Maritime glossary · B/L
Bill of Lading
The shipping document that acts as receipt for cargo, evidence of the contract of carriage, and document of title.
Definition
A bill of lading does three jobs at once: it is the carrier’s receipt for the goods loaded, evidence of the contract of carriage, and a document of title that can be transferred to pass ownership of the cargo while it is at sea. The master or agent issues it on loading. A negotiable bill lets the goods be bought and sold in transit, which makes it central to trade finance and letters of credit.
How Vessel Hunter uses Bill of Lading
Vessel Hunter does not handle cargo documents, but it identifies the operator and master behind a hull, the parties on the issuing side of the bill.
Related terms
- Master
The captain of a merchant vessel, with overall command, who signs the bill of lading and represents the owner aboard.
- Charter Party
The contract under which a vessel is hired to a charterer: voyage, time, or bareboat.
- Freight
The money paid to carry cargo by sea, usually quoted per tonne or as a lumpsum in a voyage charter.
The bigger picture
Bill of Lading is one piece of the commercial maritime picture Vessel Hunter pulls together for shipyards, suppliers, service providers, and port agents. Every vessel record bundles AIS, ownership, inspections, dry-dock history, casualty record, classification status, and a verified contact for the operator decision-maker behind the ship, so the team that reaches out first wins the work.
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