A Bill of Lading (B/L) is the core transport document for sea freight. It identifies the shipment, the parties involved, and the cargo movement from origin to destination. It also plays a central role in cargo release and documentation control.

What the B/L is used for

• shipment identity and routing (ports, vessel, voyage)
• cargo description, marks, and container details (for FCL)
• evidence of carriage terms between shipper and carrier
• release and documentation handling (depending on type)

Common B/L types (high level)

• Original B/L: may be used in certain trade arrangements
• Sea waybill: often used when title handling is not required
• Telex release / surrender: release method depends on the arrangement

Common mistakes

• consignee details don’t match invoice or instructions
• wrong cargo description or missing references
• late documentation finalisation that delays release

Quick checklist

• names and addresses match commercial documents
• container numbers and seal numbers are correct (for FCL)
• cargo description is consistent across invoice and packing list