What shall we do when we find a shortage in the shipment ?   You should do one of the two things - either to lodge a claim with the shipowner or with the insurance company .   Shall we leave it to the brokers ?   Yes . They usually do it .   Do they charge for that ?   Of course . In Europe , they charge a commission of 1 % of the amount of the claim for their service .   Is it the same in America ?   They do the work without charge to the importer .   It's part of their service , isn't it ?   Exactly .   Is it enough to claim with an on board bill of lading ?   No , you must also obtain a statement from the shipping agent certifying that the goods were actually loaded on their vessel for shipment .   I see . By the way , how do we prove the ownership of our goods ?   You must provide full original set of ocean bills of lading original insurance policy or certificate and the original commercia invoice .   I see . Thank you .   You are welcome . 