Bill of Lading
The contract between the shipper and the carrier for transporting goods by sea.
What It Is
A bill of lading (B/L or BOL) serves three functions:
- Receipt — Confirms the carrier received the goods
- Contract — Terms of carriage between shipper and carrier
- Document of title — Holder has claim to the goods
Types
| Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Ocean B/L | Standard for sea freight |
| Multimodal B/L | Covers multiple transport modes |
| House B/L | Issued by freight forwarder |
| Master B/L | Issued by shipping line |
When It's Required
Required for all sea freight shipments. Air shipments use an Air Waybill instead.
Required Fields
| Field | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Shipper | The party shipping the goods |
| Consignee | The party receiving the goods |
| Notify party | Party to be notified on arrival |
| Vessel name | Ship carrying the goods |
| Voyage number | Specific voyage |
| Port of loading | Where goods are loaded |
| Port of discharge | Where goods are unloaded |
| Description of goods | Cargo description |
| Number of packages | Package count |
| Gross weight | Total weight |
| Container numbers | For containerized cargo |
Klervex Validation
Klervex validates that:
- Port codes are valid UN/LOCODE entries
- Transport mode is sea (B/L not valid for air)
- Incoterms are sea-compatible (FOB, CIF, CFR, FAS)