A bill of lading serves as evidence for a contract of affreightment.

This usually arises when a

ship owner, or other person authorized to act on his behalf employs his vessel as a general ship
by advertising that he is willing to accept cargo from people for a particular voyage.
However, it must be observed that all countries do not follow the same form of legislation
globally. The broad categories may be stated as follows:
i. The Hague Rules.
ii. The Hague/Visby amendments.
iii. The Hamburg Code.
iv. Hybrid systems based on the Hague/Visby and Hamburg regimes.