PART III ELECTRONIC COMMERCE IN CARRIAGE OF GOODS
Section 25. Actions Related to Contracts of Carriage of Goods. – without derogating from the provisions of Part Two of this Act, this Chapter applies to any action in connection with, or in pursuance of, a contract of carriage of goods, including but not limited to:
(a) (i) furnishing the marks, number, quantity or weight of goods;
(ii) stating or declaring the nature or value of goods;
(iii) issuing a receipt for goods;
(iv) confirming that goods have been loaded;
(b) (i) notifying a person of terms and conditions of the contract;
(ii) giving instructions to a carrier;
(c) (i) claiming delivery of goods;
(ii) authorizing release of goods;
(iii) giving notice of loss of, or damage to goods;
(d) giving any other notice or statement in connection with the performance of the contract;
(e) undertaking to deliver goods to a named person or a person authorized to claim delivery;
(f) granting, acquiring, renouncing, surrendering, transferring or negotiating rights in goods;
(g) acquiring or transferring rights and obligations under the contract.
Section 26. Transport Documents. – (1) Subject to paragraph (3), where the law requires that any action referred to in Section 25 be carried out in writing or by using a paper document, that requirement is met if the action is carried out by using one or more electronic data messages or electronic documents.
(a) Paragraph (1) applies whether the requirement there in is in the form of an obligation or whether the law simply provides consequences for failing either to carry out the action in writing or to use a paper document.
(b) If a right is to be granted to, or an obligation is to be acquired by, one person and no person, and if the law requires that, in order to effect this, the right or obligation must be conveyed to that person by the transfer, or use of, a paper document, that requirement is met if the right or obligation is conveyed by using one or more electronic data messages or electronic documents: Provided, that a reliable method is used to render such electronic data messages or electronic documents unique.
(c) For the purposes of paragraph (3), the standard of reliability required shall be assessed in the light of the purpose for which the right or obligation was conveyed and in the light of all the circumstances, including any relevant agreement.
(d) Where one or more electronic data messages or electronic documents are used to effect any action in subparagraph (f) and (g) of Section 25, no paper document used to effect any such action is valid unless the use of electronic data message or electronic document has been terminated and replaced by the used of paper documents. A paper document issued in these circumstances shall contain a statement of such termination. The re[placement of the electronic data messages or electronic documents by paper documents shall not affect the rights or obligation of the parties involved.
(e) If a rule of laws is compulsorily applicable to a contract of carriage of goods which is in, or is evidenced by, a paper document, that rule shall not be inapplicable to such a contract of carriage of goods which is evidenced by one or more electronic data messages or electronic documents by reason of the fact that the contract is evidenced by such electronic data message or electronic documents instead of by a paper document.