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Carriage of Goods by Sea Act (COGSA) 1936: Primary federal law governing ocean bills of lading for international shipments to/from US ports. Establishes carrier liability limits, notice requirements, and time bar for claims.

Harter Act 1893: Federal legislation applying to domestic shipments, regulating liability between carriers and cargo owners, particularly during pre-loading and post-discharge periods.

Federal Bills of Lading Act (Pomerene Act): Governs the negotiability of bills of lading, establishes rights of holders, and defines liability for misrepresentation in bill of lading documentation.

Hague Rules: International convention establishing uniform rules for bills of lading in international trade, forming the basis for US COGSA.

Hague-Visby Rules: Updated version of Hague Rules with amended liability limits and additional provisions for containerized cargo.

Hamburg Rules: Alternative international convention providing different liability regime for ocean carriers, though not adopted by the United States.

Rotterdam Rules: Modern international convention addressing electronic commerce and door-to-door transport operations, pending wider international adoption.

Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) Article 7: State-level uniform law governing documents of title including bills of lading and negotiable instruments in commercial transactions.

Maritime Law/Admiralty Law: Body of common law principles and federal maritime jurisdiction governing maritime commerce and shipping operations.

Port Requirements: Local regulations and customs requirements specific to individual ports that affect bill of lading documentation and procedures.