BILL OF LADING

• BILL OF LADING (B/L) IS A DOCUMENT ISSUED BY THE SHIPPING COMPANY OR ITS AGENT ACKNOWLEDGING THE RECEIPT OF GOODS ON BOARD THE VESSEL, AND UNDERTAKING TO DELIVER THE GOODS IN THE LIKE ORDER AND CONDITION AS RECEIVED, TO THE CONSIGNEE OR HIS ORDER , PROVIDED THE FREIGHT & OTHER CHARGES AS MENTIONED HAVE BEEN DULY PAID. IT IS ALSO A DOCUMENT OF TITLE TO THE GOODS & AS SUCH IS FREELY TRANSFERABLE BY ENDORSEMENT & DELIVERY.

• B/L SERVES THREE MAIN PURPOSES:

– AS A DOCUMENT OF TITLE TO THE GOODS

– AS A RECEIPT FROM THE SHIPPING COMPANY

– AS A CONTRACT FOR THE TRANSPORTATION OF THE GOODS.


TYPES OF BILL OF LADING

CLEAN BILL OF LADING - BILL OF LADING ACKNOWLEDGE RECEIPT OF GOODS APPARENTLY IN GOOD ORDER & CONDITION &  WITHOUT ANY QUALIFICATION IS A CLEAN BILL OF LADING SUCH BILL LADING DOES NOT CONTAIND ANY NEGATIVE REMARK ABOUT CONDITIONS OF GOODS.

CLAUSED BILL OFLADING - BILL OF LADING WITH A REMARK SUCH AS "GOODS INSUFFICIENTLY PACKED" IS KNOWN AS CLAUSED BILL OF LADING.

TRANSSHIPMENT OR THROUGH BILL OF LADING - FOR MULTI MODE TRANSPORTATION, OR WHEN ANOTHER SHIPPING COMPANY'S VESSEL IS USED, THIS BILL OF LADING IS USED.

STALE BILL OF LADING - BILL OF LADING HELD TO LONG (NORMALLY MORE THAN 21 DAYS), BEFORE NEGOTIATION, IS TERMED  AS STALE BILL OF LADING.

FREIGHT PAID BILL OF LADING - BILL OF LADING ISSUED WHEN FREIGHT IS PAID AT THE TIME OF SHIPMENT IS A FREIGHT PAID BULL OF LADING.

FREIGHT COLLECT BILL OF LADING - BILL OF LADING ISSUED WHEN FREIGHT IS NOT PAID AT THE TIME OF SHIPMENTS AND IS TO0 BE COLLECT FROM CONSIGNEE IS A FREIGHT COLLECT BILL OF LADING.

CONTENTS OF THE BILL OF LADING

- NAME AND LOGO OF THE SHIPPING LINE.
- NAME AND ADDRESS OF SHIPPER.
- NAME AND NUMBER OF VESSEL.
- NAME OF THE PORT OF LADING, PORT OF DISCHARGE AND PLACE OF DELIVERY.
- MARKS AND CONTAINER NUMBER AND CONTAINER SEAL NUMBER.
- TOTAL NUMBER OF PACKAGES AND CONTAINERS.
- DESCRIPTION OF GOODS, GROSS WEIGHT, VOLUME.
- AMOUNT OF FREIGHT PAID OR TO BE COLLECT.
- SHIPPING BILL NUMBER AND DATE.
- SIGNATURE AND INITIALS OF THE CHIEF OFFICER.