Q.What are the contents of Bill of Lading ?

A bill of lading is a document of title issued by the shipping company acknowledging receipt of goods for carriage; it records the parties, ship and voyage details, description of goods, freight, date and the carrier's signature.

In the Tamil Nadu HSC Commerce (Export and Import Procedures) syllabus, the bill of lading is one of the most important shipping documents. It serves three purposes — a receipt for the goods, evidence of the contract of carriage, and a document of title to the goods. Its main contents are:

• Name and address of the shipping company and the name of the ship.
• Name of the shipper/consignor (exporter) and the consignee (importer).
• Ports of loading (shipment) and discharge (destination).
• Description of the goods — quantity, number of packages, marks and weight.
• Freight details — the amount and whether freight is paid or payable at destination. …