United Nations (UN) Convention on the Carriage of Goods by Sea (the "Hamburg Rules")
The Convention establishes a uniform legal regime governing the rights and obligations of shippers, carriers and consignees under a contract of carriage of goods by sea.
Under both the Hague Rules and the Hamburg Rules, the carrier must issue a bill of lading if the shipper requests one. However, the Hamburg Rules take into account modem techniques of documentation by providing that a signature on a bill of lading not only may be handwritten but also may be made by any mechanical or electronic means, if not inconsistent with the law of the country where the bill of lading is issued.
Provisions relevant to the cross-border paperless trade: Explanatory note by the UNCITRAL secretariat on the United Nations Convention on the Carriage of Goods by Sea, 1978 (Hamburg), Section B, point 11 “Transport documents”.