A Bill of Lading, or BOL/B/L, is a transport document issued by a carrier to confirm receipt of cargo and set the terms of carriage. In shipping, it can serve as a cargo receipt, evidence of the contract of carriage, and in some cases a document of title. A bill of lading usually includes shipper, consignee, carrier, cargo description, quantity, weight, origin, destination, and handling details. It is essential for cargo movement, release, tracking, and claims.
A Bill of Lading is the foundational ocean freight document serving three functions: receipt for goods, contract of carriage, and document of title. A negotiable original B/L must be surrendered to release cargo at destination.
Types of Bills of Lading
- Negotiable (Original) B/L: title document; original must be presented for cargo release
- Express Release or Seaway Bill: non-negotiable; no original required
- House B/L (HBL): issued by forwarder to shipper
- Master B/L (MBL): issued by carrier to NVOCC or forwarder
Key Fields
- Shipper and consignee name and address
- Notify party
- Port of loading and port of discharge
- Description of goods, quantity, and weight
- Container and seal numbers
- Freight terms: prepaid or collect
For related logistics context, see Dedola’s ocean freight shipping services and glossary entries on Express Bill of Lading, NVOCC, Consignee, and FCL.
