BILL OF LADING, the easy way to understand the B/L format

B/L ( bill of lading ): 

A bill of lading is a legal document between the shipper of goods and the carrier detailing the type, quantity and destination of the goods being carried.

In the bill of loading every part or section is very important to understand and to be recognized, but in my article i separate the important parts that a beginner importer or exporter should at least have the knowledge about them.  

IMPORTANT PARTS OF BILL OF LADING: 

B/L Number: is the unique number provided to the shipment covered under a specific bill of lading. This is allocated by the shipping line and must be quoted by the client for any queries, sailing info, arrival info, claims etc..

Shipper: shipper or exporter or seller, as the party responsible for initiating a shipment, and who may also bear the freight cost.

Consignee: consignee is the entity who is financially responsible (the buyer) for the receipt of a shipment. Generally, but not always, the consignee is the same as the receiver. But it could also be a bank.

Notify party: the party to whom a notice of arrival must also be sent. Usually notify party is same like consignee but it could be a third party (actual buyer) or a forwarding agent.

Ocean vassal: name of the vassal and voyage number.

Place of discharge: port or place where the container is discharged from the vessel.

Description: it include the container number, seal number, description of the goods, num. of packaging,  weight, L/C number, number of license, and kind of the container ( 20 feet, 40 feet) etc..   It can include more than one container in the same B/L .

Payable at: it declares who pay the transportation cost. For example If the sell is C.I.F it will be written: fright prepaid.

Date: is the date on which the original bill of lading is signed and released to the shipper or his agent, generally this date is on or after the container load on the vessel.

OTHER PARTS OF BILL OF LADING:

Reference Numbers: this number can be used to trace the shipments..

Carriers Agents: here the details of the agents at discharge port is usually recorded by the shipping line so that the destination agent of the client/forwarder can contact the shipping lines agents to query the status of the shipment or go for release etc..

Place of Receipt: it’s the place where the shipper delivers his cargo to the shipping line.

Port of Loading: This is the place from which the container is loaded by the carrier onto the Vessel.

Place of delivery: the final destination of the container.

Gross Weight: This is the weight of the cargo that is packed in the container and it does not include the tare weight of the container.

Measurement: Is the calculation of total volume of the cargo in the container.

Place of issue: the place where the original B/L signed and issued.

Number of originals: is the original number of the bill of lading that the shipper or client requires to release from the shipping line. Standard its 3 originals.