Carriage of Goods by Sea Act (COGSA): Federal law from 1936 that governs rights and responsibilities between shippers and ocean carriers, including liability limitations and notice requirements for cargo claims

Federal Bills of Lading Act (Pomerene Act): 1916 federal legislation governing the negotiability of bills of lading in foreign and interstate commerce

Harter Act: 1893 federal law regulating maritime bills of lading and defining obligations between vessel owners and cargo owners

Ocean Shipping Reform Act: Federal legislation from 1998 (amended 2022) governing ocean shipping practices and regulations in US waters

The Hague Rules: International convention establishing standard rules for bills of lading in international trade

The Hague-Visby Rules: Updated version of The Hague Rules with modified liability limits and expanded scope of application

The Hamburg Rules: UN Convention on the Carriage of Goods by Sea establishing alternative framework for maritime transport (though less relevant as US is not a signatory)

The Rotterdam Rules: Modern international convention addressing electronic commerce and multimodal transport (not ratified by US but important for international context)

UCC Article 7: Uniform Commercial Code section governing documents of title, including bills of lading in domestic commerce

UCC Article 2: Uniform Commercial Code section governing sales transactions, which interfaces with bills of lading as documents of title

Federal Maritime Commission Regulations: Administrative rules governing ocean transportation intermediaries and carrier practices

US Customs and Border Protection Requirements: Regulatory requirements for documentation and reporting in international shipping

Department of Transportation Regulations: Federal rules governing transportation safety and documentation requirements across modes

State-Specific Maritime Laws: Various state-level regulations affecting bills of lading and maritime commerce within state jurisdictions