Sea Transport Documents Act, 2000 (Act No. 65 of 2000)

6. Evidence of shipment

Purchase

(a)	represents that goods have been shipped on board a vessel or have been received for shipment on board a vessel; and

(b)	has been signed by the master of the vessel or by another person who had the actual authority, whether express or implied, or the ostensible authority of the carrier to sign that document,

is, as against the carrier—

(i)	prima facie evidence in favour of a holder of the document, who is the shipper or other person to whom it was issued; and

(ii)	conclusive evidence in favour of a subsequent holder,

of the shipment of the goods or of their receipt for shipment, as the case may be.