Bill of Lading – types

A Bill of Lading is a transport document that is issued by the carrier to acknowledge and function as a receipt for the shipment and cargo. It contains the nature of goods, packaging details incl. weight, shipper, consignee and the transport data.

99 % in our business, we deal with below 3 different types:

Original Bill of Lading – OBL

The original Bill of Lading is a physical printed document, that is issued at origin by the shipping line to the booking party – us as forwarding agent. It always consists of 3 original documents and several copies.

To clear and import the cargo at destination, the importer or its agent has to have at least 1 of the 3 original documents in hand for presentation at the shipping lines office.

For safety reasons, forwarding agents usually send 2 original documents to the customer and keep 1 original on their side.

Note: Original Bills of Lading need to be sent by courier which can take approx. 2 – 4 working days, depending on the destination.

In case of a B/L change request after the original documents have been issued, the full set of 3/3 original Bill of Lading needs to be back at the shipping line before they can start the correction process. Every official office of the shipping line can take the Bill of Lading back, its only mandatory that you get a receipt and that the local office confirms the collection to the shipping lines booking office at origin.

Bill of Lading – Release / Telex release

Instead of an original printed Bill of Lading, we can also ask the shipping line to create an electronic release of the specific Bill of lading/shipment. In the past this was called telex release.

This is an internal information between the shipping lines offices and without printout or receipt for the customers. Once a telex release has been confirmed by the shipping line, we will send you a short notice by email and your agent can contact the local shipping lines office at destination.

Telex release is an electronic service whereby the shipping line usually charge a small local fee directly to the consignee.

For customs and import handlings at destination, you can use the last version of your Bill of Lading draft and its data.

In those countries where it is accepted and can be used, it may ease the import process and helps to save time and money.

It depends on the shipping line and on the country of destination if that method for an electronic release is allowed to be used for the import process. Some Countries do not allow that. Enquire from your consignee or import agent first, if it is accepted at destination.

For more information on the release process, visit our point Release process

Sea Waybill (of Lading) – SWB

It is similar to a release/telex release but during this process there will be an official document given and issued electronically by the shipping line. This electronic document comes as a PDF-file and will show all information like an original Bill of landing, just electronically.

It is easy, cheap and fast to send to the importer or his import agent by email. He can use it immediately for the importation process. No other additional documents are needed to present to the shipping line.

If there are changes required, they must be done and confirmed through the forwarding agent at origin.

It depends on the shipping line and on the country of destination if that method for an electronic Sea Waybill (SWB) is allowed to be used for the import process. Some Countries do not allow that. Enquire from your consignee or import agent first, if it is accepted at destination.