulatory Gaps, Maritime Transportation Management

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the legal status and validity of the Electronic Bill of Lading (E-B/L) within the Indonesian legal system, identify regulatory gaps between national law and the UNCITRAL Model Law on Electronic Transferable Records (MLETR) 2017, and analyze the managerial implications of such legal uncertainty for shipping companies and cargo owners (shippers/consignees). The digitalization of maritime transport documents is increasingly necessary because the Indonesian Commercial Code (Kitab Undang-Undang Hukum Dagang/KUHD) remains oriented toward physical Bills of Lading, while the Electronic Information and Transactions Law (UU ITE) has recognized electronic documents. This study employs a normative and comparative juridical qualitative approach, using primary, secondary, and tertiary legal materials, which are analyzed together with the results of in-depth interviews with a Corporate Legal Associate and a Commercial Associate at a national shipping company. The findings indicate that E/B/L is legally recognized as electronic evidence under the UU ITE but has not yet obtained full legal certainty as a document of title, as the KUHD still requires physical delivery of the document. Significant regulatory gaps were also identified regarding the concepts of electronic transferable records, control as a substitute for possession, the principle of singularity, and document-conversion mechanisms. This legal uncertainty has encouraged shipping companies to implement dual-run systems and risk-mitigation strategies through international E/B/L platforms, strengthened contractual clauses, and Protection and Indemnity (P&I) Club protection. The study recommends harmonizing the KUHD and UU ITE and adopting the principles of MLETR to strengthen legal certainty and the competitiveness of Indonesia’s maritime transportation sector.

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