Question 2819 Deck General

70% to pass

A vessel loads 5000 tons of manganese ore. The railroad cars that brought the ore to the vessel were previously loaded with iron ore so the ore is contaminated. The agent requests the Master to sign a Clean Bill of Lading and in return the shipper will give him a Letter of Indemnity. What is the best procedure to follow?

A Refuse to sign a Clean Bill of Lading.
B Sign a Clean Bill of lading under protest.
C Sign the Clean Bill of Lading and have the agent countersign it.
D Sign a Clean Bill of Lading and accept the Letter of Indemnity.
AI Explanation

The correct answer is A) Refuse to sign a Clean Bill of Lading. The master should refuse to sign a Clean Bill of Lading when the cargo is known to be contaminated or of inferior quality. Signing a Clean Bill of Lading would misrepresent the condition of the cargo, which is a violation of maritime law and could expose the master and vessel to liability. The master has a duty to accurately document the condition of the cargo, even if the shipper offers a Letter of Indemnity. The other options, B, C, and D, would involve the master improperly signing a Clean Bill of Lading, which is not the correct procedure in this situation.

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