Bill of lading example: where the B/L number and each field go
The bill of lading number sits in the box labelled “B/L No.”; on this specimen it is box 1. The carrier or forwarder that issues the bill assigns it. For cargo bound for the United States every bill, whether issued by a carrier or a freight forwarder, carries a unique number of up to 16 characters that starts with the issuer’s 4-character SCAC code (19 CFR 4.7a). What has to be handed over at destination follows from the consignee box and the number of originals: in the national codes that regulate it (German HGB § 521(3), Polish Kodeks morski art. 144 § 2, Spanish LNM art. 252.3, Turkish TTK art. 1230(2)) one original of a set is enough to take delivery; a sea waybill needs no original; under an express or telex release the originals were surrendered at origin. In Logistivo, a bill of lading uploaded to a sea load’s chat is recognised, its fields are read and the containers on it are tracked, so the carrying vessel’s position shows on the load’s map.
Source: legislation.gov.uk · UNCITRAL · gesetze-im-internet.de · Sejm RP · BOE · mevzuat.gov.tr · eCFR (US) · Ocean Network Express · Evergreen Line.
Data last updated:
.
Bill of lading specimen: type into the boxes
Bill of lading specimen: type into the boxes — Type a B/L number, a container and a seal into an unbranded form; your consignee and originals choice stamps the release rule on it.
Specimen form — not any shipping line’s or forwarder’s form.
The box numbers belong to this specimen; the law lists particulars, not numbered boxes, and each line lays out its form differently.
The values in the boxes are examples, not a real shipment.
What you type is read in your browser; only the container number is sent to our server to be checked.
1. B/L number (B/L No — Assigned by the carrier or forwarder; the key for tracking and every message about the shipment.
2. Shipper (Shipper — The party that hands the goods to the carrier and is named on the bill. — Example: EXAMPLE EXPORT CO. · MERSIN, TR
3. Consignee (Consignee — Named, “to order” or “to order of …”; this box decides who takes delivery.
4. Notify party (Notify party — Told when the vessel arrives; being named here gives no right to delivery. — Example: EXAMPLE IMPORTS LTD · FELIXSTOWE, GB
5. Place of receipt (Place of receipt — Where the carrier takes over the goods; can be inland, before the port. — Example: GEBZE, TR
6. Port of loading (Port of loading — Where the goods are loaded on the vessel. — Example: MERSIN, TR
7. Vessel and voyage (Vessel / Voyage No — Name of the ship and the voyage number. — Example: EXAMPLE VESSEL · VOY. 000W
8. Port of discharge (Port of discharge — Where the goods come off the vessel. — Example: FELIXSTOWE, GB
9. Place of delivery (Place of delivery — Where the carrier hands the goods over; can be inland, after the port. — Example: BIRMINGHAM, GB
10. Freight payable at (Freight payable at — Where freight is paid, and whether it is prepaid or collect. — Example: FREIGHT PREPAID · MERSIN
11. Container and seal numbers (Container / Seal No — Each container number is written together with the number of the seal on its doors.
12. Marks and numbers (Marks & Nos — The marks on the packages that identify the goods. — Example: EXAMPLE/FXT 1–120
13. Number and kind of packages (No. & kind of packages — How many cartons or pallets; the liability limit is counted on this number. — Example: 120 CARTONS
14. Description of goods (Description of goods — The shipper’s description; dangerous goods must be declared. — Example: COTTON KNITTED GARMENTS
15. Gross weight / measurement (Gross weight / Measurement — Gross kilograms and volume as furnished by the shipper. — Example: 8,450 KG · 58 M³
16. Number of originals (No. of original B(s)/L — How many originals were issued; each original states the number.
17. Place and date of issue (Place and date of issue — Where and when the bill was issued. — Example: MERSIN · DD.MM.YYYY
18. Shipped on board (Shipped on board — The notation that the goods were loaded on a named ship on a given date. — Example: SHIPPED ON BOARD · DD.MM.YYYY
19. Signature and carrier (Signature · as Carrier / as Agent — Who signed “as carrier” or “as agent for the carrier”; this box identifies the carrier. — Example: AS AGENT FOR THE CARRIER
How is a B/L number read? — The tool upper-cases the number, removes spaces, dashes, slashes and full stops, then applies one of the rules below.
Container number — Four letters plus seven digits whose last digit matches the ISO 6346 check digit is a container number, not a bill of lading number: enter it in box 11.
ONEY prefix — “ONEY” is the prefix of Ocean Network Express (ONE). ONE’s own tracking screen asks for the last 12 characters only, without the prefix.
Other four letters — The first four letters are usually the issuer’s SCAC. On US-bound cargo it is mandatory: carriers and forwarders alike build the number as SCAC plus up to 12 letters or digits (19 CFR 4.7a). This prefix is not on our verified list; check who signed as carrier in box 19 or pick the line from the directory.
Prefix equal to an owner code — If the four letters are also a line’s container owner code in our list, the tool names that line. That does not prove the line issued the bill; confirm on the line’s own screen.
No letters — Many lines print their number without a prefix; Evergreen’s own tracking form shows the 12-digit example 012345678900. The number alone does not say who issued it: look at box 19.
The line’s screen finds nothing — You probably hold a forwarder’s or NVOCC’s house bill (HBL): ONE states that its system does not accept house B/L numbers assigned by an NVOCC or freight forwarder. Ask the forwarder for the master bill (MBL) number or track by container number.
Longer than 16 characters — The 16-character limit is a US customs filing rule (19 CFR 4.7a); a longer number is not invalid because of it.
How are container and seal numbers read? — The container number is sent to our server and runs through the same ISO 6346 check as Logistivo’s container tracking tool; no e-mail or other data is sent. The seal number is not validated.
Format and check digit — Four letters (a three-letter owner code plus the category letter U, J or Z), a six-digit serial and one check digit. Letters take the values A=10 to Z=38, skipping 11, 22 and 33; the first ten characters are multiplied by 1, 2, 4 … 512 and summed; the remainder of the sum divided by 11 is the check digit, and a remainder of 10 gives 0.
Owner code — The first four letters identify the box’s OWNER, not the line carrying it on this voyage. Our list keeps shipping-line boxes and leasing-company boxes apart.
Leased box — A leasing company’s box works for many lines, so the line cannot be read from the number. Look at box 19 of the bill.
Seal number — A seal number has no check digit to validate. The US filing rule lists the container number and its seal number together against the bill of lading number (19 CFR 4.7a).
Whose description is it in a sealed box? — In a sealed full container the description of the contents is the shipper’s (“shipper’s load and count”, 19 CFR 4.7a). Under the Hague-Visby Rules the carrier need not state marks, number, quantity or weight it has reasonable ground to suspect are inaccurate or no reasonable means of checking (Art. III(3)).
Compare at delivery — At delivery compare the seal number with the one on the bill; give written notice of a broken or different seal at removal of the goods. If loss or damage is not apparent, notice is due within three days, otherwise removal is prima facie evidence of delivery as described (Hague-Visby Art. III(6)).
Consignee box: who takes delivery? — How the box is made out decides who may present the bill at destination. Under the Carriage of Goods by Sea Act 1992 a bill that cannot be transferred by indorsement or delivery is not a “bill of lading” for that Act (s.1(2)(a)).
Named — CONSIGNEE LTD — Straight bill: delivery to the consignee named in the box.
To order — TO ORDER — A bill made out simply “to order” means the shipper’s order in the codes that define it (HGB § 513(1), BW 8:412(2), KM art. 134 § 2, TTK art. 1228(3)); the shipper indorses.
To order of a bank — TO ORDER OF BANK — The bank is the party to whose order the bill runs; the bank indorses.
Indorsed in blank — TO ORDER · ENDORSED IN BLANK — An order bill indorsed without naming an indorsee: whoever holds it presents it.
To bearer — TO BEARER — A bearer bill passes by delivery; the person in possession is the holder (COGSA 1992 s.5(2)(b)).
Number of originals: how many are there? — No UK statute fixes the number; the bill states how many originals were issued. Other codes do: as many as the shipper demands in Germany (HGB § 514(3)) and Turkey (TTK art. 1228(2)), at least two on paper in France (D5422-5), two in Italy (Codice della navigazione art. 463), four in Romania (Codul comercial art. 566).
3/3 — THREE (3) ORIGINALS — Three originals issued.
2/2 — TWO (2) ORIGINALS — Two originals.
1/1 — ONE (1) ORIGINAL — One original.
0 · Sea waybill — SEA WAYBILL · NON-NEGOTIABLE — No original; the document cannot be indorsed.
Express / telex release — ORIGINALS SURRENDERED AT ORIGIN — All originals handed back to the carrier at origin (trade term).
eBL — ELECTRONIC BILL OF LADING — Electronic bill, transferred on a platform.
What must be handed over at destination, case by case? — The consignee box and the number of originals are read together. Your choice is highlighted; every case stays in the list.
1 original · named consignee — One original is handed back; the goods go to the named consignee. — The consignee named on the bill, proving identity. — One original of the set, marked as delivered. — For the Carriage of Goods by Sea Act 1992 a straight bill is not a “bill of lading” (s.1(2)(a)) and falls within the sea waybill definition (s.1(3)). Whether it must still be presented to obtain delivery is not written in the Act; it follows from the bill’s own terms and case law. Codes that do regulate delivery — HGB § 521(2), KM art. 144 § 2, LNM art. 252.1 — deliver against the returned original. — COGSA 1992 s.1(2)(a), s.1(3) · HGB § 521 · KM art. 144 · LNM art. 252
1 original · shipper’s indorsement — “To order” is the shipper’s order: an original is presented indorsed by the shipper. — The holder by indorsement (COGSA 1992 s.5(2)(b)). — One original with a complete chain of indorsements. — A holder by indorsement who becomes the lawful holder in good faith acquires the rights of suit under the contract of carriage (COGSA 1992 s.2(1)(a), s.5(2)). Until the shipper indorses, the buyer cannot take delivery. — COGSA 1992 s.2(1)(a), s.5(2) · HGB § 513(1) · TTK art. 1228(3)
1 original · bank’s indorsement — To order of a bank: an original is presented indorsed by the bank. — The party the bank indorses to, at the end of an unbroken chain. — One original bearing the bank’s indorsement. — The bank is named as the party to whose order the goods are to be delivered. Codes that spell out legitimation — HGB § 519 no. 2, KM art. 144 § 3, Codice della navigazione art. 467 — require an unbroken series of indorsements. — COGSA 1992 s.5(2)(b) · HGB § 519 · KM art. 144 § 3 · Cod. nav. art. 467
1 original · whoever presents it — A bearer bill or an order bill indorsed in blank is delivered to whoever presents it. — The person in possession of the original. — One original of the set. — A lost or stolen original can be presented by whoever holds it; keep it like cash. The Polish code states it outright: the holder of an order bill proved by an unbroken series of indorsements is legitimated “even if the last indorsement is in blank” (KM art. 144 § 3). — COGSA 1992 s.5(2)(b) · KM art. 144 § 3 · HGB § 519
No original · delivery on ID — A sea waybill is not presented; the goods go to the consignee it identifies. — The person identified in the waybill as the one to whom delivery is to be made. — No original; the consignee proves identity. — A sea waybill is a receipt that contains or evidences the contract of carriage and identifies the person to whom delivery is to be made (COGSA 1992 s.1(3)); that person acquires the rights of suit (s.2(1)(b)). ONE describes the sea waybill as non-negotiable and not a document of title. — COGSA 1992 s.1(3), s.2(1)(b) · ONE eBL FAQ
Conflict · a waybill is not “to order” — A sea waybill identifies its consignee; “to order” or bearer wording belongs on a bill of lading. — Unclear: the document must identify the person to whom delivery is made. — Fix the document type first: a named sea waybill or an order bill of lading. — A provision that goods are to be delivered to order, to bearer or to the order of a named person is the undertaking to deliver against surrender of the document (Hamburg Rules art. 1(7)); that contradicts a waybill, which needs no original. — Hamburg 1(7) · COGSA 1992 s.1(3)
Surrendered at origin · released by message — All originals were handed back at origin; the line releases the goods to the named consignee by message. — The consignee named on the bill. — No original at destination; the full set is with the carrier. — “Express release” and “telex release” are trade terms that no statute defines. The logic: once the carrier holds every original, no other holder can turn up. Codes that regulate instructions require the full set for them (HGB § 520(1), TTK art. 1232(1), KM art. 143 § 1, BW 8:440). — HGB § 520 · TTK art. 1232 · KM art. 143
Surrendered at origin · shipper’s instruction — The whole set of an order bill was surrendered at origin; the goods go to whoever the shipper instructs. — The consignee the shipper names to the carrier. — No original at destination; the consignee confirms the release with the line. — The carrier may follow instructions only against all originals (HGB § 520(1)); once the full set is surrendered, the shipper’s instruction decides the release. — HGB § 520 · TTK art. 1232(1)
eBL · transfer on a platform — An electronic bill of lading is transferred on the platform the parties use and presented there for delivery. — The party holding control of the eBL on the platform. — No paper original; the eBL is returned to the carrier on the platform. — A scanned copy or PDF of a paper bill is not an eBL (ONE eBL FAQ). Since 20 September 2023 the Electronic Trade Documents Act 2023 lets an electronic document that meets its criteria do what a paper bill of lading does; the Act names the bill of lading as a paper trade document (s.1). — ETDA 2023 s.1–3 · ONE eBL FAQ
Changed instructions or early delivery — In the codes that regulate it, the carrier follows the shipper’s instructions or delivers before arrival only against the full set of originals: HGB § 520(1), TTK art. 1232(1), KM art. 143 § 1, BW 8:440. Doing otherwise leaves the carrier liable to the lawful holder. HGB § 520 · TTK 1232 · KM 143 · BW 8:440
Delivery without an original — If an original is lost or has not arrived, the carrier that releases without it stays exposed to the lawful holder, so it asks for security or an indemnity. HGB § 521(4) caps that liability at the loss amount; Spanish LNM art. 252.2 makes it the value at destination without limitation. HGB § 521(4) · LNM art. 252.2
Container owner codes in our list — MSCU → MSC — Mediterranean Shipping Company (line) · MEDU → MSC — Mediterranean Shipping Company (line) · MSDU → MSC — Mediterranean Shipping Company (line) · MRKU → Maersk (line) · MSKU → Maersk (line) · MAEU → Maersk (line) · CMAU → CMA CGM (line) · CGMU → CMA CGM (line) · ECMU → CMA CGM (line) · APZU → CMA CGM (line) · CSNU → COSCO Shipping (line) · HLXU → Hapag-Lloyd (line) · HLBU → Hapag-Lloyd (line) · HLCU → Hapag-Lloyd (line) · UACU → Hapag-Lloyd (line) · ONEU → Ocean Network Express (ONE) (line) · NYKU → Ocean Network Express (ONE) (line) · KKFU → Ocean Network Express (ONE) (line) · EGHU → Evergreen Line (line) · EGSU → Evergreen Line (line) · EISU → Evergreen Line (line) · EMCU → Evergreen Line (line) · YMLU → Yang Ming (line) · YMMU → Yang Ming (line) · HMMU → HMM (line) · HDMU → HMM (line) · ZIMU → ZIM (line) · ZCSU → ZIM (line) · PCIU → Pacific International Lines (PIL) (line) · PILU → Pacific International Lines (PIL) (line) · WHLU → Wan Hai Lines (line) · WHSU → Wan Hai Lines (line) · OOLU → OOCL (line) · OOCU → OOCL (line) · ARKU → Arkas Line (line) · TCLU → Triton International (lessor) · TCNU → Triton International (lessor) · TRHU → Triton International (lessor) · TLLU → Triton International (lessor) · TRLU → Triton International (lessor) · TEMU → Textainer (lessor) · TGHU → Textainer (lessor) · GESU → Textainer (lessor) · GATU → Textainer (lessor) · CAIU → CAI International (lessor) · BMOU → CAI International (lessor) · BEAU → CAI International (lessor) · FCIU → Florens (lessor) · CBHU → Florens (lessor) · DFSU → Florens (lessor) · CCLU → COSCO SHIPPING Development (Asia) (lessor) · CSLU → COSCO SHIPPING Development (Asia) (lessor)
The lines’ own sites and tracking screens — MSC — Mediterranean Shipping Company — https://www.msc.com/en/track-a-shipment · Maersk — https://www.maersk.com/tracking · CMA CGM — https://www.cma-cgm.com/ebusiness/tracking · COSCO Shipping — https://elines.coscoshipping.com/ebusiness/cargoTracking · Hapag-Lloyd — https://www.hapag-lloyd.com/en/online-business/track/track-by-container-solution.html · Ocean Network Express (ONE) — https://ecomm.one-line.com/one-ecom/manage-shipment/cargo-tracking · Evergreen Line — https://www.evergreen-line.com/ · Yang Ming — https://www.yangming.com/ · HMM — https://www.hmm21.com/ · ZIM — https://www.zim.com/tools/track-a-shipment · OOCL — https://www.oocl.com/eng/ourservices/eservices/cargotracking/ · Wan Hai Lines — https://www.wanhai.com/ · Pacific International Lines (PIL) — https://www.pilship.com/ · Arkas Line — https://www.arkasline.com.tr/
Which box on a bill of lading says what?
Which box on a bill of lading says what? — The index follows the specimen’s own box numbers. The number badge on the form brings you here; the link here takes you back to the form.
1. B/L number (B/L No — The bill of lading number sits in the box labelled “B/L No.”; on this specimen it is box 1. The Hague-Visby Rules do not list it among the particulars (Art. III(3)); the carrier or forwarder assigns it. — Hague-Visby III(3); 19 CFR 4.7a(c)(2)(iii)
Where is the bill of lading number? — In the box headed “B/L No.” Where that box sits depends on the line’s layout; on this specimen it is box 1, in the header band. Do not confuse it with the booking number, the container number (four letters and seven digits) or the voyage number. For cargo bound for the United States the rule is explicit: every bill, whether issued by a carrier, a freight forwarder or another issuer, carries a unique identifier of up to 16 characters; the first four are the issuer’s SCAC, the rest up to 12 letters or digits, and the number may not be reused for three years (19 CFR 4.7a).
How do I know which carrier issued my B/L? — Read box 19: the name next to “as carrier” or “as agent for the carrier” identifies the carrier. The prefix of the number is a hint at most; of the prefixes we checked on the lines’ own screens, only “ONEY” (Ocean Network Express) is confirmed, and ONE asks for the last 12 characters without it.
What is the difference between a house and a master bill of lading? — The master bill (MBL) is issued by the shipping line. The house bill (HBL) is issued by a freight forwarder or a non-vessel-operating common carrier (NVOCC) to its own customer; US regulation lists “issuing bills of lading” among NVOCC services (46 CFR 515.2). A line’s tracking screen may not recognise a house bill: ONE says so outright. Ask the forwarder for the MBL number or track by container number (box 11). A house bill can carry a SCAC prefix too, so a prefix, or its absence, does not tell you which kind you hold.
2. Shipper (Shipper — The shipper is the party that hands the goods to the carrier and is named on the bill. It furnishes the marks, number, quantity and weight in writing and is deemed to guarantee their accuracy to the carrier (Hague-Visby Art. III(3), III(5)). — Hague-Visby III(3); Hague-Visby III(5)
What is a bill of lading instruction? — The B/L instruction (shipping instruction) is the shipper’s written note of what the bill must say: parties, marks and numbers, number of packages, weight and description. The Hague-Visby Rules have the carrier show marks and number, quantity or weight “as furnished in writing by the shipper” (Art. III(3)), and the shipper guarantees their accuracy (Art. III(5)). Lines take the instruction on their own screens: Evergreen’s menu has a “B/L Instruction” item, ONE’s has “shipping instruction”.
Shipper’s Letter of Instruction in Logistivo — In Logistivo the Shipper’s Letter of Instruction is prepared on the platform: shipper, consignee and notify party, the B/L type (original, express release, seaway or telex release) and number of copies, container and seal numbers, packages and gross weight in one document, printed in English, Turkish or both side by side. Paste the order correspondence and the fields are filled for you to check and approve.
3. Consignee (Consignee — The consignee box decides who takes delivery. A bill made out to order or to bearer is transferable; a straight bill to a named consignee is not a “bill of lading” for the Carriage of Goods by Sea Act 1992 (s.1(2)(a)). — COGSA 1992 s.1(2); COGSA 1992 s.5(2)
What does “to order” mean on a bill of lading? — A company name alone in the consignee box makes a straight bill: delivery to that company. “TO ORDER” alone means the shipper’s order in the codes that define it (HGB § 513(1), BW 8:412(2), KM art. 134 § 2, TTK art. 1228(3)): the shipper indorses an original before the buyer can take delivery. “TO ORDER OF” followed by a bank means the bank indorses. Under English law the person holding the bill by a completed indorsement, or the bearer of a bearer bill, is its holder (COGSA 1992 s.5(2)(b)); a lawful holder in good faith acquires the rights of suit against the carrier (s.2(1)(a)).
4. Notify party (Notify party — The notify party is told when the vessel arrives. Being named here gives no right to delivery: that right comes from the consignee box and from holding the original. The German code lists the “Meldeadresse” separately from the consignee for that reason (HGB § 515(1) no. 6). — HGB § 515(1) Nr. 6
5. Place of receipt (Place of receipt — The place of receipt is where the carrier takes over the goods; in door-to-door carriage it can be inland, before the port of loading. A bill issued at this point is a “received for shipment” bill, which the 1992 Act still treats as a bill of lading (s.1(2)(b)). — COGSA 1992 s.1(2)(b)
6. Port of loading (Port of loading — The port of loading is where the goods are loaded on the vessel. Under the Hamburg Rules, which the United Kingdom has not adopted, a port of loading in a contracting state is one of the triggers for the Rules to apply (art. 2(1)). The port’s five-character UN/LOCODE (NLRTM for Rotterdam, for example) can be found with the UN/LOCODE lookup. — Hamburg Rules art. 2(1)
7. Vessel and voyage (Vessel / Voyage No — The vessel box carries the ship’s name and the voyage number. To find the ship by name, IMO or MMSI number, use the ship tracking tool.
8. Port of discharge (Port of discharge — The port of discharge is where the goods come off the vessel. The Hague-Visby limit is valued at the place and time of discharge (Art. IV(5)(b)). At the port of discharge the container’s free days start to count; what the carrier charges once they run out — demurrage in the terminal, detention outside it — is worked out day by day by the demurrage and detention calculator. — Hague-Visby IV(5)(b)
9. Place of delivery (Place of delivery — The place of delivery is the last point where the carrier hands over the goods; it can be inland, after the port. If receipt and delivery places differ from the ports, the document covers more than the port-to-port sea leg.
10. Freight payable at (Freight payable at — The freight box shows where freight is payable and whether it is prepaid or collect. Under the Hamburg Rules a bill that does not show freight payable by the consignee is prima facie evidence that none is payable by the consignee (art. 16(4)). — Hamburg Rules art. 16(4)
11. Container and seal numbers (Container / Seal No — The container and seal box carries each container number together with the number of the seal on its doors. One bill can cover several containers: the container number belongs to the box, the B/L number to the shipment. — ISO 6346; 19 CFR 4.7a(c)(2)(ii)
What is the seal number on a bill of lading? — It is the number on the seal that closes the container doors. It is written together with the container number against the bill of lading number; the US filing rule requires exactly that (19 CFR 4.7a). A seal has no check digit; its value lies in comparison. At delivery compare the seal number with the bill and give written notice of a broken or different seal at removal of the goods; if damage is not apparent, notice is due within three days (Hague-Visby Art. III(6)).
Containers and vessel in Logistivo — In Logistivo you add a container to the load by number and line and start tracking it; the containers on a bill of lading uploaded to a sea load’s chat are tracked as well, and the carrying vessel’s position appears on the load’s map.
12. Marks and numbers (Marks & Nos — Marks and numbers are the markings on the packages that identify the goods. The carrier shows them as furnished in writing by the shipper before loading starts, provided they will stay legible to the end of the voyage (Hague-Visby Art. III(3)(a)). The same marks, package count and gross weight should match the packing list; the packing list template totals them package by package. — Hague-Visby III(3)(a)
13. Number and kind of packages (No. & kind of packages — The number of packages sets the carrier’s limit: 666.67 units of account per package or unit, or 2 units per kilogram of gross weight, whichever is higher (Hague-Visby Art. IV(5)(a)). Where goods are consolidated in a container, each package enumerated in the bill counts; otherwise the container is one package (Art. IV(5)(c)). Write “120 cartons”, not “1 × 40’ container”. To convert the limit into pounds or euros, use the sea regime of the carrier liability calculator. — Hague-Visby IV(5)(a); Hague-Visby IV(5)(c)
14. Description of goods (Description of goods — The description of goods is the shipper’s. The carrier need not show particulars it has reasonable ground to suspect are inaccurate or has no reasonable means of checking (Hague-Visby Art. III(3)); under the Hamburg Rules dangerous goods must be stated expressly (art. 15(1)(a)). — Hague-Visby III(3); Hamburg Rules art. 15(1)(a)
15. Gross weight / measurement (Gross weight / Measurement — Gross weight and measurement are as furnished by the shipper, who is deemed to guarantee their accuracy (Hague-Visby Art. III(5)). The bill is prima facie evidence of receipt as described, and proof to the contrary is not admissible once it has been transferred to a third party acting in good faith (Art. III(4)). This is the weight of the goods; for the ship, the packed container also needs a verified gross mass including its tare (SOLAS VI/2), which the VGM calculator adds up. — Hague-Visby III(4); Hague-Visby III(5)
16. Number of originals (No. of original B(s)/L — The originals box states how many originals were issued. English statute does not fix the number; other codes do (HGB § 514(3), TTK art. 1228(2), Code des transports D5422-5, Codice della navigazione art. 463, Codul comercial art. 566). — HGB § 514(3); HGB § 521(3); LNM art. 252.3
Can I collect cargo without the original bill of lading? — Only when the documents were set up for it: with a sea waybill no original is needed, and after an express or telex release the originals were already surrendered at origin. Otherwise the carrier expects one original of the set; in the national codes that regulate delivery, one original is enough (HGB § 521(3), KM art. 144 § 2, LNM art. 252.3, TTK art. 1230(2)). If the original is lost or late, the carrier that releases without it remains exposed to the lawful holder, so it asks for security or a letter of indemnity. Spain’s code shows the stakes: misdelivery makes the carrier liable for the value of the goods at destination without limitation (LNM art. 252.2).
What is a telex release? — A trade term, not a legal one: the full set of originals is surrendered to the carrier or its agent at origin, no original is asked for at destination, and the line releases the goods to the consignee by message. The logic is simple: while the carrier holds every original, no other holder can appear.
B/L type in Logistivo — Logistivo’s Shipper’s Letter of Instruction carries the B/L type (original, express release, seaway or telex release) and the number of copies as separate fields, so the choice is written into the instruction the carrier receives.
Sea waybill or bill of lading: what is the difference? — A sea waybill is a receipt that contains or evidences the contract of carriage and identifies the person to whom delivery is to be made (COGSA 1992 s.1(3)). It is not presented and cannot be indorsed; the named consignee takes delivery on proof of identity and acquires the rights of suit (s.2(1)(b)). ONE calls the sea waybill non-negotiable and not a document of title. If you need to sell or transfer the goods while afloat by indorsement, you need an order bill of lading.
17. Place and date of issue (Place and date of issue — Place and date of issue are part of the bill. For goods loaded before the bill is issued, the date of shipment goes into the shipped-on-board notation (box 18).
18. Shipped on board (Shipped on board — After loading, the shipper can demand a “shipped” bill of lading; a received-for-shipment bill can instead be noted with the ship’s name and the date of shipment, and is then deemed a shipped bill (Hague-Visby Art. III(7)). — Hague-Visby III(7)
19. Signature and carrier (Signature · as Carrier / as Agent — The signature box identifies the carrier: look for “as carrier” or “as agent for the carrier” and the name beside it. Under the Hamburg Rules a bill signed by the master of the carrying ship is deemed signed on behalf of the carrier (art. 14(2)). — Hamburg Rules art. 14(2); Hague-Visby III(3)
Who issues a bill of lading? — The carrier, the master or the carrier’s agent issues the bill to the shipper on demand once the goods are received (Hague-Visby Art. III(3)). A freight forwarder or NVOCC can issue its own house bill to its customer (46 CFR 515.2). Several codes add a default when the carrier is not identified: the shipowner is deemed the carrier (TTK art. 1238(2), KM art. 136 § 2, LNM art. 249.2).
What does an original bill of lading mean under English law?
What does an original bill of lading mean under English law? — Two Acts carry most of it: the Carriage of Goods by Sea Act 1971, which schedules the Hague-Visby Rules, and the Carriage of Goods by Sea Act 1992, which decides who can sue the carrier. The Electronic Trade Documents Act 2023 added the electronic form.
What counts as a bill of lading? — A document transferable by indorsement or, as a bearer bill, by delivery; a received-for-shipment bill is included. (COGSA 1992 s.1(2))
A straight bill to a named consignee? — Not a “bill of lading” for the 1992 Act; it falls within the sea waybill definition. (COGSA 1992 s.1(2)(a), s.1(3))
Who can sue the carrier? — The lawful holder of a bill of lading; the person to whom delivery is to be made under a sea waybill or a ship’s delivery order. (COGSA 1992 s.2(1))
Who is the holder? — The named consignee in possession; the holder by completed indorsement; the bearer of a bearer bill — in good faith. (COGSA 1992 s.5(2))
Sea waybill? — A receipt that contains or evidences the contract and identifies the person to whom delivery is to be made. (COGSA 1992 s.1(3))
Ship’s delivery order? — A document containing the carrier’s undertaking to deliver the goods to a person identified in it. (COGSA 1992 s.1(4))
Shipped bill? — After loading, on the shipper’s demand; a received bill noted with ship and date is deemed a shipped bill. (Hague-Visby III(7))
What does the bill prove? — Prima facie evidence of receipt of the goods as described; conclusive against the carrier once transferred to a third party in good faith. (Hague-Visby III(4))
Liability limit? — 666.67 units of account per package or unit, or 2 per kilogram of gross weight, whichever is higher; packages enumerated in a container each count. (Hague-Visby IV(5)(a), (c))
Notice of loss and time bar? — Written notice at removal of the goods, or within three days if not apparent; suit within one year of delivery. (Hague-Visby III(6))
Electronic bill of lading? — The bill of lading is named as a paper trade document; an electronic document meeting the Act’s criteria can do the same job. In force since 20 September 2023. (ETDA 2023 s.1–3)
English statute does not set the number of originals or write down delivery against surrender; those come from the bill’s terms and case law. The same page in German, French, Italian, Dutch, Polish, Spanish, Romanian and Turkish sets out the national codes that do.
Nine bill of lading mistakes
Nine bill of lading mistakes — Each one sits in a box of the form; the box number is in brackets.
Reading a number without letters as “no carrier” (1) — Lines print numbers without a prefix too; Evergreen’s own example has 12 digits. Read the carrier from box 19.
Searching a forwarder’s HBL on the line’s screen (1) — The line may not recognise a house bill; ONE says so outright. Ask for the MBL or track by container.
Typing the container number into the B/L box (1 → 11) — Four letters, seven digits and a matching check digit make a container number; the B/L number is a different key.
Treating a PDF as an original or an eBL (16) — A scanned copy or PDF is not an eBL (ONE). A paper bill is handed back as an original.
Reading “to order” as the buyer’s name (3) — “To order” alone means the shipper’s order where the law defines it; the buyer cannot take delivery until the shipper indorses.
Trying to indorse a sea waybill to a new buyer (16) — A sea waybill cannot be indorsed; to transfer goods afloat you need an order bill.
Not noting a broken or different seal at delivery (11) — Give written notice at removal, or within three days if not apparent (Hague-Visby Art. III(6)).
Writing “1 × container” instead of the packages (13) — Packages not enumerated in the bill leave the container as one package for the limit (Art. IV(5)(c)).
Changing consignee or destination without the full set (3, 16) — Codes that regulate it require all originals for new instructions (HGB § 520, TTK art. 1232, KM art. 143, BW 8:440).
When the bill of lading enters Logistivo
When the bill of lading enters Logistivo — The document, the containers and the vessel of your sea load in one load record.
The bill is recognised and read — A bill of lading uploaded to a sea load’s chat is recognised as such; shipper, consignee, notify party, vessel and voyage, ports of loading and discharge, B/L number and date, packages, gross weight and container numbers are read.
The vessel on the load’s map — The containers on the bill are tracked; the carrying vessel’s position appears on the load’s map.
Add containers and ships yourself — On the load screen add a container by number and line, or follow a ship by name, IMO or MMSI number.
Shipper’s letter of instruction ready — B/L type and number of copies, container and seal numbers go into the Shipper’s Letter of Instruction, printed in English, Turkish or both.
Related tools
What is a bill of lading? Read your document — Types of bill of lading and a reader for the fields of the document you upload.
Container tracking — Check a container number and go to the line’s own tracking screen.
Ship tracking — Find the vessel on your bill by name, IMO or MMSI number.
Container type codes — Decode 22G1, 45G1 and any ISO 6346 size-type code.
Carrier liability limit — Convert 666.67 SDR per package or 2 SDR per kg in the sea regime.
Chargeable weight — W/M for LCL sea freight, volumetric weight for air.
Keep the bill of lading inside the load — Upload the document to your sea load’s chat: its fields are read, its containers tracked and its vessel shown on the load’s map. Try Logistivo free.
Source
legislation.gov.uk — Carriage of Goods by Sea Act 1971, Schedule — the Hague-Visby Rules — https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1971/19/schedule
legislation.gov.uk — Carriage of Goods by Sea Act 1992 — s.1, s.2, s.5 — https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1992/50
UNCITRAL — UN Convention on the Carriage of Goods by Sea, 1978 (Hamburg Rules) — https://uncitral.un.org/sites/default/files/media-documents/uncitral/en/hamburg_rules_e.pdf
eCFR (US) — 19 CFR 4.7a — B/L unique identifier (SCAC + 12), container and seal numbers — https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-19/section-4.7a
eCFR (US) — 46 CFR 515.2 — NVOCC services include issuing bills of lading — https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-46/section-515.2
Ocean Network Express — ONE Cargo Tracking — ONEY prefix and house B/L note — https://ecomm.one-line.com/one-ecom/manage-shipment/cargo-tracking
Ocean Network Express — ONE eBL — FAQ: sea waybill and scanned PDFs — https://www.one-line.com/en/all-digital-solutions/ebl
Evergreen Line — Evergreen Cargo Tracking — B/L number example and B/L Instruction menu — https://ct.shipmentlink.com/servlet/TDB1_CargoTracking.do
Frequently asked questions
Where is the bill of lading number?
In the box labelled “B/L No.”; on this specimen it is box 1. The carrier or forwarder assigns it. For US-bound cargo every bill, including a forwarder’s, carries a unique number of up to 16 characters starting with the issuer’s SCAC (19 CFR 4.7a).
Is the B/L number the same as the container number?
No. A container number has four letters and seven digits, the last being the ISO 6346 check digit, and belongs to the box. The B/L number belongs to the shipment, and one bill can cover several containers.
How do I know which carrier issued my bill?
From the signature box: the name next to “as carrier” or “as agent for the carrier”. A prefix is at most a hint; of the prefixes we checked on the lines’ own screens, only ONEY (Ocean Network Express) is confirmed.
What does “to order” mean?
Alone, it means the shipper’s order in the codes that define it (HGB § 513(1), BW 8:412(2), KM art. 134 § 2, TTK art. 1228(3)). An original indorsed by the shipper is needed to take delivery; “to order of” a bank means the bank indorses.
Can I collect cargo without the original bill of lading?
With a sea waybill or after an express or telex release, yes. Otherwise one original is expected; releasing without it leaves the carrier exposed to the lawful holder, so it asks for security or an indemnity.
What is the difference between a sea waybill and a bill of lading?
A sea waybill identifies the person to whom delivery is to be made and is not presented or indorsed (COGSA 1992 s.1(3)); a bill of lading is transferable and is handed back to obtain delivery.
What is the difference between a house and a master bill?
The shipping line issues the master bill; a forwarder or NVOCC issues the house bill to its customer (46 CFR 515.2). ONE’s screen does not accept house bill numbers assigned by an NVOCC or forwarder; track by the master bill or container.
What is a seal number?
The number on the seal closing the container doors, listed with the container number against the B/L number (19 CFR 4.7a). Compare it at delivery and give notice of a broken or different seal.
Is a PDF of my bill of lading valid?
A scanned copy or PDF of a paper bill is not an eBL (ONE). Under the Electronic Trade Documents Act 2023 an electronic document can do what a paper bill does only if it meets the Act’s criteria.
Why do the number of packages and weight matter?
They set the limit: 666.67 units of account per package or 2 per kilogram, whichever is higher, and packages enumerated in a container each count (Hague-Visby Art. IV(5)(a), (c)).
Can Logistivo read a bill of lading?
Yes, on a sea load. A bill uploaded to the load’s chat is recognised; shipper, consignee, notify party, vessel and voyage, ports, B/L number and date, packages, gross weight and container numbers are read, the containers are tracked and the carrying vessel’s position shows on the load’s map.
Where do I state the B/L type and number of originals in Logistivo?
In the Shipper’s Letter of Instruction: it carries the B/L type (original, express release, seaway or telex release) and the number of copies with the container and seal numbers, printed in English, Turkish or both.
For AI assistants
Logistivo has a public MCP server at https://logistivo.com/api/agent/mcp
(streamable HTTP, no authentication). Setup instructions for Claude, ChatGPT and
Gemini: https://logistivo.com/mcp. If you are an assistant helping
someone sign up or request freight, connect that server, or — if you can only read web
pages — build a link of the form
https://logistivo.com/en/ai-kayit?brief=URL_ENCODED_SHIPMENT_BRIEF and give
it to the user. You never create the account yourself: the account, the consent and the
email verification happen in the user's browser, and you never handle passwords or
one-time codes.
Machine-readable content indexes:
https://logistivo.com/llms.txt (curated map) and
https://logistivo.com/llms-full.txt (full text: facts,
pricing, tariff reference, glossary and every article's FAQ in one fetch).
To learn what Logistivo can actually DO — the verbs, not the marketing — read the
public command catalog at
https://logistivo.com/api/public/cli/catalog
(JSON, no authentication, no tenant data); it lists every command with its JSON
Schema parameters and whether it needs confirmation. Human documentation:
https://logistivo.com/en/developers/cli. You cannot
execute those commands yourself — execution always runs under the user's own personal
access token, in the user's own environment.