In respect of Sea Freight (International Cargo transportation by Sea) a Bill of Lading (also referred as a B/L or BOL) is a document issued by an Ocean Freight Carrier acknowledging that specified goods have been received on board as cargo for conveyance to a named place for delivery to the consignee.

Besides other points related to an international shipment by sea an Ocean Freight Bill of Lading serves the following purposes:

1. It is an evidence of a contract of carriage between an ocean freight carrier and shipper;
2. It is a receipt for goods shipped by an International Transportation Company;
3. It is a document of title on shipped goods.

There are different types of ocean freight bill of ladings used by International Transportation Companies for export and import goods from and to US.

TWO MOST COMMONLY USED TYPES OF NON-NEGOTIABLE SEA FREIGHT BILL OF LADINGS:

• Express release ocean freight bill of lading = Telex release = Surrender and;
• Release endorsed upon providing a set of originals sea freight bill of ladings.

A NON-NEGOTIABLE sea freight bill of lading means that the document itself does not give title to the goods. The consignee (recipient of cargo) named in the ocean freight bill of lading must identify himself to claim the goods.

A NEGOTIABLE sea freight bill of lading Vs. NON-NEGOTIABLE issued “to the order of” is the title of the goods. I.e. the ocean freight bill of lading can be bought, sold or traded as goods are in transit.

EXPRESS RELEASE Seafreight bill of lading means that the consignee does not have to provide a set originals of Bill of Ladings in order to claim his/her goods at the destination. Sea freight shipments on express release (telex released) should be released at the destination upon surrender a copy of the ocean freight bill of lading. Express release B/L should contain the following statement -- “ZERO (0) – NO ORIGINALS REQUIRED FOR RELEASE”.

If a Seafreight bill of lading states “SET OF ORIGINAL REQUIRED”, then that means that goods cannot be released to the consignee unless the consignee had surrendered a set of originals ocean freight bill of ladings.

Find more about Seafreight bill of ladings used in ocean freight by International Transportation Companies in this link.

COPY OF SEA FREIGHT EXPRESS RELEASE BILL OF LADING IN E-MAIL:

Unless you had requested your Seafreight bill of lading upon set of originals in advance, upon your timely final payment of our freight invoice, in few days after Estimated Time of Departure (ETD) (sometimes it takes a little longer) we e-mail to shipper a copy of carriers Express Release Seafreight Bill of Lading in a file attached. Use the copy of the ocean freight Bill of Lading at a time of recovery of your cargo at the destination.

Notice: Several countries around the world, particularly Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, Certain countries in Africa, do not accept express releases. International Transportation Companies should specify it upon issue of bill of ladings. Then we will mail you a set of originals Bill of Ladings by USPS First Class Mail within USA/Canada for free. Expedited or international mail must be prepaid.

If shipper/receptionist requires a set of originals Seafreight bill of lading for shipments to countries that DO accept express release, then $50 fee will be added on top of cost of the mail.