Bill of Lading (B/L)

An essential document in maritime transport that:

• Confirms the existence of the transport contract.
• Serves as a receipt of goods.
• Grants the holder rights over the cargo.
• Is a negotiable financial instrument.

• Originated in medieval practices documented in the Book of the Consulate of the Sea.
• Modern regulation under the Hamburg Rules (1978) of the United Nations (UNCITRAL).

• Shipper: the person or company that ships the goods (exporter).
• Carrier: the shipping line transporting the goods.
• Consignee: the final recipient.
• Notify: the party to be informed upon arrival.

• Original: negotiable, issued in 3 physical originals with security features.
• Sea Waybill / Express Release: non-negotiable; used for shipments between affiliated companies or prepaid transactions.
• Telex Release: cancels the original documents and allows cargo release without presenting them.
• Switch B/L: a new set that replaces the original with modified details.

• Names and addresses of the shipper, consignee, and notify party.
• Vessel name, ports of loading and discharge, place of delivery.
• Booking number and initial mode of transport.