In order to ensure the safe transfer of import and export goods, various documents need to be prepared during the whole transportation process. Each of these documents has its own specific purpose and is interdependent with each other. They not only link the ship, port and cargo together, but also distinguish their respective rights and business.

Introduce some major freight documents according to actual business procedures.

Shipping note (BOOKINGNOTE)

The consignment order, commonly known as the cargo paper, is a document that the shipper fills in according to the terms of the trade contract and the letter of credit to the carrier or its agent for the consignment of goods. The carrier accepts the consignment according to the contents of the consignment note and considering the ship's route, port of call, shipping date and shipping space and other conditions.

Shipping order (SHIPPINGORDER)

A shipping order is a document issued to the shipper by the shipping company that has accepted the shipper's request for shipment, ordering the master to ship the goods to be carried. The shipment list can be used as the basis for shipment, and it is one of the main documents for the owner to handle the export goods declaration procedures to the customs, so the shipment list is also known as the customs bill, for the shipper, the shipment list is the proof of the shipment of goods. For the shipping company or its agent, the shipping bill is the instruction document informing the ship of the acceptance of the shipment of the goods.

MATESRECEIPT

The receipt, also known as the mate's receipt, is the receipt of the goods received by the ship and the proof that the goods have been shipped. The mate on board signs the mate's receipt according to the date, number of pieces and space signed by the tally staff on the tally sheet, and after checking it with the loading sheet. The shipper shall exchange the loaded bill of lading with the carrier or its agent on the basis of the receipt signed by the chief officer.

Because the main items of the above three documents are basically the same, the practice of some major ports in China is to put together the consignment bill, loading bill, receiving bill, freight notice, etc., to make a document of up to 9 copies. The functions of each joint are as follows: the first joint shall be kept by the booking person for the preparation of shipping documents. The second and third copies shall be freight notification copies, of which one copy shall be retained and the other copy shall be collected from the shipper along with the bill. The ship can only receive the goods for shipment after the fourth joint shipment list is stamped with the release seal by the Customs. The fifth copy of the receipt form and the sixth copy shall be kept by the cabin attendant. The seventh and eighth are the cargo distribution receipt. The ninth is the application for payment of port fees for export goods. After the goods have been loaded on board, the port District shall charge the shipper the port incidental charges.

Ocean bill of lading (BILLOFLADING)

A bill of lading is a document of ownership of goods. The bill of lading can be used by the holder to take delivery of the goods, to negotiate with a bank, and to transfer the goods before the arrival of the carrying ship at the port of destination for delivery.

Shipping list (LODINGLIST)

The loading list is a summary list of the loading list compiled by the carrier according to the bottom of the loading list, which classifies the goods to be loaded by the port of destination and the nature of the goods, and arranges the order of the voyage and port of arrival. The contents include the loading list number, name of the goods, number of pieces, packaging form, gross weight, estimated size and instructions on the loading requirements or precautions of special goods. The loading list is the main basis for the ship's mate to prepare the stowage plan, and it is also a business document for the on-site tally personnel to tally the cargo, the port side to arrange the lightering, entering and leaving the warehouse and the carrier to grasp the situation.

MANIFEST (MANIFEST)

The manifest is a summary list of the cargo carried by the ship by the port of shipment. It is prepared by the shipping company on the basis of the receipt or bill of lading after the goods have been loaded on board. Its main contents include the details of the cargo, loading and unloading port, bill of lading number, ship name, shipper and consignee name, marking number, etc., this document is used as proof that the ship carries the listed goods.

Stowage plan (CARGOPLAN)

Cargo stowage plan is a cargo plan prepared according to the actual loading conditions of the cargo. It is the reference material for the ship to carry out cargo transportation, storage and unloading work, and is also the document for the port of discharge to tally cargo, arrange berths, and enter the cargo.

Bill of Lading (DELIVERYORDER)

The bill of lading (BL) is a document that the consignee exchanged with the carrier or its agent on the basis of the original bill of lading or a copy of the bill of lading together with a valid guarantee for the delivery of goods to the loading and unloading department of the port.

Attached: Type of bill of lading

SHIPPEDORBOARDB/L means the bill of lading issued by the carrier to the shipper that the goods have been shipped.

RECEIVEDFORSHIPPINGB/L means a bill of lading issued by the carrier when the goods have been received but not yet loaded on board.

Direct Bill of Lading DIRECTB/L means a bill of lading issued when the goods are loaded from the port of loading and delivered to the port of discharge without changing vessels.

THROUGHB/L means a bill of lading issued by the carrier at the port of loading for transshipment to the port of destination.

Multimodal Bill of lading (MTB/L) refers to a bill of lading signed by two or more modes of transport such as sea, inland river, railway, road and air for the whole carriage.

A LINERB/L liner is a ship that continuously carries cargo between specified ports on a certain route according to a published schedule. The liner can be divided into two kinds: regular and irregular schedule.

A charter party bill of lading generally means a bill of lading carried by a charterer in its entirety, signed by the owner to the charterer, or a bill of lading issued by the owner or the Charterer that does not carry the charterer's cargo in its entirety.

STRAIGHTB/L A bill of lading in which only the consignee named on the bill of lading is allowed to take delivery and is generally not negotiable.

ORDERB/L usually has an unnamed indication (ORDER only), and a listed indication (ORDEROFSHIPPER or ORDEROFC)