B/L
DocumentationBill of Lading
The document a carrier issues to confirm it has received the cargo and will deliver it to the named party.
In practice
It does three jobs: it is a receipt for the goods, evidence of the contract of carriage, and (for a negotiable original) a document of title that must be surrendered to collect the cargo. Master and house B/Ls sit in a chain: the carrier issues the MBL to the forwarder, the forwarder issues the HBL to the shipper.
Seen in the wild
Draft B/L attached for your approval. Please check consignee and notify party before we release.
Watch out
A B/L draft is not a B/L. Nothing is issued until the vessel sails and the draft is confirmed.