Letter of Indemnity (LOI)
A promise to cover a carrier's loss for doing something its rules do not normally allow.
Most often used to release cargo against lost originals, or to switch a bill of lading. The carrier's own wording is generally non-negotiable.
On lost originals the LOI is usually counter-signed by a bank, and the guarantee commonly runs at 100% to 200% of cargo value for around six years — the limitation period for a claim. That guarantee is the slow and expensive part, not the carrier's paperwork.
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