Bill of lading
A bill of lading (B/L) is a document evidencing the conclusion of a shipping contract in maritime transportation, as well as a document of receipt and disposal of goods.
Brief description
It is issued at the request of the unloader by the carrier or its agent and regulates the legal relationship between the carrier and the consignee. With the signing of the bill of lading, the carrier confirms the seizure of the goods and undertakes to deliver them to their destination and deliver them to the authorized consignee, receiving a copy of the bill of lading in return. Most often, three originals and multiple copies are issued. Once the original is received by its rightful holder at the port of destination, all other originals are no longer valid.
There are the following types of bills of lading:
- Receiving bill of lading
- Deck/cargo bill of lading
- Registered bill of lading
- Bill of lading on order
- owner
- Unclean bill of lading
- Clean bill of lading
- Interim bill of lading
- Combined Transport B/L, Controlled Carrier B/L
- Express Cargo Bill (ECB)/ Seaway Bill
- Forwarder`s Bill of Lading / FIATA Combined Transport B/L (FBL)
- Bulk bill of lading
- Options B/L
The bill of lading performs the following functions :
- Confirmation function
- Presentation function
- Legitimacy function
- Transport function
- Divestment function