The traditional value of a bill of ladingis that the transference thereof is legally deemed as the transference of the title of the goods covered thereby. In a view to realizing such purpose，the bill of lading needs to be legalized as a document of title. By importing the principle of autonomy of will，the provisions of the Rotterdam Rules delete the compulsory nature of the function of the billof lading as a document of title. As a result，the credibility of the bill of lading has been dramatically weakened，which will throw negative impact on the traditional system of bill of lading. However，the Right of Control system under the Rotterdam Rules partly enhances the function of the bill of lading as a document of title. But due to the existence of time limit and some defenses，suchsystem fails to completely reinstall the credibility of the bill of lading.The advantages of the above mentioned provisions of the Rotterdam Rules must be absorbed by Chinese maritime law while the disadvantages shall becarefully avoided in future legislations.