The Electronic Bill of Lading: challenges and perspectives for its implementation in Panamanian maritime trade

Abstract

The electronic bill of lading (e-B/L) is one of the most interesting and timely innovations in contemporary maritime trade, transforming a document traditionally used in physical form into a legally valid digital instrument. This article analyzes the regulatory, conventional, and technological framework that underpins the e-B/L, evaluating its implications for commercial practice and Panamanian maritime law. Through a literature review and an examination of international instruments such as the Rotterdam Rules and the UNCITRAL Model Law on Electronic Transferable Documents (MLETR), the main legal and operational challenges facing its adoption are identified. Its implementation in Panama requires harmonizing national regulations with international standards and investing in secure digital infrastructure that guarantees the document's authenticity, integrity, and transferability. Similarly, consideration must be given to the difficulties and lack of access to existing technology among the various actors in the logistics chain, which translate into cultural and operational factors, resistance to change, necessary training, and a lack of intercommunication between the digital systems of shipping companies, agents, port authorities, among others. Analyzing each of these circumstances reveals both limitations and opportunities for development. Panama is well-positioned to lead the regional implementation of e-B/Ls by modernizing its maritime legislation, adopting secure electronic platforms based on technologies such as blockchain and creating public-private partnerships that drive the sector's digital transformation.