Bill of Lading

You may already be familiar with the term bill of lading but what is it and why is it required?

All sea shipments are covered by a bill of lading also referred as BOL or B/L. This is a document that lists the cargo details as well as your details as shipper and consignee.

The bill of lading is a legal document and is evidence of a contract between you and the shipping line carrying the cargo. The terms and conditions are detailed on one side of the page and the cargo details on the other.

Visually a bill of lading can vary from one agent to another, however the common denominators and legalities of the document will be the same, the following information must be on the bill of lading:

•  Bill of lading number: number issued to your shipment, this is how your shipment is tracked
• Shipper details: company name and address of where the goods have been purchased from or from whom the goods are being sent from
• Consignee : name/and or company name and address of the person who will be receiving the goods
• Port of loading: country of origin the goods are being sent from
• Port of discharge: destination port the goods will arrive
• Place of delivery: final destination of goods
• Name of Vessel – details of ship
• Amount of packages
• Description of what the goods are
• Weight & volume of goods
• Terms of shipment – whether freight prepaid, free on board etc…this determines who is responsible for which payments throughout the shipment
• Date – the date the cargo reached the carrier – this is important and will determine which sea freight rates apply.

The information needed to produce the bill of lading includes:

• Shipper: the name and address and contact details of person shipping goods
• Consignee: the name and address and contact details of person receiving the goods
• Container number and seal number: where your goods will be stored during transit
• Cargo details: we can take this from your packing list

You will receive a set of 3 original bills of lading and a number of copies. The original signed documents are important documents needed to take delivery of the cargo at destination.

 When you receive original bills of lading take care of them!