Sea bill of lading - what is it?

International transport requires the preparation of appropriate transport documentation. In the case of sea freight, the bill of lading is considered the most important document enabling the transport of goods on an international scale. What is this document and what should it contain? 

What is a sea bill of lading?

A bill of lading, also known as a bill of lading, is a document used in maritime transport that confirms the receipt and loading of goods on board a ship. In other words, it is a sea waybill. This document is delivered to the cargo recipient, based on which he can collect the goods at the destination port. Interestingly, the bill of lading is also a security that can be traded. As a result, the person who purchases the bill of lading gains not only the right to collect the transported cargo, but also to dispose of it. 

It is worth adding that the bill of lading is not synonymous with an agreement regarding the conditions of cargo transport. 

A bill of lading, i.e. a sea waybill, is issued by the shipowner or freight forwarder. It is issued in several copies, each of which is original. One of the originals is handed over by the carrier to the person responsible for loading after receiving the goods on board. 

What should a sea waybill contain?

The bill of landing is issued in accordance with the provisions of the Maritime Code (Article 136, paragraph 1), which specifies in detail what provisions should be included in it. The bill of lading must specify the carrier, shipper, ship name and indicate the recipient of the cargo or a statement that the document was issued to order or to the bearer. The sea waybill should include an entry specifying the cargo, taking into account its type, measure, volume, number of pieces, quantity or weight of the goods. The bill of landing also indicates the main signs necessary to identify the cargo (e.g. signs on individual pieces of cargo or its packaging - e.g. a container). The bill of lading also specifies the condition of the cargo and its packaging. An important entry is the indication of freight and other payments to the carrier and whether the payment has been made or will be made in accordance with the provisions of the transport contract. The sea waybill must include the date and place of issue and the place of loading and unloading. The document indicates the number of originals issued. Each bill of lading must also be signed by the carrier or the ship's captain. 

What are the types of bills of lading?

Sea transport enables a flexible approach to the needs of senders and recipients. Therefore, several different sea waybills have been introduced to take into account the specific needs of each transport. 

Several types of bills of lading are used in international trade. These include: Shipped and Received for Shipment, line and charter bills, electronic, direct, ordinary and transhipment bills. It is worth adding that the bill of lading may also refer to the condition of the goods received on board - Clean Bill of Lading informs about the goods in which no damage to the packaging or defects of the goods was found, and Dirty Bill of Lading indicates any reservations regarding the packaging or the condition of the goods. 

The sea waybill may also differ depending on the method of transporting the cargo. An ordinary bill of lading indicates transportation by one vessel to the destination port without the need for transhipment. A direct bill of lading, however, indicates the possibility of reloading in other ports and changing carriers in the case of transported cargo.  

Sea waybills may also differ depending on the person issuing and receiving the cargo. The bill of lading may be issued by the shipowner or freight forwarder. At the same time, it should specify the recipient of the cargo. In this case, it may be the person indicated in the bill of lading (personal bill of lading), the person indicated in the document or anyone who has acquired the right to do so, e.g. by purchasing the bill of lading as a security (bill of lading to order) and any person holding the bill of lading (bill of lading on bearer).